How to Make Rot-Resistant Deck and Porch Railings
Use bevels, drip kerfs, and good planning to keep water from pooling on deck rails.
Wood deck railings and porch railings often get a bad rap because of how quickly peeling paint and rot can develop. In many cases, that’s because these railings aren’t detailed to shed water. This video shows how to use bevels, drip kerfs, and good planning to make a handsome, rot-resistant deck railing.
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Great video.
Great way to do things...
Like the video, but I have one question - what's the angle of the cut for the top rail?
The question about the angle of the top cut reminds me of the time I asked an architect how much entasis (curve) there should be in columns. Her answer was, "Well, what do you like? Slender or curvy? You can go too far with either, but within reason, it's a matter of taste." Similarly, it's not so much the angle of the cut on the top rail, but whether or not there is an angle that will shed water.
You could even just cut the top of the posts at an angle and install the top rail at that angle, as long as the rail is wider than the posts and you include a drip kerf on the high side. Of course, to do that, you'd have to bevel the tops of the balusters to match the underside of the rail.
tim
they use a2 /4 top rail cut at 12 degrees, the bottom cut the same
We've been doing the bottom rail like this since the mid 1980's.
No end grain sitting in a shoe to gather moisture.
I understand everything about fastening one side of the rail but how do you fasten the other side ? Construction adhesive? exposed galvanized screw? Great video.