Building a Deck Stair Railings

Deck stair railings can add and supplement beauty, fascination and functional living space to any house. Connections to decks can interchange depending upon the home. Most of the decks have stairs leading from the deck to a yard. It is always nice to have attractive deck stair railings in ones home or at the yard. Stairs that are built for a deck on the exterior of a house may require or really needs a handrail or deck stair railings if there are more than two steps from the deck to the ground. A deck stair railing is needed to help people when going up and down the stairs and keep them away from falling. A distinguished trustworthy and safety feature on the stairs is the stair railing. Deck stair railings must be sturdy and easy to grasp. Any homeowner with access to tools found in most home workshops could build deck stair railings with supplies obtained from most any home improvement store.

In building a deck stair railing, one must identify the upper post of the existing deck stair railing. This post should be thirty inches long. Then, remove the step decking from the lowest stair step. Next, a 4x4 post thirty - four inches in length. Place the post in the outer side corner of the lowest step stringer at the edge of the first and second step. Next is to place a 3 / 8 - inch drill bit in the variable speed drill. Drill two 3 / 8 - inch holes through the stringer and the lower 4x4 post. Use seven inches carriage bolts, washers and nuts to attach the post to the stringer. Use the carpenter's level to make sure that the post is vertical. Shim the posts until level, if inescapable or necessary, prior to tightening the bolts.

Then lay a straight board across both posts and hold the board two inches above each stair. Use any marking pen to mark where the board crosses the posts. Measure and cut a 2x4-pine board to fit between the two vertical posts at the marked point. Hammer this lower rail in place using 2 ½ - inch nails. Cut an additional 2x4-pine board to fit between the tops of the two posts. The top edge of this board should be resting directly across the top edge of the posts. Hammer this to the upper deck stair railings in place with 2 ½-inch nails. Measure the extension or the distance between the center of the upper and lower deck stair railings. Then measure also the distance between the two vertical posts. Balusters should be 4 inches apart and cut to length to span the distance between the centers of the two rails. The ends of each of the balusters should be cut on a 45 - degree angle. Hammer the balusters in place, at 4 - inches intervals with 1 ½ - inch nails on the deck stair railings.

Cut a 2 – by – 4 - pine board the length of the upper deck stair railings. Then turn this pine board sideways so it will lay flat and is centered on the upper rail. Then hammer this board in place.

Use the sandpaper to smooth all rough edges and unwanted surfaces. Stain the deck stair railing the same shade or color as the deck rail. Then notch the lower step decking to fit beside the post. Then hammer the step decking in place with 2 ½ - inch nails. The deck stair railings may come in many various styles and designs, it is only depending on the mood and ambience of the interior and exterior design of the house.