Deck Railing Requirement

Crush blocks are important support pieces that fit snugly between the bottom section of your deck railing and deck surface. These blocks are used to support composite / synthetic wood railing, PVC railing, wood railing and many other deck railing material to keep the rail section from sagging and possibly warping over time.

Crush blocks are often made from leftover deck building material like 2x2 composite decking pieces, aluminum balusters, square aluminum balusters or treated lumber. You can also cut a piece of 5/4x6 decking and stand it on end under the bottom rail of a deck railing section. Secure the crush block with a silicone adhesive or with a fastener.

Deck or porch railing, balcony railing and angled deck stair railing from 2-ft up to 4-ft wide require one crush block while railing sections of 4-ft up to 6-ft wide require at least two crush blocks. More rigid aluminum railing typically only needs one crush block per 6-ft rail section.

Long known as the leader in decorative railing accessory products, Deckorators now offers a fully integrated deck railing kit of its own.

The sleek, durable top profile creates an eye-catching appearance and is compatible with all Deckorators baluster styles. This innovative new railing system is available in powder-coated black or white and features a lifetime limited warranty. The rails are sold in kits to make purchasing simple. Post sleeves, stair rail bracket kits, angled brackets and matching post caps are also available. All kits can be shipped via UPS.

This new line also features two matching styles and colors of post caps to accent the railing. Deckorators aluminum post caps, available in black or white, include a pyramid and a square, solar-powered post cap. The solar post cap requires no wiring or electricity and comes with two rechargeable AA batteries. The small solar collector rests atop an attractive silhouette light made of shatter-resistant glass. Its glow is perfect for casting a relaxing ambiance on deck areas.

“As an industry leader, we continue to push the design envelope and give builders and consumers world-class options for decks and outdoor living areas. We’re confident our new railing system will be a hit as we showcase it at the 2010 LBM Expo in Boston," said Rick Preble, Director of Product Development for Universal Consumer Products.

Deckorators aluminum railing and deck and fence railing accessories are available through an established network of building material retailers in the United States and Canada. Visit www.deckorators.com for complete information.

I knew that Latitudes Capricorn tropical composite decking was more than just another pretty board—and others agree! Latitudes Capricorn composite decking is a BUILDERnews awards 2009 Best Products winner in the Decks and Railings category.

Each year, BUILDERnews chooses winners based on criteria including ease of use, durability, inventiveness and innovation in the building industry. Readers are also invited to submit their favorite tools or products they have used throughout the year. “Even in a down economy, there are still hundreds of products released and brought to the market every year. This year’s honorees represent some of the nation’s most innovative products in the industry and ones that our editorial team felt readers would find most useful to build better and stay competitive,” said D.C. Curry-Lawrence, CEO and publisher of BUILDERnews.


Latitudes Capricorn features two unique tropical colors, adobe and koa. These exotic-looking synthetic deck boards resemble tropical hardwood like mahogany and ipe. With a natural-looking woodgrain pattern on both sides, Capricorn bridges versatility and aesthetics in one unique style.

Capricorn tropical decking is fortified with the same proven Strandex technology used in all Latitudes composite products. And it’s co-extruded, which helps make it an ultra low maintenance decking product.

With the addition of Capricorn tropical composite decking, Latitudes has one of the most diverse, attractive and user-friendly lineups of composite decking in the industry.

Resistant to fading and moisture, and virtually impervious to stains, Latitudes Capricorn is barefoot-friendly and proven not to splinter, split or rot, providing long-lasting beauty and comfort with no sealing, painting or staining required. Capricorn is perfect for pool decking, walkways, porches or anywhere low-maintenance deck material is desired. Latitudes Capricorn is covered by an all-new 25-year limited warranty.

Capricorn tropical decking is available in 12-, 16- and 20-foot lengths, in slotted and standard planks. Slotted planks feature the patented Equator® Hidden Deck Fastener. The fastener’s unique design automatically gaps each board and delivers automatic, consistent alignment of deck boards for striking results and considerable savings.

See video on Latitudes Capricorn Composite Decking.

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When custom homebuilder Scott Gregory decided it was time to put a deck on his lake cottage, he did what many builders do when they have the chance to work on their own property: He tried some new things. The result is an amazing outdoor living space with multiple levels, designated purpose areas, built-in seating, curves and innovative use of color.

His goal with his deck? To create a space his family and their guests could enjoy, while also perfecting innovative building techniques that he can incorporate into the outdoor spaces he builds for his clients.

The National Association of Homebuilders says trends in outdoor living continue to grow. It’s a niche that doesn’t look to be going away any time soon, with outdoor living areas remaining a major draw for home buyers and existing home owners.

Gregory’s summer home, located on White Lake in Whitehall, Mich., gets a lot of action during the summer. His family includes young children, and he and his wife often entertain at the cottage. Many of their most frequent visitors just happen to have large families, so having 12 to 15 people around over a weekend is common.

Because he wanted an expansive space for outdoor living, Gregory took the time to really think about how the space would be used and to plan for enough space for everyone.

He wanted separate areas for cooking, eating, sunning and partying. He also wanted to make sure the composite decking material he used would be low maintenance, slip resistant and splinter free, since tiny feet often ran across the deck on their way in and out of the water.

In addition, harsh winters in Michigan can wreak havoc on anything outdoors. Through the years, Gregory learned that cedar and pressure treated lumber often require yearly maintenance after being exposed to severe cold and moisture. Although he has built many cedar decks, he recently switched allegiances to man-made materials that offer lower maintenance and more variety in appearance.

For his own deck, Gregory wanted to visually separate the spaces. And with over 1,600 square feet of decking spread out over five different levels, composite materials allowed him the variety to do that. Gregory chose to use composite decking material from Universal Forest Products, a composite lumber product made from a combination of plastics and 100% reclaimed wood.

What Latitudes allowed him to do was to mix and match different colors, use hidden deck fasteners and create interesting curves for seating, built-in planter boxes and other custom details.

“I’ve always wanted to experiment with curves on a deck, but oftentimes the homes I build for my clients have to conform to neighborhood conventions or a homeowner’s relatively conservative vision,” says Gregory. “With my own deck I had the opportunity to test the materials and see just how versatile they could be.”

Not only was Gregory able to incorporate twists and curves, but he also infused his deck with a nautical star inlay—a compass rose that accents the main deck area and creates a focal point attracting his guests’ attention.

“We’ve created a deck that accommodates a lot of people and several different purposes. We have a hot tub and sunning area, a grilling area that is near the kitchen, a bar area perched high up so that adults can keep an eye on kids and water activities, an eating area and a cozy fire pit for enjoying the chill of a Michigan evening,” he says.

Through his business, Scott Gregory Designer Homes, Gregory finds his outdoor living projects to be among the most enjoyable. It’s a growing part of his business, particularly as homeowners take advantage of low interest rates and a huge variety of innovative products for use in creating comfortable outdoor living areas.

“Outdoor stuff is fun to build. Not only does it offer an opportunity for creativity, but it adds true value to an existing home and my clients just love it,” he says. “More and more of the custom homes I build take into account large outdoor living areas. When we first started 20 years ago, we would build relatively small decks on the back side of homes. Today we are adding expansive decks and patio spaces that literally wrap a home with added living space. New building materials make it possible to be creative, and products like Latitudes are incredibly versatile for work of this type.”

For more information on Latitudes Decking and Railing and a wide variety of other products designed for outdoor living, visit www.latitudesdeck.com.

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Whether your installing a composite railing, treated wood railing or a metal deck railing, it's important to keep your deck, porch and balcony safe by installing a structural deck railing when required. Properly installed, a structural railing reduces the risk of injury and gives you peace of mind. Whether you’re installing a deck railing system or a licensed builder is constructing/installing one for you, make sure you know when and why a structural railing is needed.

Structural Deck Railing Requirements
Structural railings used in residential applications must meet specific requirements as outlined in the International Residential Code (IRC). Decks attached to single family detached homes are regulated under the rules of the IRC.

The IRC requires a minimum 36-inch-high railing, from the bottom surface to the top of the rail, for all decks, balconies, or screened enclosures more than 30" off the ground. For child safety, the balusters (vertical infills) or other decorative infill must be spaced less than 4" apart
(a 4-inch-diameter ball should not pass between the balusters).

1. Railing must be at least 36" in height.
2. Bottom of the rail possess a gap less than 4".
3. A stair railing allows up to a 6" diameter gap through the triangle opening formed by the stair riser, stair tread, and bottom rail.
4. All deck railing must be able to withstand a 200 lb force anywhere and in any direction along the top of the rail.
5. Deck railing balusters are required to resist 50 lbs in a 1' square foot area
6. Rail posts should be spaced no greater than 6' apart.

If you're planning on selling your home, the deck, porch or balcony will need a structural railing installed where required to pass a home inspection.

Most municipalities will require a building permit for the construction of any deck, especially if it's to be attached to the house or it's more than 30 inches above ground. Check your local building codes prior to installing a structural deck railing system.

Maintaining the proper baluster spacing on your deck railing system is important for both aesthetics and safety. Most building codes require a maximum space less than 4" between baluster edges. To be safe, I recommend spacing  wood, composite, glass and metal balusters 3.75" apart (edge-to-edge).

For aesthetics, keep the on-center baluster spacing approximately the same around the perimeter of the deck.

When marking for baluster placement, start in the middle of the railing section and allow small space fluctuations to fall near the pressure treated wood or composite lumber posts. Note: drill pilot holes before driving screws into rails to help eliminate splitting.

Check out this tool for a quick and simple way to determine how many balusters your deck railing will need.

Also important to note, there needs to be a gap less than 4" between the lowest point of the bottom rail and the composite lumber or treated wood deck surface, although I would recommend a smaller 3" gap, as it looks better.

Check local building codes in your area for specific details.

Deck railing accessories come in an array of eye-catching materials and styles, making it easier than ever to design or upgrade your deck railing system. Enhancing the look of your wood railing or composite railing with these accessories will increase the charm and functionality of your deck and outdoor living area. With so many ornamental post caps, decorative balusters and other add-ons, you'll be able to customize your railing system to match your taste while complementing your home's architectural style.

The latest trend is to add ornamental lighting with post caps. Post cap lights highlight the posts at the top and bottom of stairways or deck entrances, or mark the perimeter of a deck. Solar post caps require no wiring and give off ambient light that's not overpowering.

In most cases, railing upgrades are easy to make. Installing post caps can be as simple as adding some adhesive to the post caps and securing it directly to the post. Some post caps are built specifically for composite deck posts, so you'll want to check with the manufacturer to see what options are available and install according to their specifications.

Installing maintenance free powder coated aluminum baluster on your deck railing system is another way to add creative flair, but will take a bit more time to install, especially if you'll be retrofitting a current railing system. Deckorators aluminum deck railing balusters are available in several colors and designs and come with a lifetime warranty on the finish. Adding ornamental glass balusters is also a unique idea if you desire an unobstructed view to a pool or lake, or if you just want to enjoy a scenic setting.