Finally, position the balusters, attach them to 2 thin strips of wood, and Build or expand your collection with popular pre-orders, new releases, and best-selling vinyl. Walter Brant is a wikiHow community member and contributor who has been repairing and restoring houses with over 30 years of experience. Good Better Best Decking Sq. Painting your wood deck can be a great choice. Not only will you never again have to climb a pool ladder, but a deck will also create a fun-in-the-sun gathering place for family and friends. Reversible - choice of smooth or woodgrain surface. 51. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. What is the best decking material? This cheap, tall grass just takes a bit of time to plant and grow. Paintable with 100% latex paint. Most building codes require deck railings to be between 36 inches (91 cm) and 42 inches (110 cm) high. The cuts are right but I personally wouldn't trust my records on that. Vinyl esters are more tolerant of stretching, less likely to show stress cracking and more resistant to water penetration. This prevents water from entering at the top. This is a minimum required height for residential structure—higher guards are acceptable. Cut it into lengths equal to the distance between the deck posts. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Raising the bar, Fortress Accents' die-cast aluminum housings and DuPont powder coat translate into optimal performance and durability. Duradek Solutions. These durable materials, which have a traditionally beautiful appearance and rich color, resist rot and insects. Is a traditional horizontal deck flooring pattern your favorite? Derek Leider Masonry built a concrete base for this patio, to replace a deck. The biggest downside to pressure-treated wood? The posts' extra height above the railing is just for looks. Instead of removing those concrete front steps, save some time by building a wood deck over and around them. With less care and maintenance than wood, you’ll see that TimberTech costs less over time. With our decking services, it’s easier than ever to bring the deck you’ve been dreaming of to life. For instance, if you want a railing that is about 36 inches (91 cm) high, make marks on the posts at 40 inches (100 cm). Wood vs. Composite. W hen composite decking first hit the market around 30 years ago; it was trumpeted as the best thing to happen to deck building since decking screws replaced nails. You'll need enough length hanging below the surface of the deck to attach the posts securely to the supports. A really great album. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/decks/deck_13.htm, https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/outdoor/how-to-install-deck-railings-and-balusters/, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-build-porch-rail, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Whole Home Replacements Doors. screw the balusters assembly in place. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Learning how to stain a deck begins with scheduling. Check the distance where you want the top and bottom rails to sit. Screws that are 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) long should be fine. Use a long level and a helper to ensure the rim joist … "All Behr stains are easy to apply, but the choice between oil or water-based stains typically comes down to how long you want the coating to last and the work necessary to reapply it," he says. If you want to do it the right way and reduce lint buildup, skip the flexible venting altogether. Bugs, on the other hand, could pose a problem. $2.91. Deck Estimate. Get started on your project at Decks.com. 5 in. Start your construction process by considering these five most popular picks for the best decking material—we’ve got the pros and cons for each. Should I use natural wood, pressure-treated, or something altogether different? Decks.com has everything you need for your new deck, such as downloadable deck plans and step-by-step guides. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/89\/Build-a-Deck-Railing-Step-01.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Deck-Railing-Step-01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/89\/Build-a-Deck-Railing-Step-01.jpg\/aid9425311-v4-728px-Build-a-Deck-Railing-Step-01.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"