Deck Railings Guide: Choosing the Right Type of Deck Railing

So you’ve decided to either replace or install new deck railings altogether. Maybe you have not been through this process before. Well have no fear: I am here with some handy and basic tips to get you from start to finish. Of course, no one could tell you everything you need to know in just the space of one article, but you can certainly get some ideas on how to proceed with your deck railing implementation and installation over the course of this piece.

Before we get started I’d like to dispel just one persistent myth that is out there about decks. You do not have to have your railing meet the rest of your styling, such as a wooden “flooring” or even the design of the baluster that is in place. You can really get creative and kind of mix and match to get the exact stylistic feel that is unique to you.

Probably the most used deck railing material is wood. People like this because it frequently can more or less match up with the deck itself. Obviously it also goes well with the outdoors, and if you’re looking to make an understated statement then wood is a great way to go. It will further enhance the strictly outdoors feeling of this portion of the exterior of your house.

Then there is the option of using a metal, like aluminum. To me, this seems like a cold option, but it does have a benefit: safety. Going with an aluminum deck railing is sure to be a very solid way of keeping kids (and adults) from falling through a faulty banister. The only exception would be if there are big gaps in it, but that is easily taken care of during the initial planning and design process.

Some people like to use glass railings around their deck. The benefit of this is that your view is less obstructed. It also will block things like dirt and dust from blowing in. The flip side of this however is that you will have to clean it on a regular basis. (Get out your Windex!) I like this option a lot for a beach house.

Finally, you may want to go with a vinyl railing. These look much like wooden ones that are painted, of course. But they are not the real thing. What is the benefit then? Vinyl will hold up better and longer than wood. It won’t start to deteriorate as quickly and so you’ll have less to spend over the long run. They may even cost less to begin with.

In the end it’s all up to you. I would glance through home and deck magazines, seeing what others have done. Or else you could browse around the web and see pictures of deck railings “in their element”. This will give a much better idea of what will look good on your own piece of property. After that, it’s all downhill.