There are many different ways to accomplish this goal. But here are some half-baked solutions that I have seen, that just don't work well. Never just nail or bolt a stair post to the side of the staircase framing lumber. Placing the post in the ground and surrounding it with concrete is better, but over time, the concrete can crack and/or the post can shrink causing the post to wiggle and move.
This large railing post does NOT extend into the concrete. It may start to wobble once the treated lumber dries out or enough people push against it. PHOTO BY: Tim Carter
What kind of railing systems do we offer?
Deck Images offers aluminum and glass railings and aluminum picket railings with a powder-coated finish.
How can I buy a Deck Images railing?
Fax in a drawing of your application along with the customer information sheet and a representative will contact you with pricing information. You can also contact us by filling out our quote form and attaching a drawing.
Deck Stair Railing Systems - A World of Choice. No longer rough milled logs strung up outside Lincoln's Illinois cabin, modern decks get incredible finishing treatment options including metal deck railings (think steel, alloys)...cable deck railings (think thin-profile high strength steel safety cables held taut between upright posts)...or ultra-modernist see-through safety glass deck railings. Safety tip: check with your town's building code to learn about deck stair railing "code" requirements...spacing and layout which reduces risk of accident to you or guests or delivery guys.
Find Out More About Deck Stair Designs, Materials And Whats Necessary For Building And Installing Deck Stairs.
Please go to the following links for the latest in deck stairs and deck stair design strategies for your outdoor living space.
When building stairs for your deck you will also be expected to follow the IRC building requirements. These requirements are strictly enforced by buildign inspectors. The minimum width for stairs is 36, but we recommend using 48 stairs wherever possible. The maximum riser height is 7-3/4 and the minimum rise is 6. The minimum stair tread should be measured at no less than 10. The tread width and riser height shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8. This means you will have to plan ahead to make sure each and every one of your stairs measurements are the same. In other words plan ahead so you arent left with a really tall or short last step because you will fail the inspection. Open risers are permitted by code with a catch because they may not be large enough to permit the passage of a 4 sphere the same as rail infill rules. In most cases it looks nicer and is just plain easier to close the risers. You must maintain a minimum 6'-8" headroom clearance and provide stairway illumination. Stair stringers should be cut from 2x12