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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Need ideas for a railing
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Borrego
Member
# Posted: 5 Feb 2017 21:02
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I'm building a screen porch on our desert cabin with an upper deck...we want to have the railings so you can't see thru them. I automatically thought of using galvanized metal panels..then I thought, well they're too shiny, don't want shiny. Wood is out due to the weather, it will be exposed all summer and wouldn't last a single season, although pressure treated wood does hold up ok.

Any thoughts?

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 5 Feb 2017 21:21
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I usually peruse google images, Pinterest etc and search for ideas - inspirations... some pretty creative & imaginative folk out there.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 5 Feb 2017 21:34
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What about a chunk of black coated chain link fencing, then install the vinyl slats onto it. This could be attached to the rail supports post, comes in 3 or 4 feet, so I suspect a railing, be 3 feet tall. Just an idea. You could use brown, green or what ever color slats. Install it on the inside of the support post, slide in vinyl, then install the railing.

Do you get good winds out there? If so, may become a sail.

Just
Member
# Posted: 5 Feb 2017 22:53
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Not much but got by the inspector
48 ln.
48 ln.


Shadyacres
Member
# Posted: 5 Feb 2017 22:55
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What are you using for the deck? If treated lumber than use the same for the rails.

DaveBell
Moderator
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 00:46
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Quoting: Borrego
we want to have the railings so you can't see thru them


How about metal roof panels put on sideways.

Borrego
Member
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 09:40
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Some good ideas, fellas, thank you.
TMT - The desert climate eats up vinyl, and yes it does get a tad bit windy at times!

Shady - The roof deck is rolled roofing painted with elastomeric, and I will use PT 2 x 4's for the railing structure just need something for the front..

Dave - This is kinda where i was going....but the metal at Home depot is shiny..maybe I'll check with a roofing place...

Cowracer
Member
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 10:23
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You can get the metal roof panels in a WIDE variety of colors. Mine are dark green. Go to a farm-and-home kind of store.

Tim

Shadyacres
Member
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 12:17
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You could also get the roof panels that are not metal. Lowes has them , I think it is Onduline or something like that. They have different colors also.

Malamute
Member
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 12:30
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Quoting: Just
Not much but got by the inspector48 ln.



Was that in Australia?

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 12:33 - Edited by: KinAlberta
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There's a low cost composite roof material called Ondura that really isn't very good from what I've read about it but it might be great on the vertical.

If shiny isn't desired, I believe that the corrugated metal panels can also be had in different colours.

There's also that corrugated fibreglass panelling that is used overhead but might look Ok and the vertical.

On my city deck I used Home Depot's railing with large tempered glass panes on one level where I didn't want to be looking through the vertical metal pickets to see my yard. I believe that glass was also available in an etched version too. Much more costly, but looks professional.

This is what Canadian Home Depot's sell. I'd guess that the section is far better in the US.

I dont see any etched glass but one option would be then to put a peel and stick coating on it. That would give you the choice of having it open or not.
http://railblazers.ca


I put reinforcing rods and dowels (whatever I had laying around) inside some of the horizontal handrails to straddle the posts, so if a post came detached at its base, the stiffened up railing might not just collapse outward without warning or any resistance. (Just don't use something that will corrode the aluminum.)

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 13:11 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Quoting: Borrego
Some good ideas, fellas, thank you. TMT - The desert climate eats up vinyl, and yes it does get a tad bit windy at times



OK, how about the typical balisters, then just lay some of that big leafy cammo net stuff they use to hide military hardware by covering it up. It had flaps/openings that allows wind to pass through and can be put up when you are there, taken down when gone or left up all the time. I imagine the sun will be hard on everything. I have 300+ days of sunshine a year and the sun is hard on everything. Wind shouldn't be an issue either.

This stuff is what I speak of.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ICI3KS0?psc=1

tichalet
Member
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 13:17 - Edited by: tichalet
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This is a very nice looking aluminum system from Dekrail in Canada, IMO.

I have no idea how pricey it is or whether it's even available in SoCal, but I wonder if it wouldn't be too difficult to improvise a similar system with off-the-shelf aluminum railing components by excluding spacers. Or maybe use old-school aluminum decking planks (like you see in sports field bleachers & such) & just installing the "deck" vertically?

Anyway, just an idea or two I thought I'd throw in the great mix that you've already gotten for inspiration.

By the way, how do cementitious composite materials (Hardiplank etc) hold up in the desert conditions you've got out there?
dekrail
dekrail


KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 22:07 - Edited by: KinAlberta
Reply 


Quoting: toyota_mdt_tech
then just lay some of that big leafy cammo net stuff they use to hide military hardware by covering it up. It had flaps/openings

For some reason images from the movie Tremors popped into my head. Remember the survivalist guy on his rooftop.



darz5150
Member
# Posted: 6 Feb 2017 22:51
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Possibly Shadow Box style railing.
012.jpg
012.jpg
aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGFu.jpg
aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGFu.jpg


NorthRick
Member
# Posted: 7 Feb 2017 00:14 - Edited by: NorthRick
Reply 


Quoting: Borrego
I'm building a screen porch on our desert cabin with an upper deck...we want to have the railings so you can't see thru them. I automatically thought of using galvanized metal panels..then I thought, well they're too shiny, don't want shiny. Wood is out due to the weather, it will be exposed all summer and wouldn't last a single season, although pressure treated wood does hold up ok.


I don't get why wood is out in a desert climate. Seems like it would last a long time. Rot from too much moisture is usually the problem, or at least the problem I'm familiar with.

Borrego
Member
# Posted: 7 Feb 2017 09:35
Reply 


Quoting: toyota_mdt_tech
OK, how about the typical balisters, then just lay some of that big leafy cammo net stuff they use to hide military hardware by covering it up. It had flaps/openings that allows wind to pass through and can be put up when you are there, taken down when gone or left up all the time. I imagine the sun will be hard on everything. I have 300+ days of sunshine a year and the sun is hard on everything. Wind shouldn't be an issue either.

This stuff is what I speak of.



Good idea, we were actually thinking of that for an overhead covering..!

Borrego
Member
# Posted: 7 Feb 2017 09:43
Reply 


tichalet - nice look! And Hardiboard lasts forever out here...
Northrick - wood shrinks, cracks and deteriorates, even with a sealant.
Darz - good idea!
Kin - haha, good one!

Thanks all for the creative ideas, I always know i can count on the forum to help me when I'm stumped! As of now, we're leaning towards the colored metal roof panels, just have to find them somewhere. I assumed they would be a pricey special order from a roofers supply, but if y'all say they're out there, I will go look.

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 7 Feb 2017 11:02
Reply 


Coloured Tin vs Galvanised here is 0.03 per foot more... That is the Non fading EDP Colour coating, but there are different finishes at likely different prices.

Mulehollowfolks
Member
# Posted: 7 Feb 2017 17:37
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We used rebar and hand rail material. This is not my pic but to give you an idea what it looks like
railing.jpg
railing.jpg


toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 8 Feb 2017 20:34 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
Reply 


Quoting: KinAlberta
For some reason images from the movie Tremors popped into my head. Remember the survivalist guy on his rooftop.



Oh, that is Burt and his elephant gun, wife has the .375 H&H Magnum. I loved his role, what a character. Do you remember the Nevada vanity plate on his black K5 Blazer, what it was? "UZI4U"

Borrego
Member
# Posted: 8 Feb 2017 21:07
Reply 


Wife and I have decided on Ondura (I think someone mentioned it earlier). They have it in stock at Lowes, and the red color will be perfect. It will take more cutting, since it comes in 48" x 79" panels, but if it wears half as well as the reviews say, this will be the best product for our rails....Thanks all for the suggestions, I always know if I have a tough one i can come to the Forum here and get tons of good ideas...
Will post pictures when done, thanks guys!

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