# Railings and guards

> Deck, stair and balcony railings: wood, metal and glass. Ask with your Sheet attached: homeowners who’ve done it and verified pros answer, and anyone can read it.

## Before you ask

The length, the height off the ground, the post spacing, and the material.

- **Attach your Sheet** so people see your sizes and the math.
- **Your town is enough.** Never your address; check photos for house numbers and plates.
- **Is it safe?** A safety question here goes to pros verified in general contracting or carpentry, unless you pick another trade. Only they can call it safe or unsafe.

## Railings and guards

12′ wood railing: 3 posts (6′ on center), 26 balusters with 3-1/2″ gaps and a 36″ guard.

What people get wrong:

- **Notching the posts.** A notched 4×4 keeps half its wood right where the push is highest, and the IRC (R507.10.2) forbids notching a 4×4 guard post at the connection: bolt it whole to the rim.
- **Posts bolted to the rim alone.** Without blocking or a hold-down, the rim twists and the post leans out under a push.
- **Eyeballing the gaps.** Gaps creep.

[The worked example, every line's math and the code notes](https://studsheet.com/sheets/railing) · [Your own sizes in the app](https://app.studsheet.com/p/railing)

## More in Stairs

- [Deck and porch stairs](https://studsheet.com/forum/deck-stairs): Stringers, landings and outside steps
- [Interior and basement stairs](https://studsheet.com/forum/interior-stairs): Building and fixing stairs inside the house
- [Concrete steps](https://studsheet.com/forum/concrete-steps): Pouring and facing concrete steps
- [Steel and spiral stairs](https://studsheet.com/forum/steel-and-spiral-stairs): Steel, spiral and floating stairs
- [Every group](https://studsheet.com/forum#every-group)

## How the community works

- **Open to read** from anywhere, no account needed.
- **Sign in with your email** to ask, answer and vote. No password.
- **The best answers rise:** votes, “worked for me” and a solved mark. Verified pros carry a badge.

Questions? Write to [support@studsheet.com](mailto:support@studsheet.com).