There really aren't a lot of deck railing parts per se. Basically, there are the railings themselves, balusters, posts, and connectors of some kind. That's it! While it sounds quite simple, and actually it is, many people find that deck railings are the most challenging part of deck building. Perhaps it's because deck railings show that makes the weekend warrior tremble when thinking about this part of the project.

Deck Railing Parts Made Simple

To begin a discussion on deck railing parts we must first address the posts. They will make the railing strong, safe, and secure if they are sunk well into the ground and cemented in place. Even a ground level deck needs to have the posts set into concrete. While a fall from a deck that's only one step off the ground wouldn't hurt many people, getting tangled in the wood and nails can cause some injury. Do it right or don't do it at all!

The handrail is the next most important part of the deck railing. People will invariably be roaming their hands over the surface to see how smooth it is. Please be sure that it is smooth or you will be picking splinters out of your guests' hands. Pick the wood for the handrails early in the project and set them aside. Make sure they are perfect in every way, and maintain them properly and periodically.

The last parts of the deck railing are the balusters and their connectors. Folks, they show, so choose them wisely. Spend the extra budget money on good balusters and your finished project will be the talk of the neighborhood. Be cheap and your finished project might also be the talk of the neighborhood, but it could be the kind of talk that they don't say in front of you.