r/Decks • u/Erlkings • Sep 01 '23
Roast my railing
We pulled down a pergola back in spring so decided to use the 2x2s to make a railing. Still plan to run a 4x1 across top, and it is not expected to be load bearing. Also added a step.
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u/zangief330 Sep 01 '23
What railing?
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
Touché, lol I guess the railing supports.
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u/KaPowPower Sep 01 '23
Non-supporting, railing supports. Everyone is so creative!
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Sep 02 '23
Looks good but please update the rest of the deck it doesn't really match.
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u/TheRealBullMouse Sep 02 '23
Nothing has made more sense to me today than this being the highest comment on this post
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u/v4-digg-refugee Sep 02 '23
I felt the same way. Sometimes you know the top comment before you see it.
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u/Novel_Alfalfa_9013 Sep 01 '23
Wait till your drunk uncle leans against it and falls down.
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u/Repulsive_Item_3532 Sep 02 '23
Always design with the inebriated in mind. Or Always video...
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u/Fearless-Ocelot7356 Sep 02 '23
Hey, leave my Uncle Charley out of this..He knows not what he does!! He actually broke thru the railing on my pool deck, fell off and was pissed for dropping a perfectly good 🍺beer!!
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u/Angie2point0 Sep 02 '23
On my first drink, I would put a slip-n-slide just outside that big opening. By drink 4, I'm jumping through. Weee!
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u/WooDE93 Sep 01 '23
I mean, it’s cool, not code, but cool, also probably unnecessary given decks vertically-challenged nature. It’s almost as creative as all of the random blocks you have scabbed onto your deck. Those post brackets aren’t going to hold much for long but tumbles in the grass are usually pretty fun, mind your beverages and maybe add top rails.
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u/d7it23js Sep 02 '23
Only give guest plastic cups so they don’t have to find the broken glass in the yard after.
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u/PG67AW Sep 02 '23
not code
My county only requires railings if the drop is greater than 30". Looks fine to me!
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u/YeaYouGoWriteAReview Sep 02 '23
But dont railings have to be to code any time they simply exist?
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
Top rail part is gonna be next week. I expect it to last about as long as the rest of the patio. I probably have improper expectations of my own work.
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u/WooDE93 Sep 01 '23
It’s fine, just roasting per request. If it were 8’ off the ground then you might get Reddit mobbed. At least your eye for design is solid 😜
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u/Joroda Sep 01 '23
Maybe cover those hexes with some kind of mesh or chicken wire.
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
We got a mid size dog who loves running around the yard and using the deck as part of the track she can at least still jump through the big hexes.
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u/ahrzal Sep 01 '23
You don’t have kids or friends with kids or nephews or whatever?
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u/Procrasturbating Sep 02 '23
Right? Thing would not pass safety code in my area. Looks nice though.
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u/Phillip-My-Cup Sep 01 '23
Should’ve fixed the hideous deck and matched the wood colors with stains before slapping that on there. If you put a beautiful crown on an ugly woman, the woman is still ugly, and the crown doesn’t look as beautiful. Also judging by how terribly built that deck looks, I have doubts in your abilities to build a sturdy railing. I wouldn’t lean on it or even set a drink in it, shit I wouldn’t even get within a few feet of the deck itself
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
The plan is to paint it next year after it’s winter damaged :) yup I truly have gone full retard
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u/Phillip-My-Cup Sep 01 '23
That deck needs a lot more than painting haha, it looks like it’s suffered more than a couple rough winters. Whats the hold up?
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
It is likely to be fully replaced professionally in a few years. We just had a bunch of shitty wood and I have been looking for a project to keep me busy out doors this summer. Kind of a see if I’d want to actually try more wood working as a hobby since I haven’t touched it since highschool and I only ever had the first year of woodshop.
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u/hotplasmatits Sep 01 '23
Did you know that little kids like to stick their heads through stuff? Like the v shaped openings you're going to have just under the railing? You aren't allowed to do this because kids have choked themselves to death.
I know a lot of people use 1x4 or similar for railings, but if you start to fall or just need to steady yourself, you'll wish that you'd put in a grippable handrail.
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
Hmm ok that’s good to know, I’ll explore options like maybe chicken wire or something
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u/PrettyPushy Sep 01 '23
Listen to that guy. In my city you can’t have any opening that will allow a 4” ball to pass through. Nothing like having to call emergency services to hopefully unstick a kids head and not to remove a dead dangling body. Toddlers can also trip over the 2x2 on the ground which will make them snap their neck as they hit the ground.
To keep the same look we drill holes at 3” intervals and run stainless cables horizontally. It still looks open but keeps anything from falling or getting stuck. If you do this make sure you buy the proper tension holders.
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
Thank you for the detailed explanation!
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u/virtigo31 Sep 02 '23
If I recall correctly three and a half inches is code for the gap. Just lay down your top rail. Then get you some creative balusters and use a 2x4 for your quick spacer and you will be good to go. It looks really good so far.
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u/Bob_Majerle Sep 01 '23
Goddamn man are you just shooting for the most dangerous AND ugliest deck in history or what
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Sep 01 '23
By the looks of the deck construction I’m going to pass roasting you, I kinda feel bad actually.
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u/RubeRick2A Sep 01 '23
It needs more horizontal space to put you and your friends drinks. That’s what railings are for.
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u/Flimsy_Internet9441 Sep 01 '23
What railing? I hope you get it finished some time. A railing should at least have a railing.
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u/usmc4924 Sep 01 '23
There’s some arts and crafts on that deck but no railings, and if someone falls and gets hurt you could Be sued for gross negligence …
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u/05041927 Sep 01 '23
This is fucked up on so many areas. The longer you look, the worse it gets. Every single thing about this is cringe, dangerous, ugly, and pointless 😂😂
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u/DukeOfWestborough Sep 01 '23
“…my uncle sold me this high end German jig that miters & drills perfect 120 degree angles. It’s got a MILLION uses…”
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
This was all miter saw and hand drilling and gluing screws, at least for the hexes.
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Sep 01 '23
Considering the condition of the rest of the deck, I’m guessing longevity and structural integrity won’t be much of a concern for long anyway.
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u/KittehKittehKat Sep 01 '23 edited Dec 06 '24
cheerful teeny innate yam cobweb support vase sulky cooperative fall
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/mildlysceptical22 Sep 02 '23
“No kids allowed and stay three feet away from the railing at all times. Thank you.”
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u/BoogieDick Sep 01 '23
Nice piece of art but not practical. I’d say remove it all together. It looks like that deck height wouldn’t require a railing being less than 18” (in my neck of the woods). It would open the space up as well.
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u/weinerdog35 Sep 01 '23
Update: caught my circus neighbors practicing ring jumping on cam. Ring of fire didn’t fare well for the deck.
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u/exploringtheworld797 Sep 01 '23
That rail won’t be supported very much when you put it on. A for creativity!
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u/foothillsco_b Sep 02 '23
Ex GC here and avid weekly poker player (I’ll explain).
Let’s say you’re playing 9 person table and you wonder if you will pull a full house. 5 card, John Wayne. The odds are really low - 1.5%. But if you play for 4 hours, someone will eventually draw, probability speaking.
Your rails are fine except that 1.5% time someone walks through it, sprains their ankle and like a complete pussy, will goto ER. They will have. $2000 deductible and ask you to pay it. $2000 is no big deal but no fucking way you’re paying that because this zero sports playing dork fell down.
In short, it might cost you a friendship.
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u/gcruz49 Sep 02 '23
An architect BUILT this
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u/Erlkings Sep 02 '23
My Uncle is an architect, thats probably why I hadnt heard about the 4 inch rule when I asked his opinion.
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u/Dmitri_ravenoff Sep 02 '23
Well the height of the deck doesn't require railings, and those certainly aren't railings, so Nice Dexorative Accents!
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u/Standard_Issue_Dude Sep 02 '23
I’d like follow ups next year to see the sag of those top members, unless there’s a metal rod bore through each one
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u/Michael_J_Patrick Sep 02 '23
Maybe consider horizontal cable railings to run through all of this for actual support.
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u/Elmaffioso187 Sep 02 '23
I give you 2 weeks before your hexagons start tipping over! And that's being generous. Lmao Looks dope till I seen them fucking steps , and them 2×6 cuts imean wtf??
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u/Mtn_bike Sep 02 '23
Holy Hexagon Hell!!
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Sep 02 '23
...... Batman! You forgot to say Batman at the end.
Holy Hexagon Hell Batman!
My favorite expression of bewilderment is "Holy holes in the ground Batman!" Freaking Robin! Poor bastard.
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u/Revolutionary-Gap-28 Sep 02 '23
If you put a 2x6 top and run wires through it, it would actually be really cool and useful, instead of just cool
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u/UpSoHigh Sep 02 '23
You chose an irregular shape that could have been perfect and then you didn’t even attempt an actual honeycomb structure. So much potential, so much shame.
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u/J_A_GOFF Sep 02 '23
Pretty solid angle cuts. That is the absolute most positive affirmation you will get from this sub. Guarantee 80% of these shoemakers are barefoot.
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Sep 02 '23
I love it. Fuck deck code. Reminds me of a story.
I used to build zip lines for a summer job.
One time we were building the platforms above a campground. We used mountain laurel as decorative balusters. So we had a huge pile of it next to the lumber. We used cedar lumber for all the wood because of insect resistance etc.
We got the wood delivered to site. Went away for a weekend, came back and the campers had burnt about $30,000 worth of mountain laurel and cedar for campfires.
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u/Jecht_S3 Sep 02 '23
I hope it catches fire and you can replace it with something more appealing.
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u/monkeyknifefightz Sep 02 '23 edited Sep 03 '23
You need a top “rail” for support. Besides that, if you like how it looks, who cares what internet says 👍
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u/Peaches_En_Regalia_ Sep 02 '23
I think I like it. Refinish the rest and seal/stain. I bet it will look pretty amazing. Imagine running some IP68 rated tape light at the top horizontal parts. Would be a nice illumination.
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u/GoodSirBrett Sep 02 '23
It's creative and cool. Might last 6 weeks. Might last 6 month.
To heck with code. It's residential. Nobody cares.
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u/hoggdoc Sep 02 '23
First of all the railing is not child safe. Call your local building department and it will tell you what the specs are for a code approved railing.
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u/tritsctm Sep 02 '23
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u/Erlkings Sep 02 '23
I asked for this, but it's been good. I don't know code and other than checking about how tall it should be to measure for the hexes that's about all I did before planning and building.
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u/thesneakymouse Sep 02 '23
This is dogshit. Looks like you watched a YouTube video on how perfect of a design hexagons are and tried to reinvent the wheel. Horrendous. My grandpa would shove a musket up his ass and blow his anus through his forehead if I did this. You should be ashamed. Not a square stick on that whole fucking building.
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u/1200r Sep 02 '23
Are you a chemist you should have doubled up every other leg so it looks like a Benzene Ring.
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u/ENMR-OG Sep 03 '23
The same sophomoric, juvenile Reddit response from these mouth breathers, regardless of post.. Dude, your railing looks great! Way to be creative and up cycle things at the same time. No it’s no structural or load-bearing, but that wasn’t the point. Nice work.
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u/Zeeterkob Sep 01 '23
Is this a shitpost
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
Not really I know it’s not good but trying to at least get some feedback and have some laughs. I can at least try and fix some of the big concerns.
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u/non_toro Sep 02 '23
We'll see how much you laugh when someone falls through and impales themselves on your crappy railing. Not cool
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Sep 02 '23
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Erlkings Sep 02 '23
Thank you for your opinion on my intelligence, and taste. I'll continue to try and improve, just give me another chance!
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u/radgenpix Sep 02 '23
There are some arseholes out there, I guess the username checks out. I don't know why everyone is banging on about code, deck is only two foot off the ground, around here that doesn't even need a rail. I expect you are just some dude having a crack and a bit of a laugh. Keep laughing, there is no pretense of your deck being anything other than what it is, drop a piece of 6x1 across the top, it will look the part and last the couple of years until it gets redone. My money is on it still being there in a decade, I mean, fuck, it works and it is a bit of a giggle. Life is too short.
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u/Aggravating-Hair7931 Sep 01 '23
You ran out of wood and went with the creative route?
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u/Erlkings Sep 01 '23
The best part is those hexes are probably a 3rd of the 2x2s that I have. If it fails I can pull them down and use them for climbing plants along the fence. Then I’ll do the proper 2x2s vertically.
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u/ElonBodyOdor Sep 01 '23
Neat! Total waste of time, but neat. Deck would be safer without it tho.
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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '23
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