Need Help ( Railings )

Tom R

Hey, - - is there an echo in here?? . . .

mickeyco

Must have missed your post, too busy trying to figure out what he's talking about and I still not sure, but with your plywood and fillet ideas he's got to be able to figure it out, that or hang up the belt.

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Some people climb mountains. I take out the trash. But we both do it for the same reason.

Tom R

Yeah, kind of hard to figure out, - - but I'm thinking, - - maybe that strip actually 'belongs' on the top, anyway, - - having it on the bottom makes the whole set-up hold water, - - maybe the bottom balusters are just meant to be attached through the sides of the bottom 'base-type' moldings so water can shed right through . . .

BuiltByMAC

Install top rail, set on handrail posts at angle, leaning towards inside of deck
Measure and cut all bottom rails for that run
Mark top and bottom rails for baluster locations
Set temporary board on decking against handrail posts (2x10 or similar)
Install all balusters for that straight run into top rail, leaning bottoms against 2x10
Your baluster bottoms are now available for the fillet strip and can be nailed,stapled, screwed up from the bottom
When that run is complete, pull 2x10 out
Entire section will roll into place
Screw top rail to handrail posts
Bottom rail sections can be tapped into place between handrail posts, use block for no marks
Screw bottom rail to handrail posts with predrilled holes on sides of bottom rail
Screw top rail miter/straight cut joints together after entire deck rail is complete

Learn from this experience and come up with different idea for next handrail - sounds like a pain!

Mac

ecooke21

I kind of did it that way.. Since I wont see the side of the fillet, I toe nailed up into the ballusters while the top rail AND bottom rail were in place.. I cut them snug enough that they can hold there own weight and not need to be screwed in yet.. once I had a section completley together, i slid it up and out, (tapered columns) flipped the whole railing system upside down and
screwed through the fillet, into the underside of the ballusters... next time I am going to be in the design process of the railing system... since this was a custom milled top and bottom rail, I didnt have much say in the design...

thanks for the suggestions so far.. I appreciate the help

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A bunch of little rabbit turds banding together usually just makes one bigger piece of crap. -Mike Finley

BuiltByMAC

After seeing your pics of this porch, I have a better idea of what you were dealing with. I was thinking the top rail was continuous, going over the handrail posts. Your method worked as the rails look nice - looks like 2x2 balusters spaced 3" o.c., kind of a privacy rail.

Something similar to this project in the future, I could see the following work scenario -

cut top and bottom rails with concave radius to fit in between columns
install top and bottom rails between columns 3'-4' above porch (temp clamp in place)
install all balusters, complete handrail section
remove temp clamps, slide entire section down to 3" above deck
nail/screw in place, move on the the next...

Mac

ecooke21

Thanks for the compliments, and the help.. In the future, I am going to try and influence the design of the custom rails in my favor.. I can think if as couple things I would do to make my job a little easier, and acheive the same look..

__________________
A bunch of little rabbit turds banding together usually just makes one bigger piece of crap. -Mike Finley