Outdoor & decks
Railings and guards
Wood, aluminum, steel, glass or cable railings for decks, balconies, porches and stairs: posts, panels, hardware and the height rules.
0 of 10 answers are yours. The rest are typical defaults — check each one.
Where is the railing?
default
Balcony
Upper floor, over a drop
All the sides added together, measured along the edge.
Each corner gets its own post.
Both ends free
A post at each end
Drop to the ground or floor below
default
From the walking surface straight down, at the highest point near the edge. It decides whether a guard is required and how tall.
A house
Or a unit’s own deck
Apartment, commercial or public
Taller guards, engineered
Aluminum
Pickets or balusters
Bolted to the side of the framing
Rim joist or stringer
On top of a wood deck
Into blocking below
On top of concrete
Base plates and anchors
On the edge of a concrete slab
Side brackets and anchors
Set in core-drilled holes
Metal posts, grouted
As far as the system allows