A Deck Building Blog

Handrail Height: Top of handrail is 38" off deck floor. Bottom of bottom railing shoe is 3.5" off deck floor.
Style: I was going for a strong railing as well as one that looked nice. I needed the railing to sit in between the tops and the bottoms of the posts so I would be able to trim my railing posts with caps and base trim. I also like the look of a railing that breaks at each post. This keeps the posts exposed and makes it appear that the railings run right through the posts.
Design: The top railing and shoe are attached to balusters screwed to the sides of the post. Standing 2X4's on edge for the railing top and shoe along with attaching the balusters to the sides makes for a strong railing that won't need intermediate support.

The railing installation went pretty quickly. Here are the steps I took for each railing:

1. Marked the railing posts where the balusters on the end would go. The bottom of the baluster is 3.5" from the deck floor and the top is 4.5" from the bottom the post cap.
2. Attached a baluster to the inside of each post for the current railing span. Each baluster is attached to post with 3 screws. I also cut the bottom of each baluster at a 45 degree angle to make more decorative. The ballusters were attached 1.5" from the inside of the posts so that the railing shoes would be flush with the post fronts when on the deck.
3. Cut and attached the top and bottom railing shoes to the balusters.
4. Cut and attached the hand rail to the top shoe using 3 screws.

A Deck Blog