A patio railing can provide both charm and safety to any outdoor space. Traditional designs take advantage of brick, stone, or wood posts; however, the addition of a wrought-iron railing has become popular for its durability and strength. Installing a patio railing can be a great way to add to the value of your home by increasing its curb appeal. It can also add safety and security if you have young children or pets that like to run around outdoors. This article will provide instructions so you can build your own patio railing. A patio railing can be built to wrap around a front porch or run along the side of your home. It adds attractive, solid protection for you and those who visit. And it’s easy to build. Keep in mind that not all railings need to be made from wood. Explore other railing materials like metal, bricks and more below.
A patio railing can make your patio far more functional and comfortable than a simple slab of concrete. Even if you’re not particularly handy, you can still build a patio railing that will add value to your home and provide a safe place to sit outside. Follow these steps for buildinga basic railing, or get creative with paint colors, designs, and other accessories to customize your new space.
Determine the layout of the railing.
- Determine the layout of the railing
- Place stakes in the ground at each end of where you want your patio to be, and drive them in so they’re level with the ground
- Tie string between these two points: use a tape measure or yardstick for accuracy, then tie it off at those points with pieces of string (two pieces should do) that are about five feet long each piece
- Using a ruler or yardstick, measure along each piece of string until it intersects with one of your stakes—this is where you need to sink another stake into the ground! If you’re using metal spikes as supports for your railings instead of wooden posts like we did here at Patio Railing HQ, then simply drill holes into these stakes using an electric drill bit before driving them down into place using an impact driver
Determine your material needs.
Before you get started, it’s important to determine your material needs. Here are the materials needed for building a patio railing:
- Scaffolding or ladders
- Wooden posts (or metal posts if you’re building a metal rail)
- Screws and nails, preferably galvanized steel screws and nails so they won’t rust over time
Here are the materials needed for building a patio deck:
- Decking boards (plywood or composite wood) that have been cut to size using a circular saw
Here are the materials needed for building a patio cover:
- Wood siding (exterior grade Cedar, Redwood or Pine) with interior/exterior glue applied during installation; trim boards also made from these woods; hinges which will hold up doors when closed; locksets which allow users access only when unlocked by key
Set posts in place.
- Make sure posts are level, plumb and un-twisted.
- Check to see if you have enough material to finish the job: posts, rail pieces and anchor bolts.
- Drill holes through both sides of your rail bracket with a step bit or spade bit (you can use the same one for both sides). Be sure not to drill too deeply; just enough for your anchor bolt head to be flush with the top of the rail bracket.
Dig and pour concrete post footers.
The post footers should be dug to a depth of six inches, at least 12 inches wide and at least 18 inches deep. The bottom of the post footer should be level with the ground surface.
Install posts in post footers.
- Set the posts for your deck railing in post footers, which are holes dug into the ground. Use a level to ensure that each post is level and a plumb bob to make sure they’re plumb.
- Use a post hole digger (or auger) to dig holes that are 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide for each post footer, making sure you have at least 1 foot of soil between each pair of posts so there’s room for expansion over time when it rains or snows.
- Drop in 4-inch by 4-inch pressure treated wood into these holes until only about 2 inches remain above ground level; this will help keep moisture out of your wood later on down the road so as not to rot it away completely! Don’t forget: You want as much space around this part since they’re going under pavement (and therefore won’t be visible) – don’t worry though because we’ll cover them up anyway with concrete later on down below
4th Step: Anchoring Posts With Post Anchors – This step involves installing metal brackets called anchors at either end of each post where it meets up against concrete patio slabs or stone pavers (for example). These anchors prevent movement by holding everything firmly together so no cracks appear between them over time due vibrations caused by people walking around etc.
Attach rails.
- Attach the rails to the posts. Use carriage bolts and washers at each joint, making sure that all of your joints are level.
- Attach rails using screws. Place a screw every 3 or 4 inches along each rail, being careful not to over-tighten them as they can strip easily in soft wood like cedar.
- Nail down your railing with several nails per post (if you use reclaimed wood, be sure it’s been treated). Make sure your nails are long enough to go through both layers of cedar and into the post underneath; this will help hold everything together for years to come!
- If you’re using glue, use Titebond II Premium Wood Glue for best results; just apply it liberally onto both sides of one length of board before attaching it to another piece.
Building a patio railing is one of the most important parts of building a patio
A patio railing is an important part of any patio, as it can be a safety feature. A well-built railing will help keep you and your family safe, while also adding to the overall look and feel of your patio.
Patio railings are also decorative in many cases, especially if they’re painted or stained with a specific color or design. They can be one of the focal points in a design when matched with other features like furniture and plants.
They’re also great ways to add privacy when having guests over for summer parties or holiday gatherings: if you don’t want people looking into your yard from across the street (or down below), installing some sort of fencing could be useful here too.
Final words
The most important part of building a patio is building the railing. The railing will keep your family and friends safe, and it will keep people from falling off the edge of the patio. It’s also one of the most rewarding parts because once you have finished installing it, you can stand back and admire your work.
