Need Some Tips

bigchaz

This is something ive never come across before so I was hoping some of yall could give me some tips

Ive painted plenty of front porches before and they all usually involve a bit of caulking around the columns and such.

The porch in question for me today is a simple 2x4 set up top and bottom with spindles in between nailed from the top and bottom. The nails are covered very well so you see nothing on the top railing. However many of the spindles have pulled away from the top of the railing leaving between 1/4 to 5/8 inch gaps. Never had this much gap before and im not comfortable just filling that all with caulking

Im wondering what would be the best way to fix this. I thought about trying to pull the nails out (could be in very deep) and placing screws on the trouble spindles, but I wont be able to place screws on the bottom without taking the entire railing off.

The second option would be replacing the railing, which I could easily do, but how can i be sure that the spindles wont pull away again? Its all pressure treated around here which would mean Id need to wait to paint the porch, which Id prefer not to do

Sorry for the long post and let me know if something is confusing
thanks in advance

Edit: I know this picture is of a planter but this is exactly what the railing im working with look like:

Just imagine those spindles not meeting the top railing

Peladu

Pound back together with a beater board;
Once joints are tight add screws;
Caulk;
Paint;
Get Paid;
Go to the Tavern.

bigchaz

im worried about splitting the 2x2s if it try to put a screw in since the nails are all in the middle ill be screwing on the side

Peladu

predrill, 1/8th bit;
use trim screws;
toe screw if needed.

ramblemn

moulding both sides of the spindles, top and bottom.

and lay a 2x6 on top of the 2x4. I can't stand 2x4 rails.

Bone Saw

sounds to me like your rail sections are sagging and for some reason pulling the spindles away from your top rail/cap. If this is the case I would inject glue in between where you can and use ratchet straps to pull everything back together then add support blocks under the bottom rail, hope this helps

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bigchaz

They are all 6 foot sections of railing with posts in between, no blocks, so i may try that idea.

ramblemn: as much as i hate 2x4 rails also, the porch colums are all 4x4s and i dont want the railing extending outside the post.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone

Double-A

Is this your porch? Or a client's porch?

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"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

bigchaz

clients