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Deck and Stairway Glass balusters create a safe, see-through railing for the deck, and a new stairway provides access to the backyard. From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-312

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Building the New Railing

The railing around the deck is a safety hazard, so the Newbells and their crew remove it and replace it with see-though glass balusters, so that they can enjoy the view of their yard.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Materials
30 (2"x4"x8') cedar posts
6 (1 1/2"x8') pipe rail
12 flanges
40 glass balusters
18 decorative post caps

The crew carefully removes the old framing for the railing one section at a time, wearing goggles and gloves for safety purposes. Then they countersink new rails into the existing deck frame (figure A), making sure the bottom rail sits approximately three inches above the deck and checking for level as they work along. They allow for 24 inches from the bottom rail to the top rail.

Next, they attach the glass balusters to the top and bottom rails, leaving a three-inch gap between the balusters (figure B). They use stainless steel screws to attach the balusters to the posts. They attach a 2x4 to the top railing to serve as the top cap. They screw in metal flanges to each post and attach decorative pipe rail to the flanges for the top railing (figure C). Finally, they add post caps to each post for greater detail.

The completed railing with glass balusters is a dramatic improvement over the unsafe, wobbly railing. The glass balusters echo the design of the staircase and enable the Newbells to entertain and enjoy their yard without an obstructed view.

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