Advice on porch rails

   / Advice on porch rails #41  
Very nice.

**** codes. Like when we put in the pool, inspector reminded me about the fence. Pool is almost in middle of 21 rural acres. Told him property was already fenced with hogwire and barbed wire around perimeter. He said that didn’t qualify. Told him if a kid made it to the pool not only should kid be prosecuted for trespassing but the parents also for neglect. Still had to add fence.
 
   / Advice on porch rails #42  
Codes are a mixed bag, for sure. There are stupid rules, and stupid implementations of the rules that you run into at times. BUT... the bulk of the rules are there for dang good reasons. And the old saying that "the code was written with the blood of those who have gone before" is quite true. I happen to agree with the railing one in particular as it can very easily cause problems if ignored. Now you can split hairs for sure - the 4" rule? Obviously they picked a round number that was small enough to be safe for sure. If your railing has 4.25" openings is it a death trap? I rather doubt it. But they have to pick a number, and 4" is the number. It is not generally a problem to meet until you get into more creative railing panels.

As to your pool situation, I imagine your insurance co would require it even if the code inspector let you slide. Sometimes you just can't win...
 
   / Advice on porch rails #43  
Code here is 3.5 inches between and no horizontals as they can be climbed on and 42" height.

Well i made a few railings for clients using 1/2" copper every 3.5" and drilled treated 2x4's for top and bottom capped with 1 1/4 X 4.
Made up a drill 'jig' to bore the holes and good to go.
The copper water pipe turns a nice black patina over a short while allowing a nice 'see thru' capability.
Once the black 'patina' sets in it does not hinder the viewing, only glass is better but at what price? (and needs to be tempered as well to meet 'code')

With planning and drill jigs I bested any store bought railing options and clients liked it.

One hint if U consider copper is to wipe with lacquer thinner to remove printing and oily residues as bare copper will then 'patina' much faster and more evenly.

Also to top off the rail posts many lumber centers offer copper post caps some of which are even LED powered.
 
   / Advice on porch rails #44  
Codes are a mixed bag, for sure. There are stupid rules, and stupid implementations of the rules that you run into at times. BUT... the bulk of the rules are there for dang good reasons. And the old saying that "the code was written with the blood of those who have gone before" is quite true. I happen to agree with the railing one in particular as it can very easily cause problems if ignored. Now you can split hairs for sure - the 4" rule? Obviously they picked a round number that was small enough to be safe for sure. If your railing has 4.25" openings is it a death trap? I rather doubt it. But they have to pick a number, and 4" is the number. It is not generally a problem to meet until you get into more creative railing panels.

As to your pool situation, I imagine your insurance co would require it even if the code inspector let you slide. Sometimes you just can't win...
As for codes i can tell you stories on both sides of the issue. I lean more toward complying with code even though there are no code requirements here. Inspite of "we'll meet code" my neighbor has a 120v 30a circuit on 12 gauge wire, a licensed electrician wanted to run 120v 40a on 12 gauge wire at my place. For mine, I made him open the wall back up and do it right. There are more, but the point is that the code is to keep everyone safe into the future years.

Having said that, I also have a 3 rail fence at the top of a 6' tall retaining wall. (15 inch spacing between rails). There are some things that I require to be code compliant and others not so much. I do have a plan to protect my grandchild when they come out by using cattle panels with 4" spacing.
 
   / Advice on porch rails #45  
As for codes i can tell you stories on both sides of the issue. I lean more toward complying with code even though there are no code requirements here. Inspite of "we'll meet code" my neighbor has a 120v 30a circuit on 12 gauge wire, a licensed electrician wanted to run 120v 40a on 12 gauge wire at my place. For mine, I made him open the wall back up and do it right. There are more, but the point is that the code is to keep everyone safe into the future years.

Having said that, I also have a 3 rail fence at the top of a 6' tall retaining wall. (15 inch spacing between rails). There are some things that I require to be code compliant and others not so much. I do have a plan to protect my grandchild when they come out by using cattle panels with 4" spacing.

Sounds like you may be trying to apply logic and common sense. Two things often missing on the code side.
Some might disagree, but code isn’t only about safety.
 
   / Advice on porch rails #46  
Sounds like you may be trying to apply logic and common sense. Two things often missing on the code side.
Some might disagree, but code isn’t only about safety.

Hard to disagree with that as it is true. I suppose my statement should read "written in the blood of those gone before...much of the time" There are code sections that are nothing but rent-seeking from special interests for sure, for one example.
 
   / Advice on porch rails #47  
This is how I did my top rail, used a 2x6 and beveled the top on the table saw, then routed a Roman pattern in the bottom.
Really like the look and how it feels. I used a block in the middle with 2x4 bottom and top. Very stable.View attachment 624156View attachment 624157

Now, THAT'S a nice handrail! I hope you don't mind me copying your idea. ...simply perfect!
 
   / Advice on porch rails #48  
Codes are a mixed bag, for sure.

Client of mine bought a lake house with a walk out basement. The main living area is where everything is and you go down stairs to go out to the lake. The railing around the stairs had spindles about a foot apart. The house was built in the 70's and there is no Code there. I don't know if the Home Inspection said anything or not. They didn't seem to notice that it was a death trap and when I mentioned it to them, and how easily a child could get through and fall downstairs, they said that their kids are all grown up. I didn't push it, I just told them that the spindles are close enough to stop an infant from being able to get through them.

About a year later I was back at their house for something else and I noticed that they had installed plywood to the railing about 2 feet tall, all the way around. I asked why they did that and they said that their kids came to visit with their small children. One almost fell through the railing and they realized how easily they could have been hurt if nobody had been right there to save him.

People forget about who might be visiting them in the future, and how well those small children behave, or how quickly they wonder off.
 
   / Advice on porch rails #49  
Well like I said, Eddie, while codes can be a mixed bag, the railing codes are one part that is pretty spot on... As you proved.

The rest of the quote...
Codes are a mixed bag, for sure. There are stupid rules, and stupid implementations of the rules that you run into at times. BUT... the bulk of the rules are there for dang good reasons. And the old saying that "the code was written with the blood of those who have gone before" is quite true. I happen to agree with the railing one in particular as it can very easily cause problems if ignored.
 

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