Do deck stairs need railings?

If your deck is over 30 inches from the ground, then by law you need railings for the deck stairs. Low rise (aka floating) decks are less than 30 inches from grade and are exempt. Guardrails must be installed on a high deck or a balcony. Stair rails are a type of guardrail.

How much does a wood stair railing cost?

How much do stair railings cost? A 25-foot railing can run anywhere from $700 to $6,000 or more. Costs depend a lot on the type of material. For example, the price to install stair railings made of aluminum is between $3,500 to $6,000; a wooden railing is between $750 and $1,250.

How high should a handrail be on deck stairs?

The International Residential Council (IRC) requires guardrails to be at least 36 inches high, measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Commercial decks attached to multifamily buildings need 42 inch high guardrails.

What is the code for deck railings?

What Is Code For Deck Railing Height? The International Residential Council (IRC) requires guardrails to be at least 36 inches high, measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Commercial decks attached to multifamily buildings need 42 inch high guardrails.

When do deck stairs need a gripable handrail?

In most cases, therefore, if a deck does not need a barrier, it will not need a consent. However it is still a ‘building’ and its construction must comply with the Building Code. The Acceptable Solution D1/AS1 says Clause D1 requires handrails on all stairs. Handrails must be ‘positioned between 900 and 1000mm above the pitchline’.

How to add stairs to your deck?

Screw each stringer to the bottom of the deck frame with a drill. Use L-brackets and 3 in (7.6 cm) deck screws to attach the stringers to your deck.

Cut the risers to the length of the top of the stringer.

Attach the risers with 3 in (7.6 cm) deck screws.

Trim the treads and drill them onto the stringers.

How to build an economical deck railing out of wood?

Use fasteners and hardware labeled for treated lumber — stainless-steel or hot-dipped,galvanized screws.

If the lumber is wet — it typically is when delivered from the store — butt it together tightly when building.

Drill pilot holes in the ends of boards to prevent splitting when you nail or screw them together.

What is deck stair?

Stair treads are the horizontal boards that you step on. Stair treads may be made of a single 2×12, but are often made of two decking boards or 2x6s. A stringer is a wide board, usually a 2×12, that runs at an angle from the landing pad to the deck framing and supports the treads.