Deck Railing Systems

Deck railings are an essential part of your deck, making it both functional and safe to use. While deck railings and handrails can certainly add polish, personality, and a distinctive touch to your deck, their primary function is to prevent slips and falls when climbing deck stairs, as well as provide a safety barrier on elevated portions of the deck. Deck railings can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, composite, metal, or even glass. Styles can range from modern cable to a simple rustic deck railing or ornate curved railings.

Like decks themselves, deck railing systems must also meet specific codes set forth by the International Residential Code (IRC). This code requires guardrails to be at least 36” high, although some states and local codes require them to be as high as 42” high. To protect children and pets from falling between balusters, the space between balusters should not be large enough to allow a 4” sphere to pass through.

You can enlist the aid of a professional contractor to help you install deck railing, but if you’re wondering how to build a deck railing and plan to do it yourself, browse through our collection of articles that walk you through how to install deck & porch railing. You’ll learn about installation best practices, the process of building handrails and DIY deck railing, as well as get inspiration with deck railing plans and images to complete the deck of your dreams.