deck.rail.htm

Howe Lumber Company
555 Main Street
East Brookfield, MA 01515
(508)885-5396
Monday - Friday 7:00am-5:00pm
Saturday 7:30am - 3:00pm

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Deck Railing

There are several railing options available to you.

Rail Styles


	This first rail style uses a premilled combination rail as both the top and bottom combination rail. The balusters fit into a goove cut into the rail, and give a nice finished look. Generally, a small block is used halfway between the posts, if the space is 8 feet, to provide a little extra support to the railing. This is a popular option for railings on farmer's porches.

	This is perhaps the most popular style of railing, and perhaps the most secure. It uses a 2 x 4 as a bottom rail, as well as a top rail, and us usually capped by a peice of decking. The bottom rail allows you to push snow off of the deck in winter, or blow leaves off of it in the fall, while still maintaining its strength. It is also rather easy to install, and should give years of peace of mind for higher decks while still looking good.

	This is a simple way to secure a railing. The ballusters are secured to a 2 x 4 as a top rail, and then directly to the side of the deck below. While not appreciably stronger or weaker than any other style or railing, it does give a different look to your deck, and can be appealing to the eye.

Railing Materials

Pressure Treated
This is the most affordable rail system, at least at first. Pressure treated does not cost a lot up front, but you need to maintain it, just like any other natural material. If your decking is pressure treated also, a pressure treated railing will stain to a similar color, thus making it easier to match the rest of your deck.

Cedar
Cedar is a more expensive, though slightly more stable choice. We have a select grade of cedar for a top and bottom rail, either as a 2x4 stock or in a premilled combination rail. Cedar does not crack quite as much as pressure treated, and it is weather resistant naturally. It still requires maintainance, such as regular cleaning and staining.

PVC or Composite railings
"Maintainance free" products are becoming more common as time passes. Deck railing systems are not being left behind in this. We have available to us three different brands of low maintainance rail systems. They are more expensive in the short term, but the maintainance is lower, and the materials are supposed to be more stable - which means less cracking and checking.

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