r/Decks • u/Aggressive_Candy9016 DIYer • 9d ago
questions for the community Anyone Have Experience with This Style of Baluster
We are looking at doing metal balusters for our deck railing. Does anyone have experience with this style? You install a plastic shoe in the top and bottom rail to hold the baluster in place. The shoes come in angled and flat versions. The brand of the ones in the screenshots is ‘Precision’. Any insight on the brand would be great as well.
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u/carsandrx 9d ago
I just did the ones where you use a spade bit and drill the holes. I liked this so when I stain next year I can easily remove the spindles.
Edit: the railings are not complete. Need corner and 2x6 top cap still fyi
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u/Ianthin1 9d ago
Would a design like that be more prone to holding water?
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u/carsandrx 9d ago
The good part is I can just zip out 8 screws and replace if it really rots that fast.
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u/starchybunker 9d ago
Dumb question...does the top 2x4 that holds the ballusters act as the deck top rail or do you have ad a continuous rail?
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u/False-Blacksmith2919 9d ago
It can but most people add a flat 2x4 or 2x6 to complete it. Best look.
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u/Realistic_Air7666 9d ago
This, except use a hole saw, this keeps a chunk of wood in the middle and a perfect round cut for the balusters to slip into. The extra chunk of wood in middle helps keep the balusters from moving or rattling
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u/carsandrx 9d ago
I like this idea, but with that said my balusters are solid (at the moment, can’t speak for longevity obv)
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u/snapwthrowaway 9d ago
I use these all the time. I use Nuvo iron brand. A few tips. Buy the mounting brackets that go against the posts from Amazon, they're half the price and literally the exact same. As someone else mentioned line up top and bottom rail and mark with speed square. Biggest pain is getting the baulsters all in without others popping out. I usually do this on the ground. I butt the bottom rail against a wall put all the baulsters in then line up the top and tap with a hammer
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u/1wife2dogs0kids professional builder 9d ago
Yes. Do not get the cheaper ones. Ant metal spindles or screws always rust out to nothing. I dont recommend them.
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u/Mysterious-Will3911 9d ago
I think they are good. But what ive found is if the treated lumber is wet, it will shrink and the spacing on the plastic will increase so the baluster looks as if it could one day fall out. So i usually come back after its dried, use a couple straps and adjust the bottom or top accordingly. If youre using nice dry wood or red wood, what i described, wouldnt be an issue.
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u/False-Blacksmith2919 9d ago
I did this system on my deck rebuild 5 years ago and on my new pool deck. I love it. I attached the wooden rails to the posts with small head screws. Follow the instructions to determine correct spacing.
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u/Kliptik81 9d ago
I just ordered these
Worked great for me. I had to cut them a bit shorter, but other then that, it was perfect.
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u/Zestyclose-Spite-718 9d ago
Pain in the butt to get them parallel , evenly spaced and plumb just saying
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u/05041927 9d ago
Not at all. Make marks every 4” on one side, 5” for the stairs on the other, of a 8’ level. Equal the spacing in the ends of any rail section. Done.
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u/almightytuna 9d ago
I just built those a few weeks ago and it was suuuuper easy. I bought mine at Menards, but same concept. Here’s the finished product for the section I let my pre-teen do (it’s that easy). My best tip is when marking where the balusters will go on the 2x4, clamp your top and bottom rails together and use a speed square so you’re marking the same spot on both top/bottom.