How to Install Deck Railing Posts
- Step 1: Cut Posts Posts are as long as the railing's height, plus the joist's width and the decking's thickness, minus the rail cap's thickness. Set up a jig that allows you to cut all the posts to the correct length. ...
- Step 2: Mark and Drill Holes ...
- Step 3: Cut Notches ...
- Step 4: Clamp the Post ...
- Step 5: Fasten a 2x4 ...
Full Answer
How to secure a joist hanger?
If the existing joist hangers are undersized or corroded, reinforce each one with an engineered-lumber joist hanger. Slip the engineered-lumber joist hanger over the existing hanger and secure it with galvanized hanger nails.
What to do if there is a gap between a ledger and a house?
If there's a gap between the ledger and the house foundation, use filler pieces of pressure-treated wood to fit snugly into the space. The filler pieces will prevent the ledger from splitting when it’s bolted into the foundation.
How to prevent water penetration in a sheathing?
Cover the sheathing with flexible adhesive-backed flashing to prevent water penetration. Apply a second layer of sheathing over the first as a counterflashing.
Can you use pressure treated wood for a deck?
For the deck frame, including the ledger board, rim joists, and posts, make sure you use pressure-treated wood which is designed to withstand rot. The proper use of waterproofing flashing is also integral to the structural soundness of an attached deck. Without flashing, the wood is vulnerable to decay, rendering deck-to-house joints dangerously ...
What to know before installing deck railing?
Before you begin installing your deck railing, especially the posts, it is essential to research your local building code. You should also look into the rules set by your homeowners’ association, if you have one.
Why are railing posts important?
Your deck is essentially an outdoor floor, supported by a frame and joists. The mounted railing is what makes it safe for people to be on your deck, especially children and pets, as it provides support and prevents falls.
Can you drive a structural screw through a 6x6 post?
Do not drive a structural screw or fastener through the center opening as it is meant to provide moisture drainage. With the base fastened in place, center your 4x4 or 6x6 post, and set the four side plates in place along the outside face of the post.
Do you need nails for deck anchors?
Some anchors need a bolt or two, some need nails. It depends on how the post is mounted to your deck surface. The easiest way to do this is to purchase a complete railing set with all the necessary hardware, usually in the form of a base kit.
Where are railing posts installed on a deck?
Many older decks have railing posts installed on the outside of the deck framing, and sometimes those posts were notch-cut at the bottom where they fit against the outside joists. Current codes demand stronger posts, so they are generally not notched and are installed on the inside of the framing.
How far apart should posts be?
Codes typically require that posts be no more than 6 feet apart. Mark for post centers, then draw lines to indicate the sides of the post. Cut the post and tack a guide nail. 3. Cut the post to length. Draw a line marking where the post should meet the top of the framing, and tack a nail there as a height guide.
What direction should stair railings face?
On a deck with angles, most of the posts should have their inward faces parallel to the house, rather than at a 45-degree angle. The exception: If your stairs will come out at an angle, the railing posts should face in that direction so the stair railings can be easily attached. [tip] A Post Next to the House.
How tall should a wood railing be?
Most local codes call for a railing that is either 36 or 42 inches tall, but check with your building department.
Can you install a railing post with two bolts?
Also, if you are attaching a railing post to an outside joist that is not doubled, install blocking nearby or to the side of the post.
How long should a deck post be?
Usually deck posts are about 50” long, but we needed them to be of 42”. Consequently, use a tape measurement, as to mark 8” (or the length you want to cut), starting from the base of the deck post. Smart tip: as to make sure you cut exactly the length you want, use the tape measurement along the edge of the deck post.
Can you use straight timber to align posts?
In addition, to make sure the posts will be perfectly aligned each other, you could use a straight piece of timber (in our case we used a metal stud, but you can try with anything which is perfectly straight).
Why do decks fall off houses?
The reasons for the collapses are many, but structural failures where the deck ledger board attaches to the house are commonly involved.
What is a deck ledger?
Deck Ledgers Are Beams. The deck ledger board acts as a primary support beam for most decks. The board is attached to a house and the deck joists are fastened to the ledger board with special structural metal joist hangers. At the other end of the deck away from the house, the builder often places another beam under the joists or in ...
How many legs does a deck have?
The deck is constructed in a similar manner as a beach house is built on piers. In other words, the deck simply has four or more legs much like a table in your kitchen or dining room.
What happens when you dance on a deck?
It's a real and powerful force that has contributed to the collapse of many decks.
What is the best cleaner for decking?
Wood deck surfaces need to be cleaned and sealed to keep them in good condition. The cleaner I recommend is oxygen bleach.
Can I attach deck ledger boards directly to houses?
I used to attach deck ledger boards directly to houses. I took all kinds of precautions and installed flashings and caulked the holes where through bolts passed into and through the side wall of the houses.
Can you retrofit a deck with treated lumber?
The extra lumber you buy to retrofit your deck may look like the treated lumber on your existing deck, but it might contain different chemicals that can be highly corrosive to certain nails and metal framing connectors. The leading structural framing connector manufacturers sell new connectors that have extra galvanizing treatment that resists the corrosive brew of treated lumber chemicals and rainwater.
How tall should a deck be to install bracing?
For that reason, we strongly recommend that you use 6x6s instead, even if your building department does not demand them. And if a deck is over 10 feet tall, you should install bracing. This article shows installing non-notched posts on top of concrete footings ...
How to secure a 6x6 post?
Use a hand sledge to tap the 6x6 into place, check for plumb, and drive nails into all the hardware holes to secure the post. With the posts in place, you can remove the temporary supports.
What wrench to use to tighten a concrete anchor?
Use a crescent wrench or a socket wrench to tighten the nut, which will cause the anchor’s sleeve to expand so that it grips the concrete firmly.
How to mark a post?
Use a level to mark the post’s corners, then use a square or straightedge to mark its outline .
How long does it take for concrete to cure before you put a post on it?
Allow at least two days for the concrete to cure before drilling holes and installing a post. If you install the post the same day as you poured the concrete, the footing could crack.
Can a post be attached to a deck?
More common and less problematic is to use a post that is attached only to the deck and therefore must withstand the load imposed on that railing span.
Can you cut siding off the wall?
There are a couple ways to deal with the last post nearest to the wall of a home, none of which envision cutting away the siding. Cutting away the siding to neatly fit the post into is problematic unless dealt with very carefully.
Can you put shims on siding?
In addition you can place shims against the siding in a reverse or opposite profile to the siding so that a firm contact surface is created for any post that you may wish to bolt through and into the wall of the house .
