Deck Railings, Balusters, and Post Caps

More than any other feature, deck railings give your deck design its individual style. It's an upgrade that's worth investing in. By complimenting architectural details of your home, railings and post caps can turn an otherwise ordinary deck into the perfect cottage, contemporary, or craftsman extension of your home.

Aluminum balusters give you the look of wrought iron without the cost. Balusters are the vertical members between the posts on a railing and they can give your deck a distinctive style by reflecting the architectural details of the house. The Deckorators balusters featured have the look of wrought iron and come in classic, traditional, and baroque styles that are made of lightweight, durable, easy-to-care-for aluminum.

Deck Railing Specifications
Before you decide on the style of railing or baluster, check local building codes for specs on deck railings.

Usually deck railings are required for any deck higher than 30 inches above the ground, and for stairs with five or more steps. Local building codes are quite specific about this so check the code in your area for the specification. The height of a deck railing is usually between 30 and 40 inches, but again this can be subject to various restrictions.

Here are some typical specs for deck railings that you should verify with the building codes in your area:

• railing height: 36" to 42"
• baluster spacing: 4" to 6"
• post-to-baluster spacing: 4" to 6"
• deck-to-bottom rail spacing: 2" to 4"