Deck Railing installation

[burntorangeVOLffle]

I have a section on my deck screened in. The problem is part of it is just screen from ceiling to floor with no railing. There is a roughly 7-8 ft drop to the yard with only the screen in between. This hasn't been a big deal before, but now we have an 11month old who will be walking soon so I need to put up some railing. Lowes has 6ft pre assembled sections that match the outdoor part of the deck but I don't have the slightest idea how to attach them.

Any ideas or resource suggestions would be great.

[StoVol]

You can get them to cut any length you want while there. Try get them to show you the metal connectors to attach it or simply use construction adhesive using a caulk gun. You can glue two pieces of wood with a spot the size of a quarter that a sledgehammer won't compromise. Add your new addtnl pieces of wood and attach your screen to that

[barknoxbrawler]

Originally Posted by burntorangeVOLffle

I have a section on my deck screened in. The problem is part of it is just screen from ceiling to floor with no railing. There is a roughly 7-8 ft drop to the yard with only the screen in between. This hasn't been a big deal before, but now we have an 11month old who will be walking soon so I need to put up some railing. Lowes has 6ft pre assembled sections that match the outdoor part of the deck but I don't have the slightest idea how to attach them.

Any ideas or resource suggestions would be great.

Const. Adhesive is great when used in addition to a galv. Or stainless steel fastener of some sorts. Const adhesive alone is not recognized as structural by building code standards. Good luck.

[justingroves]

Screws and liquid nail

[burntorangeVOLffle]

Here is an issue. There aren't any wood posts in the screened on section. Just thin aluminum dividers between the screens.

[Thrasher865]

Hard to make suggestions without knowing the construction of your deck.

What may be an option is to put the railing on the outside of the screen. Carriage bolts through the rail posts, secured to the end joists would be secure, and would catch the kid if they were to fall through the screen. It wouldn't protect the screen from damage, but screens are easy to replace, and then you could simply unbolt the railings after they are old enough to remain safe.

I'm sure building code mandates that you have fall protection on a permanent basis, anyway.

[Thrasher865]

You aren't going to be able to secure the posts to the top of the decking in any way that will be structurally secure. You will have to secure them to the side of an end joist, or existing post. Depending on how you go about doing this, it may involve cutting through the decking.

[BigOrangeloV]

Have any pictures? That would be very helpful.

[burntorangeVOLffle]

I'll try to get some pics later today. This may be out of my skill set.

[Thrasher865]

Originally Posted by burntorangeVOLffle

I'll try to get some pics later today. This may be out of my skill set.

Nonsense.

[BigOrangeloV]

Originally Posted by burntorangeVOLffle

I'll try to get some pics later today. This may be out of my skill set.

Patience is the only skill that will be needed...However, you are a VN member so it might difficult..

[burntorangeVOLffle]

[burntorangeVOLffle]

Originally Posted by Thrasher865

I'm sure building code mandates that you have fall protection on a permanent basis, anyway.

That's what I want anyway.

[Thrasher865]

I would just build similar railings as your deck, but make the posts come all the way down over your end joists. I would do a 45 degree cut at the bottom of the posts, simply for aesthetics, and then bolt them into the end joists using 2 carriage bolts per post. Since your screen is flush with the end joists, it would then be flush with the inner edge of your railing.

It looks like there was a railing there at one time, because I can see where the balusters were screwed into the end joist.

[Toujours Pret]

I'm surprised they let it fly like that when it was built