QA

Quick Answer: How To Put Handrail On Decking

How do I attach fascia to deck?

Adding Fascia on an Elevated Deck Mark and cut. Whenever possible, hold a piece of fascia in place and mark it for cutting. Fasten the first piece. Test-fit the mitered corner. Glue the miter. Smooth the joint. Make a midway joint. Mark for a corner. Cut the accent strip.

At what height is railing required on a deck?

In other words, a deck less than one metre (1m) above ground is not required to have a handrail, though depending on the height it may still be recommended. Decks four metres (4m) from the ground or higher need to meet additional design requirements.

What is the code for deck railings?

What Is Code For Deck Railing Height? The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36″ in height measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Commercial decks attached to multifamily buildings regulated under the International Building Code (IBC) require 42″ high guardrails.

How do you finish the edge of a deck?

How to finish the edge of a composite deck is simple if you use picture framing to cover the board edges. You can also paint the edges, glue a veneer cap to the ends, attach a raised fascia board or add a composite corner trim to create a consistent look.

Does a deck need a fascia board?

On a deck, fascia serves a primarily aesthetic purpose. It partially conceals the joists under your deck from view and creates a polished, finished look. It can also add visual contrast if you use a different paint or stain than you applied to the deck itself.

What do you put around the bottom of a deck?

Deck skirting can be an attractive feature that can be added to any low-level deck. You can use boards to construct a wall around the bottom of your deck. Another option is to use wood or vinyl lattice material.

Does a deck need a rail?

If your deck is below 30 inches, a railing is not required. With that said, if you choose to build a deck, even if it is only 24 inches off the ground, that is still high enough that even an adult could injure themselves.

What is the maximum gap between handrails?

Based on the information that you have provided, a maximum opening of four inches between the two guardrails would ensure compliance with 29 CFR 1910.23.

How many steps until you need a railing?

The building code does not refer to the number of “steps” but it does require a handrail when there are two or more “risers”. For clarification, a “riser” is the vertical portion of a stair. The “tread” is the top of a step. A two riser minimum would translate to two steps.

Does deck railing need to be pressure treated?

As long as there’s a good chance that moisture can reach the wood, it should be pressure treated. This is why the International Building Code requires that siding and structural lumber used for the last six inches of the structure above the ground is pressure treated.

What angle are handrails?

The angle should be between 20 and 38 degrees.

Can I use a 2×4 for a handrail?

According to the IRC (2018), you can use a 2×4 to make a handrail, but you must cut finger recesses along both sides of the board and position the lumber lengthwise on its end. Using a 2×4 as a handrail laid vertically is not allowed. Porch and deck guardrails made from 2x4s laid horizontally are permitted.

How much overhang can you have on a deck?

The American Wood Council states that cantilevers are limited to 1/4 the span of the joists. Joist Spacing (o.c.) Maximum allowable overhang cannot exceed 1/4 of the actual main span.

Why does composite decking have grooves?

Grooved-Edge Decking Appearance: The primary reason people choose grooved decking is because they don’t want to see deck screws messing up their deck’s surface. Grooved decking has slots cut into both sides so it can be installed with hidden fasteners.

How much should a deck overhang?

The edge of decking should never overhang more than one-third of the decking material. For your standard 5.5” decking, that is 1 ¾” overhang.

How do you cover the sides of a deck?

On a composite deck, finish the look with vinyl trim to cover the posts and composite material to cover the joists. Make a wood deck stand out with skirting cut from deck boards. You can mount them on the posts or on the rim and end joists. When the boards are in place, add a fascia board to cover the deck edges.

Can composite decking be installed over wood decking?

In short, yes you can. You are more than capable of placing composite deck boards over existing wooden ones in order to save time and money from building an entirely new frame.

How many screws should I put in decking?

So, how many screws should you put per deck board? Each deck board should be fastened with two screws at each point where the board crosses a joist to ensure the stability and durability of your deck’s surface. Boards should be fastened to rim joists with three screws.

How do I stop the bottom of the deck?

If you want to completely block the underside of the deck, one option is to build a planter around the deck’s perimeter. It is a great way to soften the deck’s edge with plantings and is an interesting alternative to railings.

How do I keep animals out from under my deck?

Attach galvanized fencing or quarter-inch-mesh hardware cloth over openings that pests can crawl beneath and bury the lower edge at least 6 inches below ground to prevent animals from burrowing under it. Use metal-mesh fencing behind a decorative lattice to seal spaces through which animals can squeeze.

How do I keep rodents out from under my deck?

Pests like to hibernate beneath garden decking because it provides them with shelter from harsh weather. To stop this happening, run wood, mesh or chicken wire along the edge of your decking between the boards and the ground.

What is considered a graspable handrail?

Definition: Graspability of a handrail refers to the ability to get a secure hold onto a handrailing whose purpose, after all, is both to guide a walker along a stair or other surface and to prevent or perhaps to interrupt slip trip and fall hazards.

How wide should a handrail be?

Handrails must be between 1¼ and 2 inches in diameter. section shall have a perimeter dimension of 4 inches (100 millimeters) minimum and 6¼ inches maximum, and a cross section dimension of 2¼ inches (57 millimeters) maximum. construction tended to be larger than this.