Audrey 
If you’re planning to build a railing for your deck stairs, you should know how to calculate the angles you’ll need to cut. Once you have calculated the angles, you can determine the weight that will be placed on the railing and how high you should make it.
Here’s a guide for you:
Build a stair railing
You can build a railing system for your deck stairs by following some simple steps. First, take measurements of the stairs and the railings. Also, take photos to help you visualize the finished products. Next, prepare the lumber. Measure each piece at least once so that you can see how it will fit together. Then, mark each piece with a pencil to mark where it should be cut. Before installing the railings, make sure that they are plumb and level.
Depending on the height of your stairs, you can install the rails at varying levels. To achieve a proper height, you can place a stair railing that rests on the nosing of the stair treads. For example, the top rail post should rest on the rear of the tread, and the bottom one should rest on the rear of the tread. In some cases, you might need to install a landing or a stair that changes directions. Moreover, you should be aware of specific building codes if you want to install graspable handrails. For instance, stairs with a total rise of 30 inches or more require guardrails.
Calculate the angle of the cut
Before you start building a railing, you must determine the angle of cut on each stair tread. This measurement is critical to building a secure, sturdy railing. Start by placing a 2-by-4 on each tread and marking the angle from the post to the bottom one. Then, align your miter saw table’s angle to the two-by-fours cut angle. Record this angle so that you can cut handrails and balusters at the same height. This will make your railing system uniform and safe.
To calculate the angle of cut when building a rail for deck stairs, start by measuring the distance between the top and bottom rails. The lower rail should be matched to the lower railing. The upper rail should be matched to the top post. You should also measure the distance between the treads. Then, measure the distance between the upper and lower posts and transfer the two pieces of railing to the new posts. The upper rail will be attached to the top four-by-four-inch post.
Calculate the load on the railing
A deck stair railing can support a significant amount of force. To calculate the load, divide the deck area by the overall height. If you are installing a stair railing on a wooden deck, it is important to calculate the overall height of the stairs. It is also important to account for the distance between the top and bottom post on the stair. Then, multiply this value by the number of steps.
The load on deck stair railing is normally a live load. Assuming the railing is constructed from standard materials, it should be able to withstand the required lateral loads. For example, the standard railing in the 2006 IBC has deflections between h/56 and h/111. The effective length is the distance between the two edges of the posts. The midspan rail deflection is the amount of deflection that the railing can withstand when the entire railing is loaded.
Calculate the height of the railing
First of all, determine the deck’s height. There are two different ways to calculate the height of deck stairs railing. In addition to visual top blocks, stair risers have a specific height. If they are not higher than the top of the deck, calculate the height of the risers. Then, determine how long you want the handrail to be. In general, the handrail should be at least seven inches higher than the top of the stairs.
Most guides will suggest measuring the height of the deck stairs railing from the top of the steps. However, this can be dangerous as the brackets should be fastened to the wall studs or equivalent structural members. If you want to install a railing system for adults, you’ll need to account for a minimum height of nine inches. In addition, you’ll want to consider the slope. The slope of your stairs can affect the height of the handrail.
Install a post sleeve
The first step in installing a post sleeve for your deck stairs is to install the stringers. These will be 2x12s notched for the stairs’ stringers. You can use shims to make sure the post sleeves are plumb. Next, place the railing support brackets flat-side-up or flat-side-down. Lastly, install a TrexExpress template. Position the template on the newly installed post sleeve.
Once you have installed your deck stairs, the next step is to build a landing frame. A landing frame should be at least 34 inches high and spaced out at an appropriate distance. To install a handrail, you can use brass rail brackets or buy premade railings with finger grip covers. You should use a scrap piece of cedar as a pattern. When installing the post sleeve, make sure that the bottom of the footing trench is level and has six inches of gravel.
Secure the railing to a structural post
When building deck stairs, the railing should be securely attached to the structural post. The railing post acts like a lever, exerting a large force on the bottom connection, which is usually the weakest link. Instead of using fourx4 wood posts, use specialized steel framing connectors. Brands like Simpson Strong Tie and USP make these connectors. These connectors fasten to the deck joists with heavy wood screws and bolt through the post using 1/2-in. diameter through-bolts or threaded rods.
During construction, make sure to measure the distance between each corner post to determine the spacing between the railing posts. Make sure that the distance between each corner post is approximately 12 to 16 inches. This distance is important because railings must extend beyond the post to keep them in place. The railings should be 6-8 feet apart. When building deck stairs, make sure to space the railing posts at least six feet apart.
If you’re looking to build a deck in Toronto, you’re in luck. GTA Deck Builders in Toronto has over 30 years of experience. You can choose from a variety of materials for your deck, from tropical woods like IPE (also known as Brazilian walnut) to composite decking, which is made of recycled plastics and wood materials. With composite decking, you can even build a maintenance-free deck that won’t require painting or staining.
