Fasten Top Railing Cap

Typical deck codes say that a railing should have no opening larger than 4 inches.

Fasten top railing cap.

The easiest way is to use a 2 4 as a spacer. Each railing panel is between a 4x4 post and consists of an upper and lower cedar 2x4 rail oriented on it s edge with aluminum pipe spindles every 4 inches. Tip centering the cap on the rail if the railing cap is 5 1 2 inches wide and is resting on a 1 1 2 inch thick top rail with 3 4 inch thick balusters which do provide some support then to be centered the cap. If you are working with wooden railings you can make top rails from 2x4s or 2x6s.

Follow the instructions in this article to attach the boards to the top rail and for drilling pilot holes and driving angled screws. Fasten by drilling pilot holes and driving screws or nails. Most designs have the top rail flush with the top of the posts so the post cap can rest on it. Attach with structural screws not deck screws.

Good to know make miter cuts at the ends of rail caps that will meet at corners. Run them along each post flush with the top. Cut another 2x4 to the same length plus the combined width of the outside joist and the decking thickness. Just lay the spacer on the deck and the bottom rail on top of it.

Attach the top cap to the posts using two 3 inch screws diagonally 2 inches apart. 01 48 how to attach deck railing. Screw the balusters into the top and bottom rails. Screw the top cap to the top rail every 12 inches.

On your existing 2x4 top rail using a countersink bit predrill a hole 1 below the top edge at an upward angle every 18 or so. Install your cap rail by running 2 3 screws per end into the adjacent post run screws up from bottom edge of 2x4 cap rail into post to hide those screws. These run along the top of the posts and top rails. Get maximum visual interest from simple wooden railing by incorporating a 6x6 post at corners 4x4 post mid run.

How to do it yourself patio deck attaching railing and balusters. Mix and match post and top rail sizes. Better predrill those holes too. 00 12 how to measure cut and prepare deck railing.

Install them flush with the top. The cap rail that goes over the top rail is grooved underneath to fit nicely over the 2x4 on its edge. Step 6 install the balusters. They can be placed flat horizontal or on edge vertical.

Sthe bottom rail is typically 3 1 2 to 4 inches above the decking. For a more finished look bevel the bottom of each baluster.