Cable railing is great for those looking for a chic railing for their deck, as well as a railing that will not hinder any views.There are five types of railings-vinyl, cable, stainless, composite, and metal-and they each have their own benefits and style. Whether you want a modern, industrial, or traditional railing to enhance the look of your deck, Decks & Docks has something for you (plus everything you need to install it). An area of one-square-foot must be able to resist a force of 125 lbs.Ĭoncentrated Load Test : The deck’s top rail must hold a point load of 200 lbs applied at three points: the mid-span, adjacent to a post, and on top of a post. Infill Load Test : This measures the strength of spindles, balusters, or any other load-bearing element between posts. Uniform Load Test: The top rail of your deck must be able to withstand at least 125 lbs of force (applied vertically or horizontally). Codes to Keep in MindĪccording to, a site maintained by Trex, your deck will be required to pass these tests during an inspection. As previously mentioned, if you install a railing and someone gets hurt because it’s faulty, a lawsuit will most likely not go in your favor. These aren’t the best idea because they aren’t truly functional. There are deck railings that exist just to be decorative but which don’t serve a functional purpose. Also keep in mind that there are deck railing height requirements, The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36″ in height measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Ultimately, it’s always best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations instead of cutting corners. Keep in mind, if you do this as a contractor and someone hurts themselves due to faulty railing installation, they will be favored by a judge if they decide to sue. You could take the chance and go against the recommendations by the individual railing manufacturers. Let’s say you have a deck that’s below 30 inches and there are no guardrail requirements by the IRC (International Residential Code). Check out the large variety of railings available at Decks & Docks and add that finishing touch to your deck today. Taking away the safety aspect and just focusing on aesthetics, a railing can make your deck look much more expensive without adding a large sum to the grand total. Rather than being ever-vigilant when the kids are horsing around on the deck, deck railing helps give you peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy the view. It may seem like a short distance, but any fall can lead to broken bones or other injuries. Railings can serve to protect children, pets, and even adults. Why You Should Install a RailingĪs previously mentioned, safety is the biggest concern when it comes to deciding whether or not to install a railing. There are some great, easy-to-install railing kits available for decks with unorthodox shapes. In addition, some people feel railings are difficult to install because their decks are an unusual shape. For some, the look of uninterrupted deck space is what they want. There’s also the aesthetic factor of not having a railing. Reasons People Decide Not to Install a Railingīuilding a deck is not an inexpensive decision, so when someone is tasked with the decision to spend extra money on something they “don’t need,” like a deck railing, the choice seems obvious: save money. When you take your kids and pets into account, the risk is even higher. With that said, if you choose to build a deck, even if it is only 24 inches off the ground, that is still high enough that even an adult could injure themselves. If your deck is below 30 inches, a railing is not required. In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons why it is in one’s best interest to install a railing and the decking codes to follow. Unfortunately, this choice isn’t always wise due to safety concerns, as well as code violations. If your deck is somewhat low to the ground, you may have chosen not to install a railing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |