Using metal conduit for a deck railing?

[Dougryan]

I really want to be able to see through my deck railing. The requirement is that a 4" sphere should not be able to fit through any of the spaces/gaps between balusters. People typicall use the 2"x2" square pressure treated balusters. That's fine, but from an angle, they start to become very disruptive to the view. I'm thinking about using 1/2" electrical metal conduit as balusters. 2x4 top and bottom rails with 1/2" holes drilled part way through to hold the conduit sections. Seems pretty easy. Would the conduit hold up outdoors (this would not be the rigid metal heavy stuff, but the light weight RMC that is less than $2 per 10' piece at lowes and HD).

What do you think?

Thanks,
Doug

 

[HarryN]

That should work fine. Here's what I did for horse stalls years ago. Same idea if I'm understanding your question......

 

[BrandonR]

On an episode of Ask This old House they used thin cables to satisfy the building code with minimal visual impact.

 

[Ed of all trades]

We did one with the ss cables. Looked great and took up almost no view.

 

[PILOON]

I have used 1/2" copper pipe and 2 x 4 top and bottom for rails.
Drilled 5/8 holes every 4" for spacing and capped top with 1.25 x 5" for look. (and to hold bottles of refreshment.)
Wiping the copper with lacquer thinner cleans all printing.

Within a short time the copper tarnishes and later develops the green patina.
Certain chemicals speeds up the patina process.

Even at high copper prices, pipe was cheaper than box stores rod kits.
My client just loved the look.
Maintenance is nil and view is unobstructed.

 

[MotorSeven]

Or use High tensile Horse/cattle galv wire like I did:

 

[Paul N]

Thinwall electrical conduit is plated, and it's rated for exterior wiring. It should hold up well. It also accepts paint well.

 

[kennyd]

On an episode of Ask This old House they used thin cables to satisfy the building code with minimal visual impact.

We did one with the ss cables. Looked great and took up almost no view.

Where the cables vertical or horizontal?

Around here, code says NO to horizontal because a kid could climb it like a ladder, in addition to the 4" sphere not passing though, and a 32" (IIRC) minimum height..

 

[BrandonR]

Where the cables vertical or horizontal?

Around here, code says NO to horizontal because a kid could climb it like a ladder, in addition to the 4" sphere not passing though, and a 32" (IIRC) minimum height..

On the show they were horizontal, but with some planning you could weave a cable up and down and have just one tensioner to tighten the whole system.

 

[Ed of all trades]

The ones we put up were horizontal. If you try vertical be aware they have a lot of pull in order to not be flexable.

 

[grsthegreat]

well i have installed lots of emt conduit outdoors, and let me tell you it does rust over time. I have some pipes less than 5 yr old that are badly rusted.

It seams that any scratch creates a rust zone. not sure why. Its also not very strong. I can use my hand or foot to bend 1/2' emt. ... pretty easy to bend.


Have you looked into the old standard...... wrought iron. i have 3/4" wrought iron handrails and they certainly dont block the view..and are very strong. Not to expensive either.

 

[SPIKER]

I would stay away from the EMT conduit, it is mostly just a galvanized pot metal. I've installed a LOT in factories and only "ONLY" indoors, if it goes outdoors it is HW (Heavy Wall) as EMT is not weather rated for electrical.

They have installed the SS Cables on "This Old House" TV show a couple times now goes in pretty good and not bad looking. It is almost invisible from a distance so real good there.

Have you thought about using GLASS in there? There are tempered glass made for shelving and such (someone maybe posted this already) often available 2nd hand.

When I was doing Metal Fabrication we made two or 3 Deck Railings and Porch Railings for people. Used simple square and or round tubing of 16ga x 1/2" hollow square stock. One we made using 3/8" cold rolled rod. All were vertical orientation and we made them to bolt in between deck posts. We powder coated one set but the majority was sold "raw steel" and homeowners painted them. Top and Bottom rails were flat stock on most of them bent with pre-drilled holes for lagging into posts. We did one we made 12 gauge Formed Top Plate 3.5" channel to fit over "CAP" the 4x4 deck posts. That one was powder coated flat black came out "really nice." Costs were not bad figuring work to install wood and life rating of the metal vs wood.

Mark

 

[Dougryan]

A curve ball... The deck is around part of a pool, so any metal within 5 feet of the pool wall must be bonded with 8ga bare copper wire to the filter pump motor.
So, instead of running copper to each conduit baluster, are there any non-metalic options? Thought about plastic or fiberglass rods, but they are expensive. Now thinking about PVC pipe. Maybe 3/4" so it's rigid enought.
Would it look trashy or should I just break down an use the standard 2x2 pressure treated balusters... ? sigh...
Doug

 

[MotorSeven]

But the metal is only tied to a wooden deck so it is not grounded anyway....good grief.

 

[hr3]

I used Aluminum conduit with horizontal SS and marine turnbuckles.. Came out nice it's about 5 years and still nice,,

 

[Dougryan]

But the metal is only tied to a wooden deck so it is not grounded anyway....good grief.

I know... The requirements for pools are crazy these days.

Doug

 

[kennyd]

Tempered glass panels, call around and get some quotes.

 

[KennyG]

The big box home improvement stores are always advertising metal balusters. I think they are powder coated and don't seem too expensive. From a cost/time and appearance standpoint, these might be a good option.

 

[sodamo]

A curve ball... The deck is around part of a pool, so any metal within 5 feet of the pool wall must be bonded with 8ga bare copper wire to the filter pump motor.
So, instead of running copper to each conduit baluster, are there any non-metalic options? Thought about plastic or fiberglass rods, but they are expensive. Now thinking about PVC pipe. Maybe 3/4" so it's rigid enought.
Would it look trashy or should I just break down an use the standard 2x2 pressure treated balusters... ? sigh...
Doug

I built these using 1" PVC and 2x4's in 2005. I used 3 threaded rods per 8ft section to hold together. Last year i built the gate using abs for the frame, not elegant but functional.




David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[Ridgewalker]

Lowes and home depot sell powder coated aluminum balusters just for this application.
They also have black plastic brackets to mount the bottom supports in. We thought
they dressed it up a little.