How to Install Railing and Make it Removable

[@dianas514]

I think I’ve checked out just about every rail system out there. Watched umpteen KZbin videos. After watching your video (several times) I’m convinced this is our best option both economically and low maintenance wise plus it looks very classy too. We have about 135 linear feet of railing not including the railings on the 4 staircases. Thanks for this video and so many other great videos!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Awesome! I'm glad you found it useful. I just love it. Thanks for watching.

[@jewdd1989]

Cute intro April, watched you for years now and you were one of the first builders/woodworkers I learned from.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Aw thanks! I'm glad you enjoy my channel. Thanks for watching.

[@user-pr8jz6ef2h]

@@AprilWilkerson I have to say it was the same for me. i found you from the very first video you placed on KZbin. one of my faves was the bed you made. I made plans to make one myself but incorporate a lifting mechanism to lift the bed base itself giving me extra space to store thing's.

[@AprilWilkerson]

@@user-pr8jz6ef2h Thanks! That's a great idea. Thanks for Sharing and for watching.

[@BearCreekWoodworking]

It's amazing how fast this railing system speeds up the process of building a project. I love the overall look of the Cedar and Black color scheme April!!!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Yes, I love the cedar and black combo. Thanks for watching.

[@robertbatista7164]

@aprilwilkerson did you secure those posts to the blocking sleeve you created and slipped them into? Figuring you just didn't show it?

[@lovejones7545]

April you're coolest person on the planet! Awesome stuff!🤙🏾💯

[@MichaelLembaris]

Thanks!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your generosity. Thanks for watching.

[@rickysafer2895]

Very unique April , I really like the way the deck has come together and the fact that you used natural cedar.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Looks great April, like the way it went together so easy for you all. Took some figuring but you made it work. Thanks for sharing with us. Stay safe and keep up the great videos. Fred.

[@wendellperkins7605]

From experience a suggestion. Where your top railing pieces butt together over a post cover the top of the post with something waterproof such as joist tape. As April states water will rot the tops of the posts when it seeps between the boards.

[@no_handle_required]

Every year that goes by, you get better. Better ideas, more energy, better videos. You're a freaking legend.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Wow! Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoy my Channel and have stayed along for the ride. Thanks for watching. :)

[@jonathanwaddington965]

When you have to shovel snow, you will really be glad you did it this way.

[@edrosa5079]

Looking Great April

[@JJE2010MO]

Super COOL !!!!! I did a similar project with a driveway fence. Worked super at first, then over time the wood expanded and it wouldn't fit.

[@davidd1395]

That’s really cool, and to be able to remove them to hit golf balls would be a dream come true. Nice job!

[@louroberts5567]

Hi, April! VERY cool idea! The removable rail system is pretty darn cool!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@carlwhite8225]

April, I am going to be building a huge deck on my house soon and these tips will surely help, Thank You.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Awesome! Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching.

[@rongrose3746]

Railing ( and deck ) look very amazingly NICE !

[@nytrortx5224]

What a beautiful view off that deck!

[@snurb48]

OMG! I did the same style Deck, Ramp, Balusters, Top Cap except I used the old style 'fixed' or adjustable black aluminum balusters from the local box store! The installation was enough to make a grown man cry! I finally came up with a jig system where I would lay out each railing section (including the stairs) on my large lay out bench, assemble everything laying down with a square, inserts all the balusters, fasten temporary 1x4 face braces to hold the whole rack together, then drop the whole section into fence brackets on the posts! Absolutely beautiful look but I paid a high price.........my sanity! Ha, lol. I had a gut feeling someone would improve on the baluster connectors. I didn't watch the entire video due to jealousy, where did you order these? By the way, I used that new product 'flex seal' Black roll on to do my top 2x6 cap rail, it looks amazing with the black balusters and the rubberized paint/seal looks to be holding up to the the weather and I doubt I'll have to ever repaint or seal but every 10 years. I used Sequoia Red treated outdoor lumber and the look is so incredible that makes my house look like it needs a 3.5 Million Dollar Upgrade! LOl Thanks for sharing a product that fills a must needed solution.

[@peterputnam3804]

As an old carpenter a trick you can use to get your handrail height. Take a framing square lay the 16 inch leg onto the front of 2 stair treads,using the 24 inch leg mark at the top where it hits the post. This gives you proper handrail height for stair railings and meets all applicable codes.

[@terrygroce1594]

You are so talented. Love you can do attitude. Great looking deck. Time for enjoying it.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you so much!

[@chrisE815]

Well, there goes my deck budget. Now I need to use this spindle system AND cedar. Great job April!

[@AprilWilkerson]

It is pretty isn't it? I just love the look of it. :) Thanks for watching.

[@InGratitudeIam]

That's a pretty slick system. One thing you might consider for the removable sections is using hardware, like a bolt latch to attach sections to each other and to the deck, to provide a little more security should someone fall into the railing.

[@Sirzerty]

Yeah, but then you have to go underneath, break out tools, it's a headache. If you just wanna shoot off your deck or drive some golfballs, then this is fantastic.

[@clarkkent19381123]

Amazing and beautiful. To heck with building codes as long as it solid and I can still remove and work my my swing

[@dennishinkle5010]

I luckily don't have building codes in the country. My goal is to make it with the least amount of cost while still being durable. I'm too old to plan for much future but your plan looks great. Love the removable railing. Thank you April.👍♥️♥️

[@fdort3971]

@AprilWilkerson thanks for the lesson. It looks really nice. I didn't know about that style of removable rails. We have an upper deck used by everyone. The lower deck is a privacy deck for tanning...not as grand as yours but it's nice. When we are not using it for privacy, we wanted the steps clear. When tanning, we had a "gate" on wheels that would slide in front of the opening and lock in place with hooks. I'm trying to learn so much as fast as possible. You make it so easy! We have a regulation here that the rail spacing cannot allow for a pop can to pass through. What is the minimum for the top of the railings please? FYI...for some reason the audio fluctuates really bad during the stair section. I couldn't make out some of what you said.

[@muttBunch]

Looks awesome April but I have a challenge for you...if you have extra balusters which I'm sure you do, I challenge you to make a KZbin Short of leaving the railing in place and hitting a golf ball between the balusters :D GAME ON!!!

[@Rach_H_UK]

It looks gorgeous.

[@garycarpenter8343]

That is nice! I guess you can call a deck beautiful, it is. Great job and excellent instructions.

[@fmort210]

Looks awesome! For your next episode I would love to see how you pick up all them golf balls! 😅 ohh, maybe a backpack shop vac! 🤔

[@AprilWilkerson]

I have a shag bag so when bucket gets empty, I simply walk down and the shag bag makes short order of getting them. Thanks for watching.

[@fmort210]

@April Wilkerson never heard of those, so I looked it up. It's pretty cool 😎

[@lorenmeyer5290]

WOW looks great April!

[@excdnforces4035]

wow that's such a beautiful work of art!!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! Yes, I love the look. Thanks for watching.

[@user-vc5rp7nf8f]

i like now creative you are with the removable railings

[@dddube12]

That removable railing is the bomb, I Love it!!!!!!! ❤❤❤

[@699hazard]

Great video April love your work!

[@anthonygasparini1734]

Great video. I love the look! It's time to replace my cedar balusters

[@shindees7676]

April I expected finials and dowls ...It. looks amazing. I aim glad you are re-doing it cos the first time I saw it expecting a collapse but I knew it was no where near that with you rotund !!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! Yes, it was definitely time to replace railing. Thanks for watching.

[@AntiDot70]

Fantastic work April! Cheer from Chicago :)

[@stevesaunders6672]

you still need to conform to the 4" rule on top of the stair treads where they meet the riser and under the guard rail 2 x 4, this spot tends to be overlooked by everyone but the inspector!

[@juanvarela4360]

Excelente!!! April Wilkerson ❤🌹👏👏👏💪🙌 felicitaciones

[@scotttovey]

You could make your removable rails code compliant by adding a dado to the bottom of the caps that allows a dowel to slide out of one cap into the other cap which will then lock the removable rail in place. At the corner where the two removable rails meet, the dado and dowel would be placed in the one, and a dado in the other so that they lock in place. Or you could place a similar mechanism at the bottom which would slide into the posts and lock them in place. This is more a safety feature for kids messing about rather than adults, unless of course; you get that one weird adult that tends to pull up on anything he touches. I've never come across someone like that but one time I did see a dude walking down the street of a city attempting to pull stuff off the buildings.

[@brandonk1502]

Guessing by the video of the area I don't think code compliance is going to be out there anytime soon. I'm also pretty sure a child is not going to be able to lift that up and move it.

[@sgoossen856]

Thanks for sharing your videos. Great efforts and illustrations. You shows much enthusiasm with your work. Just curious in your video,. I noticed that there is a big shallow circle with a lower deck platform. What is that? Keep up with the good works.

[@sgoossen856]

Hello April, Thanks for your latest video about your deck railing. Now I understand why that you're installing a pool deck when you have a large shallow circle on the deck platform. Very impressive work. Thanks for sharing.

[@michaelwebb57]

Love this concept. We're redoing our deck and going with the same railing system. My question is, have you stained/water proofed your pressure treated wood (floors/rails) yet? How does stain or waterproofing affect the aluminum balusters, or were there no apparent problems, issues? Thanks! Awesome video and a super nice deck. I definitely can't match it. 😊 Thanks for sharing.

[@Condor1970]

If you have a chop saw blade for your miter saw, use 1/2" Rebar, and a wood bore bit to countersink 1" into a 2x4 that is top and bottom rail mounted between your posts. You can even use 4x4's for your rails to make them even stronger. Drill a 1/8" hole in the bottom rail holes for water to drain out. You can also hold them in place with some silicon caulk. A 20ft length of rebar is about $10, and yields about 6 balusters. You can use Rustoleum to paint them whatever color you want, and it lasts for decades.

[@natashalynnponce448]

question, if you want a more refined look if using rebar, could you use this lock in place system or are there other options to use for a cleaner look?

[@10OF9OFBORG]

I love it! It’s really awesome idea! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@robertcollins7515]

I was wondering why you would need to remove it so high up. Great Idea.

[@sockmonkey201]

Turned out AMAZING!!! Nice job!

[@marytucker9404]

Very very nice. Great work. Forney, TX

[@pamallen3057]

Looks fantastic and meets your requirements. The perfect combination 👌

[@samuelluria4744]

One of my top 5 KZbinrs of all time, and yet, you don't t show up in my feed often enough....if I click the "bell", it will get overwhelming, Lol.....I wish there was a Middle Ground, where I could watch a video every week, and not go months without getting shown a video from someone I've subscribed to, long ago, and with good reason....KZbin is dumb in so many ways...🤷🏻‍♂️

[@AprilWilkerson]

Just go to my channel every Sunday and check to see if there is a new video. I release practically every Sunday. Thanks for watching.

[@samuelluria4744]

@@AprilWilkerson - Yeah, I know I can get it right....didn't mean to bother you, 😁

[@samuelluria4744]

@@AprilWilkerson - 🙏🙏🙏🙏😎G-d Bless you, and all of your endeavors! Just saw your response while listening to some new Billy F. Gibbons tunes...

[@mikecurtis2585]

Very nice looks great 👍 you always do amazing work! Have a wonderful day!!

[@davidfarr87421]

Beautiful job

[@riccardopalazzolo4067]

Sei sempre la migliore nel tuo lavoro ciao

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy my channel. Thanks for watching.

[@glencrandall7051]

You never fail to amaze me.🙂🙂

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@progression_decibel]

Excellent video! Where did you get that rolling storage seat/creeper from? I need that!

[@allaboutdetails3356]

Do you recommend 8’ max span for the handrail between the posts? 🎉

[@kandiecandelaria3134]

Great job! Love the look

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

.. Interesting System .. I have installed miles of railing over the years .. different types and materials ... different locations of the U.S. .. inside and out .... Note : spacings state under 4" spacing (i.e. 3.999 ) ,, not 4" ... A 4" sphere cannot pass through .. Have watch many of your video's ,, interesting projects .. and you seem to have a good time doing them ... Stay Safe ..

[@russkunz3949]

I get more out of your 16 minute video than I did watching all the others combined for the last year combined. QUESTION. What size is the flat hailing over the 2x4's attached to the balasters?...2x6??

[@robertrichard5460]

Beautiful job❤

[@jvanamb]

April, I love all your ingenious DIY Projects. HOWEVER, WHERE'S THE TREEHOUSE???😮😢 Jim in N.Y.

[@thetazva]

If I am not mistaken handrail or guard rail posts are not suppossed to be notched. Also appears that the stair rail balusters have more than a 4" space between them. So you build partly to code? love the western red cedar

[@roneychandomi1368]

April excelente trabajo de carpintería y herrería, que madera utilizaste para el trabajo que estará a la intemperie se ve muy liviana, saludos 👍🙅🙏👸

[@vadymraisa1]

Good job What kind of wood you use for it ??

[@WillysPerformanceCycleCtr]

Nice handrail install! Where did you get the balusters themselves? Great project video! Thank April….

[@jrpritchard1622]

love the removable railing you are a genius got a ? where did ya get the knee pads you were wearing on the start of this project or could ya give me link so i order some them thanks as always be safe

[@AprilWilkerson]

The knee pads are by ToughBuilt and are great! Thanks for watching.

[@jrpritchard1622]

awesome thanks

[@mikejohnson219]

Dude - slick system and the removable section is SICK!!!! Love it!! Great tip about the Nail Slicer Blades, they looked pretty damn impressive. As always, thanks for sharing.

[@gizongas]

Snap in balster? Nice and easy installation, it looks like, but is that plastic or metal?

[@michaelwebb57]

My wife and I are redoing a 36x16 deck with two sets of stairs. We are going with the same railing system (Titan) as you did. I think once completed it will look so nice. My question is how dry (moisture content) was you wood, especially the 2x4's for the balusters? I read on Titan's site that the wood should be dry. It's hard to pull off and have straight lumber. Anyone who's worked with treated lumber knows the nature of the beast. I'm not sure how much a treated 2x4 will shrink in length, as that would be an issue with the screwed on plastic ends. If you, or anybody else reading this, we'd really appreciate the help/advice. Thanks so much!

[@rogerwhiting9310]

You build some cool stuff

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@chipb7570]

Deck looks great really well built. As a building inspector you can have a removable rail. It has to meet the same safety requirements as a fixed rail . It is done all the time to facilitate moving furniture and large appliances to a second story. Check your local codes some may require it to be lockable

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

I don't know if the top and bottom rail can meet code, attached with a plastic part, but if so, I don't think it's a good idea. The sun and time will weaken the plastic. I think many code requirements are too stringent, but plastic fasteners for a railing does not seem stringent enough.

[@Sylvan_dB]

@@FLPhotoCatcher I agree, but I doubt the code does.

[@rogert41]

Love the removable railing concept. What are the dimensions and guage of the receiving sleeves and metal posts? Are the wood vertical posts 4x4 or 4x6?

[@scotchrysler3007]

I am planning on installing a handicap ramp and I am debating between pressure treated or composite. I believe pressure treated is about 1/2 the cost? My concern is it is more slippery and would have to be treated annually?

[@valjohnabc]

good work , where did you get that special hardware,

[@pierrehubel2773]

Very cool project 😍😍 I love it

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! I just love it! Thanks for watching.

[@lalva2024]

Nice work! I’d like to know where you got that roller stool?

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🤗GREAT IDEAS 💡APRIL,THAT WERE NOT AN OPTION 🥺…BACK IN MY DAYS…or I would have used them ,in a heartbeat ❤💚💚💚

[@thepittsfamily]

Long time subscriber and customer. Thank you for another awesome video filled with great tips. I used the Titan products on my deck off of the house and found them amazing so thank you for featuring them. I am building a pavilion/deck off of our pool deck and am adding a golf area as well. Curious about which mat you went with. Thanks again.

[@denali9449]

Speaking of building codes; the model code (IRC) requires a 'graspable' handrail for stairs, Section R311.7.8.3 Grip-size . Did Texas delete this requirement? This Titan system is nice, we used it when remodeling our decks. The powder coated aluminum stands up to the weather very nicely.

[@kdavidwhite8376]

can the railing be removed once the piece on the end of the railing snaps into the mating piece in the post? I want to do a small removable section in my small back porch deck and steps, but I don't want to go through doing what you did for the removable section. Great video BTW. Love how this deck is shaping up.

[@Harrythehat58]

be a great deck for an outdoor jam session

[@Harrythehat58]

@FaithMiracle-wu8op I'd have to make it back to TX.

[@DaveValHit]

Hey are your railings and 4x4 above the floor also cedar or are they pressure treated? Stain both floor and those same color?

[@teddyfrau1]

Looks amazing 👍💪

[@L.Scott_Music]

I'm thinking maybe stuff the underside of the post caps with some insulation (Rockwool?) the push onto the post. This should keep critters from making a home under the cap. ??

[@fdort3971]

@AprilWilkerson I really like your work boots....are they composite toed csa approved? If so...or steel toed csa...what brand are they please? The work boots I have are falling apart. Finding women's work boots around here is a challenge.

[@ronallen6578]

Deck is beautiful as are you!! Do you plan on a finish of anykind or just let it weather naturally??

[@schroederfamily8792]

What are you sitting on and rolling around on to do the railings?

[@jeffweber8244]

Cool railing. The screw penetrations through the top would bother me a little. Was is possible to pocket-screw the railing from below? Also, who picks up the golf balls 😂?

[@v2joecr]

What if you used bolts & nuts to hold the removable rails when you don't want them removed for code compliance in those areas that care?

[@Sylvan_dB]

It depends on your inspector and any special stuff in your local code. Almost always fasteners that require tools to remove are sufficient if the rail otherwise meets structural requirements. (The key intent behind the code is safety. The railing needs to support sufficient weight and etc.) Most people don't want to remove tools if removing the railing is for more frequent use than for new furniture, and sometimes that hardware is left off after the inspection has completed. Often latches are sufficient - at least those are less likely to be discarded. Sometimes a lock is required (but again can be removed or left unlocked).

[@NathanielSanders-he9gv]

I may have missed it but where’d you get the balusters from

[@velebithost]

Lots of timber on you property 😁😊

[@matthewmartin2951]

I always try to keep up with the videos because I really like all of the work and all the ideas that you have and how you go about doing what you do best

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy my channel. Thanks for watching.

[@danielbarrett1368]

What type of material are those black balusters made out of and are they to Code to

[@danielbarrett1368]

@ͲᎬᏞᏝ𝙀𝙂ℝ𝔸Ꮇ👉Aprilwilkerson What shall I say I’m pretty new to this type of stuff so I don’t understand exactly how

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks so much

[@kwilliams2239]

Screws into end-grain in the railing and posts?

[@critter9a]

will you update your wood ballisters to match the new style?

[@patrickschardt7724]

Old deck looked great and so does the new one. Two different styles. The new one wins just because it has the removable section and the easy to install other sections

[@evanvaldez14]

what is the brand name of that Baluster...and where I can buy...thanks

[@matthewmartin2951]

When you did your stares do you cut the bottom of your posts or just leave it the way it is? P.S. Love the work that you do it's a real help to me thank you

[@justindesilets3526]

waiting for the video on how you pick back all those golf balls!

[@AprilWilkerson]

It's easy! I have a shag bag that collects them. I just walk down by my Shop and Garden and in no time they're picked up, ready to go back in bucket to hit again. Thanks for watching.

[@justindesilets3526]

@@AprilWilkerson good, I was really hoping you weren't just leaving them there! Thanks!

[@HunsValley]

You have come a long way...

[@AprilWilkerson]

Yes, it's been quite the journey to be sure! Thanks for staying along for the ride.