A wood deck railing can be a thing of beauty if properly installed and maintained. It can also be a cause of splinters and ugliness if not installed properly or maintained periodically. Proper planning and good technique on your wood deck railing can make your finished deck look fantastic the day you complete the project and for years to come. A few of those hints are offered on this page.

How to Make Your Wood Deck Railing Last

Begin your wood deck railing with good wood. This may sound simplistic, but in reality most people just use what's left over from the lumberyard delivery after they have built the rest of the deck. Find your straightest pieces, and look them over carefully for knots, bark, or other blemishes. Do not use them if they aren't perfect!

Even better than just finding your best pieces of construction lumber would be to budget for some good cedar or other naturally resistant wood. It will substantially raise your wood cost, but will be a wiser choice in the long term. Sand the railing carefully and treat it with a good wood preservative. If your design forces you to use nails or screws on the surface of the railing, be sure to set them well into the wood so that they don't later become a source of injury to you, your family, or your guests.

Always round over the edges and corners of the railings and any exposed post surfaces with either a sander or a router. Hands will be roaming over the edges, so make certain that the wood is as smooth as possible to prevent injury. Periodically check the surface for any protruding nail heads, and re-set them if required. Annually, sand and treat the wood with a preservative to keep it as smooth as the day it was installed, and it should last well.