Last Updated: March 16, 2017 Classic, durable, and great for privacy, a vinyl railing could be the perfect finishing touch on your new deck or patio. They’re easy to clean and they come in a variety of different styles, making it easy to find a railing that matches both your home’s style and your budget. Plus, if you want to save money, you can learn how to install vinyl railing yourself. Although the difficulty of the installation will depend on your level of skill and the deck’s material (concrete, wood, composite, PVC, etc.), learning how to install vinyl railing is generally quite simple. Anyone with basic carpentry skills can assemble a railing in the course of an afternoon.
In fact, some might say it compares to putting together a large toy! The posts easily slip into place, and the spindles are cut to length and fit into the prepared slots. As long as you follow the directions, make precise cuts and measurements, and check that the railing is level as you go, you should end up with a gorgeous new railing. How to Install Vinyl Railing NOTE: The instructions below can help you gain a better understanding of how to install vinyl railing, but every railing product is different. Use the directions provided by the manufacturer to ensure that you assemble and install your railing product properly. In addition, please note that these instructions apply to straight rail systems only.
Before you learn how to install vinyl railing, you’ll need to do some prep work. Your first step should be measuring the perimeter of the space you’re enclosing. Be careful and precise, because if you make a mistake here, you could ruin both the railing and your deck or patio. You might also need to check local building codes to ensure your railing will stand up to code, and you should always read the materials that come with the railing product. If you have any questions, now is a great time to contact the manufacturer or distributor of your railing product for clarification. Gather your materials.
Next, you’ll need to purchase the vinyl railing, which should arrive as a kit. Most railings will arrive with all of the necessary parts included, from the posts and spindles to the brackets and screws. In addition to all of these supplies, you will likely need a drill, a saw, a screwdriver, and a leveler.
Check your posts. Before you begin your installation, check that you have the right posts for your choice of railing. You can either use existing posts or purchase and install new posts. Gmu blackboard app. Typically, posts located on stairs must be longer than those on other parts of the deck or patio.
Lay out your posts. Once you have everything together, lay out the posts and balusters to ensure the spacing is correct. Most homeowners will need to purchase extra vinyl railing and then cut it down to size for the perfect fit. If you’re in that situation, to learn how to cut vinyl railing properly. Cut the top and bottom rails. Measure the distance of the opening between the posts, and then cut your top and bottom rail to fit.
Trim equal amounts of each end of both rails to ensure uniformity. Check that the space is equal between the first baluster and post on each side of the railing. Install the bottom rail. Install the bottom rail as well as any necessary supports, fastening the mounting brackets securely. Check that your bottom rail is level and complies with your local building code; most codes require bottom rails to sit two inches or less above the flooring surface. Finally, attach all provided hardware, screws, and covers (also known as skirts) to finish off the post. Add the balusters and top rail. Place the balusters in their slots in the bottom rail.
Then, set the top rail on top and gently move the balusters from side to side until they all fit in their designated holes. Tap the top rail with a mallet to ensure a snug fit. Again, check that the rail is level. To secure the top rail, add the provided brackets and screws. Finish it off.
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Finally, to finish off the top rail, install the covers to hide the screws. Snap these into place with a mallet. Then, apply the caps to the tops of the posts. Most systems require PVC cement to hold the caps in place. Please remember that the installation process for your vinyl railing might differ greatly from the process we’ve described above. Read the instructions provided with your railing kit thoroughly before you begin.
Now that you have a general understanding of how to install vinyl railing, are you ready to begin the process? It all starts with selecting and purchasing a new railing system. If you’re interested in purchasing vinyl railing, check out MMC Fencing & Railing’s You might be interested in the, which is distinctive, versatile, and virtually maintenance-free. It provides a comfortable feel with a versatile look, including many styles that combine vinyl railings with aluminum spindles. Mafia 1 full pc game torrent. Amongst the many available styles, you’re sure to find one that fits your home’s style and your personal preferences. If PolyRail doesn’t charm you, take a look at the. The styles are classic, simple, and airy, and they’re also available in a number of different colors and design variations.
Install Vinyl Railings On Deck
Plus, we have dedicated an entire blog post to Struggling to visualize each step of the process? The blog post includes that is exceedingly simple to follow.
Anyone with basic carpentry skills can cut and assemble a vinyl railing in an afternoon. Assembly is like playing with a child's toy due to the prefabricated makeup of the railings. Posts are hollow and fit over existing 4-by-4 posts. Spindles are already cut to length and fit into regular spacings in the railing. This type of railing cuts with ordinary saws.
With slots and brackets in place for everything, it's an ideal project even for a novice builder. Kits are typically manufactured in standard lengths or sections. If yours varies from the norm, it's easy to cut it yourself. Tip. Some types of railings incorporate an aluminum sleeve inside the top rail.
Use an appropriate blade on the miter saw to cut this type of railing. Most miter saws with carbide-tipped blades will suffice. There are two types of railing holes. Some are oriented in the square position from the front and back.
Others orient the holes diagonally so the spindles have a diamond shape from the front and back. Choose the one you like best. If your railing has a full-length post, such as on a porch, skip the post leaf installation and install the railing directly to the full-length posts.
The railing around a deck can be a distinctive design detail while it creates a secure enclosure and safe footing on the stairs. A railing can be ordinary or intricate and add value to its construction while it meets local building code requirements. If you're building a deck or replacing a railing, keep in mind that hand rails are mandated by local codes for decks of a certain height. If you're budgeting for a new railing here's the numbers: A deck contractor will charge $689 to replace 30 feet of cedar railing with end posts, balusters (either square or spindles), a cap rail, and post end caps and trim pieces.
That includes labor and material. You can buy the cedar components and bolts and fasteners for $310 and do it yourself, and save 55 percent, assuming you have carpentry experience. The job involves removing the old railing and making any necessary repairs to the decking. Measure the length and width of railing needed for the deck, being careful to follow any specifications from your local building department for the height and spacing of railings. Take a rough sketch of the deck to a lumberyard or home center to get advice about the amount of materials and the type of fasteners you'll need. When you remove the old railing system, note how the posts are attached to the deck structure, then reinstall the new posts in the same manner. For tools you'll need a carpenter's square, tape measure, hammer, circular saw, electric drill and screw gun.
For inspiration about deck features, a new book, 'Deck Idea You Can Use,' offers plenty of ideas. Follow this link to see different deck railing systems That sums it up. Knowing the average cost to replace a deck railing lets you compare doing it yourself with what you can expect to pay a contractor. To customize the cost to where you live add your ZIP Code in the cost box.
Improvement and Repair Cost Updated 2018 The cost and time data is generated by averaging labor and material data from annually updated cost books used by contractors and refined by the authors' experience remodeling 13 houses. They are authors of 20 home improvement books and Do It Yourself or Not, a weekly column syndicated by Tribune Content Agency. The national cost can be adjusted by ZIP Code.