Do I Sell Decks & Railings OR Fencing?

dougchips

I had this display in the bed of my truck for the last couple of months. Once in a while people would comment about how nice it looked. Several people said "what a nice looking fence". Today I raised it up so people could see the base.

Since today was the first nice day of the year, I drove through my neighborhood with my windows down. 4 people came up to me and asked when I began selling fencing.

Monday morning I am going to have a sign made so people know what I sell.

So is it a fence or railing?

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mdshunk

To a trades person, that's certainly a railing. To the general public, I'm betting 95% of people will think it's fence. Perhaps if it were tilted in some manner, to show the deck portion, it may become more clear. Hard to say. Perhaps some descriptive signage is in order?

woodmagman

I thought you were funning me.....This is my idea of a truck deck WTH, I was wrong.....

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concretemasonry

To much of the general public, a railing is a kind of "fence" on something.

Contractors understand the difference between a fence and a railing.

Your display is 95% fence or railing to the public and 5% a platform for the fence or railing to be moved or displayed on.

Of course, your display could be thought of as a "work in progress" being delivered to separate a loft from an entry. Is says nothing about a deck. - It is hard to show something wide and horizontal on a narrow moving vehicle.

Maybe you should concentrate on selling the deck instead of the railings and let the railings follow once you have the contract or use the railings to wrap up the contract.

How about a short filled Sonotube and post supporting a deck with shiny connectors?

I try to be brutal and rediculous in the interest of approach and improvement.

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

Chris G

If you can add steps it will be instantly recognizable as deck railing.

Bone Saw

both, I have done many decks where I also did fence and 99% of the time I match the fencing to the deck railing. Its easy enough to retro fit any off the shelf railing kit. as far as posts, most comp decking have a line of fence post sleeves(TT,trex,evergrain) mix and match for color contrasts, white pvc sleeving is available from rdi. I'm getting ready to do a fence with the 36" classic bronze deckorator baluster/basket combo with trex 2x4 T/B/cap rail. Alot of times if I use deckorators in a fencing app. I use 1/4" all thread rod recessed with a nut and washer through the center baluster connectors top and bottom rail to draw the whole thing together.

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dougchips

Good point. My only concern now is that the overall height is 98.25" and I am not sure if I will fit in the driveins.

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Patrick

Why dont you remove the bed from your truck, frame out a platform put some trex or tamko on top mount that railing all the way around and put a gas grill on there. If you had an 8' bed you could even have a patio table with an umbrella!

dougchips

A little lightbulb just went off in my head after reading your post. If they want to pay the price, I can build them a fence!

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dougchips

Good idea! I have a couple of plans for a "deck trailer" and adding the grill and stuff is a great idea.

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Magnettica

Judging by your trade, Doors-Windows-Decks, my guess is "it's a railing."

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Susan Betz

If someone asked you to do fence, would you do it (I assume you're able). If not, why not?

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dougchips

I use to do fencing years ago and got tired of the crap that they sell at the home centers. The only people in my area that sell quality fencing also install it. I would love to sell the taller version of the stuff in my truck if people have the money...........my cost on the railings in the picture is around $200-$250.

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To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.