DIY: Stair Railing on a Deck

Create your railing to match or complement the design of your deck and house, no matter if you choose to make the railing out of wood, metal or a man-made material. You must construct a stair railing for your deck that is sturdy enough to support the weight of anyone who might use the stairs. Your railing is as much a decorative item as it is a piece of safety equipment, and you need to build it as well as possible.

Wood posts
Torpedo level
Drill
Deck screws
Screwdriver
Measuring tape
Handsaw
2-by-4 board
Sawhorses
Clamps
Circular saw
Sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Position wood posts on the side of the deck stairs, with one post sitting even with the first drop-off and the other post sitting even with the final stair tread. Place a level on both posts to ensure they are sitting perfectly vertical.
- 2
  Drill pilot holes through the posts and into the side of the staircase. Drive deck screws through the posts and staircase, using the pilot holes to guide the screws into place.
- 3
  Measure from the stair treads up the boards to a height of 3 feet. Mark the height levels on both posts, then cut the posts at the lines using a handsaw.
- 4
  Hold a 2-by-4 against the sides of the posts nearest the stair treads and mark on the board where it intersects the rail around the deck. Mark on the rail where it meets the edge of the lower of the two posts.
- 5
  Place the 2-by-4 on two sawhorses and tighten clamps onto the board and sawhorses. Cut the board along the lines you marked, using a circular saw.
- 6
  Remove the clamps from the board and sand the trimmed ends until smooth. Reposition the board against the posts, lining up the top cut end with the deck railing. Drive wood screws through the board and into the posts.

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