How Panel / Post Railings Are Installed...
There
are two different Systems: Panel / Punched Post, and Panel / Rail End.
This is a very popular style of deck and porch railing and is very easy to install.
To see how all the parts fit together, take a look at the Panel / Post - Exploded View page.
Be sure to read the Aluminum Columns page to see how to install the railings between existing walls and columns, if you need to do that.
Panel / Punched Post Systems...
For a Panel / Post system like the one shown here, posts are punched to accept the ends of the Top, Middle, if any, and Bottom Rails.
This drawing demonstrates how a Panel / Punched Post railing system works.
Each post (Line, Corner or End/Gate)
comes pre-punched, so the ends of the rails on the pre-assembled sections
can be inserted and held in place with screws.
The Top Rail Cap is about 1 1/4" shorter on both ends to allow the Top Rail Base to be inserted into the punched hole. The rail is then secured to the post with a screw.
See Railing Install Tips for instructions on how to trim the Top Rail when it is necessary to cut a section down to size.
The middle and Bottom Rails go completely inside of the post and are, again, secured with a screw through the side of the post.
Panel / Rail End Systems...
This is the sleekest look for a Panel / Post system
in that
it uses Rail Ends for all the rails and
Blank posts (un-punched).
The Rail Ends feature hidden screws so the entire rail has no hidden fasteners with the exception of stairs.
Panel / Post Stair Railings...
In the case of stairs for either the Panel / Punched Post or the Panel
/ Rail End system, adjustable rail ends are used and there is no way to hide
the screws for those.
However, they do provide a very easy way of installing stair railing that also provides some "forgiveness" in the stair rail angle.
For further information on stair railings, see the Installing Stair Railings page.
To see how all the parts fit together, take a look at
Panel / Post - Exploded View
How Post Top Aluminum Railing Systems Work
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