Whether you’re doing a self-installation, or paying someone to install your railing, there are five main factors that could save hours on the job, putting more money in your wallet!

Pre-drilled mounting holes

Some manufacturers still offer railing without pre-drilled mounting holes. What that means is that you will have to tediously go through and drill the holes yourself. Your time is valuable, and pre-drilled mounting holes will shave hours off the job. If you are having a third party install the railing, this means far less billable hours.

Self-drilling screws

Have you ever got one of those screws that doesn’t seem to fit into place, no matter how much time and energy is wasted? Self-drilling screws allow the installer to drill without first making a pilot hole. These screws have an end that looks like the point of a drill.

Adjustable Brackets

Have you ever been putting together furniture, and after hours of labour, all the screws don’t seem to line up, and the parts meant to be level are at an angle? It’s the same idea with adjustable brackets. If your railing doesn’t have adjustable brackets, this means you’ll spend far more time getting them to the right angle. Adjustable brackets can screw in, and then you can readjust the angles, without someone having to hold them in place manually. Again, this can save hours on the job.

Whether you’re planning on doing it yourself, or paying a third party to install your railing, ensuring the system comes with pre-drilled mounting holes, self-drilling screws, and adjustable brackets will save you time and money on your installation.

Deck Blocking

Having sufficient support underneath your deck will ensure that the lag bolts will be properly secured, and that the railing will not wobble. Talk to your deck builder about adding extra wood blocking around the edge of the deck while its being built. Waiting to add deck blocking until the very end when you’re installing the railing can be very time consuming, and makes your railing installation much more challenging.

The Right Saw and Blade

Safety considerations while cutting your posts and rails are important to consider. You should always use the right tool for the job! Regular saw blades contain iron, which, when it comes in contact with aluminum, can create sparks. It is important to use a special blade designed for cutting aluminum which does not contain iron, otherwise known as a non-ferrous blade.