HAND RAILS FOR DECK STEPS HOW TO

You can make your railing or handrail out of many different materials. What Can I Use for My Deck Stair Railing? A handrail or guardrail should be added to the open side of a half-closed stairway.Handrails or guardrails should always be added to the side of any open stairway.The handrail itself must be somewhere between 30” and 38” above your decks’ platform.The top rail of your stairway must be a minimum of 42” high from the floor part of your deck.If you’re concerned about what the OSHA requirements are, here you go:

One can be added if you wish for either cosmetic purposes or practical ones, but a building inspector will not require it. In nearly all situations, a deck stairway of only two steps does not require a railing, and if there is only one step, you certainly don’t need a barrier. How Many Steps on Deck Require a Railing?īefore your deck requires a railing, the number of steps depends on how high the steps are and how elevated your deck is.Īs a general rule, however, any deck stairway with three or more steps will usually require a railing.īuilding codes are different in nearly every region, so check on your local jurisdiction before finalizing. You’ll also need something to hold onto when going up and down the stairs. The focal point is to have something protecting you from falling. However, if you want to sell your house and face a home inspection, a missing railing is something that a home inspector will point out, and it will be up to you to fix it.Ī deck railing can be a simple handrail or a more complex one with spindles. You don’t necessarily have to put a railing on if you own a house without deck stairs railing or buy one without them. If your deck stair gets put up against your house on one side, then only the bare side of the stairs needs a railing.

You’re not going to get in severe trouble or face fines if you don’t have one, but a building inspector will need deck railing on new construction. If the top of your deck is more than 2” above the ground, then your deck stairs require a railing.

HAND RAILS FOR DECK STEPS HOW TO

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Hand rails for deck steps