What can I use instead of a railing?

Consider stainless-steel cables, metal tubes, or composite railings if you’re looking for low-maintenance alternative to wood balusters and railings for your deck.

How do you replace a porch banister?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: In this video i want to show you how i replace railing and balusters on an old porch i'm going to be ripping out the old one and putting in new. Ones. Here's some shots of the porch beforehand.

How do you remove a porch railing?

Start by clearing out the balusters or spindles. This is actually pretty quick and easy. Just go from behind with a hammer and knock it out. And if your deck and railings are as old as mine, they will pop right off because its typically just nailed in place.

Should I put railing on front porch?

In most cases, you are required to have a railing when the floor of your porch is 30 inches or more above grade. However, 30 inches can be a long to fall; therefore some codes may require railings if your porch is 15 or 24 inches above grade.

What is the most inexpensive deck railing?

For a basic deck railing, pressure treated lumber is the cheapest. Vinyl is best for low cost and low maintainance.

What is the most economical deck railing?





Typically, pressure-treated lumber (wood) is the cheapest deck railing material, though vinyl (PVC), polyurethane, and composite materials all make for affordable deck railing.

How do you repair a rotted porch railing?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Yeah you can repair it it's almost like if you're gonna make some bottoms or bases. I would just probably make two or three bases.

How do you replace porch balusters?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You see how bad it is at the bottom. And then it's just a screw here which I'll just drop down. And pull out from underneath.

What can I do with old deck railings?

Don’t ignore porch rails. See 10 impressive ways to upcycle them instead

  1. Make a kitchen pot rack. …
  2. Turn it into indoor railing. …
  3. Turn it into a porch ladder. …
  4. Turn it into a table. …
  5. Make an apron rack. …
  6. Turn old railings into a console table. …
  7. Create a rustic headboard. …
  8. Make candlesticks.

How do you install rails on a front porch?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: On the underside of the handrail next to the nailing strip i pre-drill a hole and screw it into place using a three-inch ceramic screw. Sit on the balusters.

What are exterior railings made of?

Some of your options for materials include aluminum, wood, wrought iron, stone, marble, steel, and granite. Take your time to ensure that you choose the best handrail for your specific needs.

What is the height of a porch railing?

The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36″ in height measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Commercial decks attached to multifamily buildings, such as apartment buildings or businesses, are regulated under the Internation Building Code (IBC). The IBC requires 42″ high guardrails.

Is 42 inch railing too high?



The minimum deck railing height allowed is 36 inches in most states and provinces. California and a handful of other states mandate a 42” minimum deck railing height.

How do you measure for a porch railing?

To compute the spacing distance between balusters:

  1. Measure the width of a baluster. …
  2. Multiply 1.5 inches times the number of balusters. …
  3. Subtract that from the distance between the posts: 68.5 inches – 19.5 inches = 49.
  4. Divide that by the total number of spaces.

How tall should a railing be?

Handrail Height



In the U.S., the I-Codes require handrail placed between 34 and 38 inches. In commercial applications, the NBC permits the top or a guard (42″ minimum height) to also serve as handrail. In the U.S., once a stair has a 30″ drop, a guard (42″ minimum) and a handrail (34″ to 38″) would both be required.

Is a handrail a legal requirement?

Handrails are mandatory. Stairs should have a handrail on at least one side if they are less than one metre wide, and on both sides if wider than this. Handrails should be placed between 900mm and 1000mm above the highest point on the staircase steps.

What is code for horizontal deck railing?



The IRC (International Residential Code) requires that deck railing be at least 36″ in height. This should be measured from the deck or porch surface to the top of the railing. But you should also check your local building codes because counties and cities may have different requirements.