How Do You Install 4X4 Deck Rail Posts?
Deck rails are primarily for safety; any deck 18 inches or more above the ground is required by most city codes to have a rail. Using treated 4-by-4 posts to support your deck rail is an inexpensive and effective method. To attach posts to an existing frame, before the decking goes on, you will need to be able to read a tape measure and operate a drill. Clamp your posts in position to make the attachment easier. Install deck posts in the corners of the deck frame where the outside edge joist meets cross members. For posts that will fall in areas where there is no corner, you can create a mounting surface by adding a piece of 2-by-6 or 2-by-8, whichever your joists are cut from, to create a corner by attaching it between the outside rim joist and the next parallel joist–typically a space of 16 or 24 inches, depending on the deck. Lay out deck posts no more than 8 feet apart. Typically, they are spaced 4 to 6 feet apart. If you are installing a prefabricated rail, the space should be de
