Design and build your own deck railing for the porch or the garden deck.

Deck railing has two main purposes; to make your deck and stairs safe to walk on, and to make your house more attractive. These two very simple concepts form the basis of good deck railing design, whether the railing is for the porch, the back garden deck or the stairs. The range of natural timber and composite materials you can use is absolutely vast, and there are deck railing products to suit every architectural style and every budget.

Building your own deck railing is a fairly straightforward project for anyone with basic carpentry skills. You’ll find complete guides at DIY websites, many of which include clear diagrams, photographs and even video instructions. If you like to have the instructions on hand while you’re building, there are a number of books and magazines which are also very useful. Good timber decking and home hardware suppliers should provide you with information and advice.

Deck railing essentials.

If you’re planning to design and build the deck railing yourself, it’s vital that you check to make sure your plans meet the building standards defined by your local authorities. The principles are basically the same regardless of whether the railing is to surround the porch, the garden deck or the stairs. The minimum height for deck railing is generally around thirty six inches, and the balusters should not be spaced more than six inches apart at any point. The deck railing posts should always be attached to the deck frame, not the deck surface, and should never be more than about seventy two inches apart.

Within these guidelines, it’s very much up to you to choose the type of timber, the shape of the balusters and posts, the spacing of the balusters (so long as it’s less than six inches), and the width and shape of the railing cap.