Railings around the edges of a porch or a deck can add a great deal of beauty to the overall appearance of the porch or deck. Railings also add a safety feature in that they can help prevent falls from the edge. The balusters (vertical pieces between posts in a porch railing) provide the maximum margin of safety.



Years ago, it would have been entirely at the discretion of the home owner how the porch railing was designed. Today, many regulations have been created on the construction of porch railings because of safety issues. The main thing to consider when installing a porch railing is that 4” is the maximum allowable distance between the balusters. This is the average diameter of an infant's head and no child should be able to fall between the balusters at this distance. Children do love squirming into tight places, though, so 3” or less may be better if children are present in the home.

Wood has always been the most commonly used material for porch balusters. It is versatile and can be worked to any shape and style and installation is fairly easy. While still heavily favored, wood has many drawbacks that have been eliminated in newer materials that are capable of providing the same old world look.

Wood is a high maintenance material. It has been known to splinter over time as it ages or from abuse. Painting is required on a regular basis to ensure that the wood is protected from the elements. Wood breaks, resulting in balusters that must be replaced from time to time.

Two newer materials that are gaining favor for use as porch balusters are aluminum and glass. Aluminum balusters can be purchase in round or square shapes and finished so as to never require painting again. Installation is easy as aluminum balusters are attached with screws that will countersink into the railing. If colored headed screws are used, they become nearly invisible.

Aluminum is often used to simulate the look of wrought iron. Because of its lighter weight and lower cost compared to genuine wrought iron, aluminum is gaining popularity quickly. Aluminum can also be finished in such a way as to simulate finished wood. The advantage of lower maintenance and faster installation make this type of aluminum a growing item.

Homes that do not have any small children can beautify their porch with glass balusters. These are made of a high tensile safety glass that makes breaking them difficult and causes them to fracture into balls if they do break to avoid injury. The crystalline look of glass adds character to the appearance of the porch. Installation is facilitated by the inclusion of special stainless steel screws designed to avoid shattering the glass.

A well installed porch railing and baluster system will enhance the outer appearance of the home. Different materials are available today to achieve almost any look desired. Wood is still the favorite material, but due to the amount of maintenance required by wood, aluminum and glass are gaining in popularity.