Installing Railing between Existing Columns / Walls...
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Railings can be mounted between existing columns (or walls) on decks, balconies, porches or patios either with or without posts.
(If you have old, ugly wood, steel or cement columns,
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look of your finished project!!)
With No Railing Posts
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If no posts are used, then the maximum span can be six feet.
Since Rails Ends can not be mounted to the walls first, this method would
require the use of tabbed Rail Ends since it would be impossible to install the
panel in between hidden fastener Rail Ends!!
Tabbed Rail Ends have a visible screw head both above and below them.
This photo shows a tabbed Rail End. All other Rail Ends, except Adjustable, have hidden fasteners.
With Railing Posts...
Panel / Post Systems
There are two different ways to use Posts between columns to span longer spaces (or for additional strength on 6' or shorter gaps).
The
first method is to install posts at both ends and as many intermediate posts as
required.
With a Panel / Punched Post system, all the Rails terminate at the End Posts as shown here. This can also apply to a Panel / Rail End system.
With
the second method of installing a Panel / Rail End system,
short sections can be used between
the End Posts and the columns. Rail Ends would be used on both ends of the short
panels.
Which of the above two methods you use for Panel / Post systems is really pretty much determined by the width of the space that needs to be covered. Normally, you would want any necessary posts to be equally spaced and any short panels on the ends to not look silly because they were too small. Keep in mind that the gap between the last baluster and the existing columns must be less than 4" to meet building codes.
Post Top Systems
With
a Post Top system, there are three ways to install between existing
posts.
The first method uses Top Rail End Caps so the Top Rail ends atop the End Posts and is finished off cleanly as illustrated here.
If the gap between the End Posts and the columns are less than four inches,
you can also extend the Top Rail to the column and attach to it with hidden
fastener Rail Ends.
The third method is to use short panels just like the Panel / Post system
above.
In this case too, the rails are secured to the columns with Rail Ends.
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