The structural integrity of the railing is essential for the safety of your deck. To guarantee that your railing is sufficiently strong, you must adhere to the spacing code between balusters or boards. According to the International Residential Code (IRC), the space between balusters or boards should be less than 4 inches. To be on the safe side, it is recommended to use 3.5 inches for spacing.
Additionally, the wingspan of the deck posts should not exceed 72 inches (1829 mm), measured from the center of each post. When it comes to spacing deck posts, you must make sure that they are no more than 6 feet apart to provide adequate strength. Unless your deck is perfectly square in shape, the space between the posts will vary from side to side. The final height of the platform railing must not be less than 36 inches (914 mm), measured from the platform surface to the top of the rail cover. To determine the distance between the bases of the platform, you can use a base and beam calculator.
For most DIY projects, mass tables, masonry lines, tape measures and simple calculations are enough to establish the space between the bases of the platform. It is important to check your local building code for details related to deck and railing requirements before designing and building your deck. Following these guidelines will ensure that your terrace railing will provide the right support and preserve its aesthetics.
