Welcome to Deck Experts' Blog. Here you will find articles, news and tips on building, maintaining and repairing custom decks, railing & outdoor living spaces for your home in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, or in Kamloops.
2024
Understanding Deck Railings
January 24th, 2024 | by Admin Deck Experts | in Railings | 0
When you are building a deck, depending on several variables, the deck may need railings. When you need railings and how high those railings need to be is determined by your local building codes. In today’s blog article, we are going to talk about railings.
Do I Need Railings?
In British Columbia, if a deck is greater than 2 ft above grade, a railing is required that is a minimum of 36 inches in height.
If the deck is greater than 6 ft above grade, then a railing is required that is a minimum of 42” in height.
Other Requirements
Another requirement is that if you have a railing, openings in the railings must not permit the passage of a spherical object (like a ball) that is 4” in diameter. This is to make sure that any openings are too small for a child’s head to get caught in the railing.
What Kind of Railing?
So, with this information in mind, you are now free to decide what type of railing you want, and this is something you should discuss with your deck contractor or design person if you have one. Railings can be made of a number of different materials that require more or less maintenance. The railings can look sleek and modern, rustic and welcoming, and every flavour in between. Glass railings almost disappear allowing you to see the view ahead.
So, think carefully about what you want your deck to look like, the cost of the different types of railings, the upkeep involved, and pick something that you will love.
When you need some help building or rebuilding your deck and outdoor living space, give us a call on the Lower Mainland at (604) 626-7100. This is our area of expertise. We can help you design and build any custom deck you want.
Deck Experts, based in Surrey, BC, are professional deck builders with a long track record of success. We offer free estimates and long warranties and can build or fix any deck around. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about decks, please call us at (604) 626-7100.
