Deck Question Material

gregt848

Hello,
Question for the pros and experienced deck builders, Building a deck for someone that wants composite floor boards, but are unsure what they want for the railings. They do not like the look of the vinyl or the same composite railings. Any ideas or input on what to do for the railings? Is PT the way to go? Have you seen people use PT railingswith composite railings? Are there any other alternatives?

TonyD

Cedar? Wrought iron?

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DecksEtc

If they don't like vinal or composite they'll hate PT railings. I'd recommend cedar and then staining it to compliment the composite.

Using PT for railings can be very limiting, style wise.

Stone Mountain

I agree with Terry. A cedar rail would look good with almost any composite.

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gregt848

I will look into the cedar railings, how do they hold up against rot, and insect damage? Also what if the customer wants the railings to be white? Are there any other options than the vinyl and painting the PT. Any help is greatly appreciated

RobertCDF

I have a problem with non composite rails with a composite floor.... What is easier to stain??? Rails or the floor... In my experiance the rails are a real pain to stain and the floor goes easy with a roller. I would think it would be better to have a composite or other LOW maintenance rail and a floor that could be easily stained.

But as far as the question at hand... Use cedar or redwood or custom welded... ANYTHING BUT PT with a composite floor.

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Oregon_Rob

What he said. I refinish more decks than I build. I have talked with a few customers who have composite floor and wood rails and they all say that they are very unhappy they went that direction. There are some white composites out there, correct deck and monarch that i know of.

gregt848

The monarch railings look nice, roughly how much do they cost for a 6' section? Also why are you against PT railings with composite decking, just wondering so I can explain to customer, if they are going to be painted white? the the census is that cedar will look nice with the composite decking? Has someone used this combination? Once again, Thanks!

DecksEtc

I just don't feel that you can make as nice a railing with PT. 2x2 balusters are all pre-fabbed and plain - plus the core of the tree is in the middle of 95% of them and they twist like an SOB. Also, PT doesn't accept stain as good as cedar and therefore looks like crap fairly quickly.

Besides, you said the customer doesn't like the look of composite railings and using cedar, if prepped and stained correctly, would look the nicest IMHO.

BuiltByMAC

Have no idea what part of the country you're in - your profile is not complete. Here in the Pac. NW, pressure treated means Hem/fir with divits all throughout the wood. Even painted the divits show through and is some of the ugliest looking wood I've seen - fine for structural framing but nothing above deck level. Putting pt railing on a composite deck to me is like buying a lexus and letting your kid paint it w/ rattle cans.

I agree w/ Terry - use cedar if you're going to use wood for the railing system.

Did your customers tell you why they didn't like the look of a composite railing but did like the composite decking? I think the composite balusters are expensive and clunky looking, but there are a ton of other options for balusters. You can use composite posts and rails w/ a different kind of baluster.

Mac

gregt848

Thanks for all the advise and help. They said they do not like the texture for the composite railings, but like the look on the floor. They said the vinyl railings they think look "Cheesy". Cedar will probably be the solution, how does the cedar hold up? Is it O.K. against rot and termites. They originally wanted white railings, but they might have to change there mind. Thanks

DecksEtc

The cedar, especially on verticals will likely last 20-25 years once you prep and stain it properly. They can still have white - just stain it.