DIY Fix Wobbly Railings (On a Deck or Porch)

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Wobbly porch railings can pose a serious safety risk. This short video from The Honest Carpenter will show you how to firm up wobbly deck railings!
Many wobbly porch railings are a result of poor post connections. These days, code requires that posts sit INSIDE the rim joist, and be secured through the rim joist with carriage bolts. But, numerous older railings are notched to the OUTSIDE of the rim joist (like the ones in this video).
These wobbly railings can be firmed up and made more secure by simply adding some additional hardware--specifically 1/2" lag screws with washers.
Here's the link for determining pilot hole size for various lag sizes:
www.trianglefas...
Tools:
Drill
Drill Bits
1/2" Ratchet
Socket Set
Spade / Paddle Bits
Materials:
1/2" Lags (w/ Washers)
How-To Fix Wobbly Deck Railings:
1) If your posts lack strong lags, plan to add at least one. Preferably, two lags will exist in each post leg: one high, one low. Lags should be offset slightly from one another vertically to avoid stressing lumber.
2) Tighten any existing lags with a ratchet set.
3) Pre-drill pilot holes in deck posts using a 15/64" bit (I used a 1/4" bit here for convenience.) Drill bit should punch through post leg and two layers of rim joist.
4) Set a 1/2" lag with washer on in pilot hole. Tap in with a hammer to get first threads set.
5) Use ratchet to turn the lag all the way into lumber until washer gently bites into wobbly railing.
6) For diagonal corner posts, use a pilot hole and paddle bit to create a flat space for washer to sit.
7) Drive lag into pilot hole with ratchet set.
If you do this to all your porch posts, your railings will be considerably less wobbly! They'll also give you better assurance that no one will break a post while leaning against or sitting on the railing.
Check out our other deck-related videos!
How to Replace Deck Boards:
• How To Replace Deck Bo...
How to Replace Deck Handrails:
• How To Replace Deck Ha...
How to Fix Loose Deck Nails:
• How To Fix Loose Deck ...
QUESTIONS? ASK THE HONEST CARPENTER DOWN IN THE COMMENTS!
Be sure to visit The Honest Carpenter website for more tips, articles and tool links!:
www.thehonestcarpenter.com

Опубликовано:

5 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 92

@markhall8874 5 месяцев назад

Thank you, appreciate your help. A couple of my deck posts are wobbly and I'm going try this out. 👍👍

@Laughinghawg 2 года назад

Been dealing with my old deck trying avoid having to rebuild it. This was a very thorough, detailed perfect explanation of how to do this. I went through this a couple years ago, but used carriage bolts with washers on both sides and lock washers on the nut side. I have a tendency to 'overengineer" crap. Love your vids, they have been a huge help for someone with no proper carpentry skills.

@cybythesea Год назад

Great video. We have a deck that's got an approximately a 20-foot run and the railing is really wobbly and we are looking at closing out the building permit for that portion of the project and some work is going to have to be done on the railing and your video put into perspective what needs to be done so thank you

@moboda7233 20 дней назад

Thank you for helping me do it right. ❤

@david-shank 5 лет назад

Thanks for making this video. These railings are the same as how my deck is built. Gives me a good idea on how to effectively secure the railings.

@TheHonestCarpenter 5 лет назад

David Shank You’re welcome! Thanks for watching, and good luck with the project 🙂

@BeckVMH 3 года назад

Same here in western NC. Identical to my deck.

@mcham0846 Месяц назад

I am no carpenter but i have tools. Immediately went and got those big screws and our railings are alot better. Didnt make sense though because the previous stuff was a long nail.

@yorkiepit 2 года назад

In some counties, inspectors don't want carriage bolts anymore either, they want hex head through bolts with large washers, because carriage bolts can get pulled into the wood and loosen. Found that out 4 months ago when we had to swap out all carriage bolts to pass, meanwhile, the adjacent county still has carriage bolts on their deck PDF guide. We now only use hex head through bolts with washers as we know that this will become the requirement.

@aab-el9bd 8 месяцев назад

GRK or SPAX are superior anyway.

@matthews2122 2 месяца назад

Good job reinforcing, but for aesthetics because all of the other bolts were sunk into the 4 x 4 post I would’ve done the same thing with the new carriage bolts you were putting in

@jstnp 2 года назад

I have an older deck that was constructed with railing posts the same way. I just finished rebuilding it but I did not use lag bolts. Everywhere I read said not to do that. I instead used hex bolts with large washers at each end. This is much more secure and will not loosen up. In addition I added a tie back bracket behind each post which is attached to the longitudinal joist and one of the 2 bolts I added at the bottom of each post is bolted down to that. That is the way to stabilize and secure 4x4 deck posts.

@jackfarrell4727 10 месяцев назад

I have always built decks with the bearing post from ground to rail top. Very strong and sturdy.

@TheHonestCarpenter 10 месяцев назад

That’s the best way, Jack! And these days, you have to have partial posts set inside the joists, with blocking and carriage bolt. this old half-lap method is vanishing…

@jackfarrell4727 10 месяцев назад

@@TheHonestCarpenter thank you for the video

@porkchop10 2 года назад

Getting ready to rebuild my deck/railings. Decided to go with 6" structural screws in lieu of lags. Ease of use, better looks. Just not sure if I need 2 or 3 in each 4x4? The clowns before me used 2x4 screwed into the rim joist to frame the railings, so anything I do is already an improvement lol

@Geonious 4 года назад

I would put two lag bolts on the side of the corner posts instead of a second one under the first corner lag. It just seems it would be stronger putting a lag on each flat side of the corner post.

@Straight0uttaCrofton 3 года назад

i was thinking the same thing. they already notched a huge chunk out of the post, and then you remove even more material to get that washer to sit flat on the corner. probably not much post material left between the washer and the rim joist. i thought for sure he was going to put one new lag on each side, one high one low.

@williardbillmore5713 2 года назад

The real problem with this deign is that the 4X4 posts are no longer 4X4s. Notching and surface screwing them to the outside of the rim joist after, splitting them, is a recipe for disaster. All the screws in the world could never make this poorly built railing safe.Drilling more holes and putting in more screws only serves to make these posts weaker with more places for them to split and fall apart when they are leaned on.

@jc5604 2 года назад

@@williardbillmore5713 you're being a bit dramatic about that. The vast majority of decks still standing were made exactly like this. They are no longer 4x4's, correct, but the idea of a 4x4 railing posts is overkill from the outset. Giving a 1 inch notch allows for a possibility of splitting over time (or bad luck), but the probability is still very low. An effective reduced strength of maybe 3-5% at best. However, we are in a world of possibilities and mindlessly forget about the probability.

@zachdenney 3 года назад

any particular reason why you use a socket wrench manually rather than using an impact driver? just curious if i am doing lags entirely wrong as i almost always use my impact driver to fasten them and then hand wrench for the final bit to get torque just right.

@NewYorker8312 2 года назад

Great Video, I am enjoying educating myself watching all your videos. Wouldn't it be better and easier to make the hole in the first rail that you are securing slightly larger than the lag screw. This way it would pass through freely and tighten up the railings better to the deck?

@loktom4068 2 года назад

It won't be snug and may reduce stiffening strength of the hardware and the wood support.

@strokerace4765 4 года назад

My deck is only secured by the 2x2 ballisters, I am going to add 4x4 posts from the ground, then attached at deck framing then ending at hand rail.

@davemorris9489 7 месяцев назад

Great video. Thank you for posting!

@pack899 3 года назад

Awesome video. Just the right tip I needed

@StephenOwen 3 года назад

Could you share an example of how a deck 4x4 post should be done for modern code compliance?

@williardbillmore5713 2 года назад

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lTRquLcL6Jo.html

@michaelpeck5547 3 года назад

This is how mine was done as well. I notched mine 1/2" and used 2 staggered thru-locks but I also cut 2x6 to tie them into the joists so all the flex wasn't on the outside board. I pulled all my deck and that 2x2 railing off and I'm replacing it all with Trex so I wanted the posts to be very secure since it's on the 2nd floor. It's a 12x14 deck but it has 8 posts now. It may be overkill but I was paranoid.

@williardbillmore5713 2 года назад

Putting notched posts on the outside of a rim joist on a second floor deck? You should be arrested for attempted murder. Your unfortunate use of the word "overkill" may well be prophetic...and not in the way you meant it. I hope, for your sake, you have a good lawyer and lots of insurance...

@michaelpeck5547 2 года назад

@@williardbillmore5713 "Putting notched posts on the outside of a rim joist on a second floor deck?" Where did you read that they were put on the outside of a rim joist? In fact, how do you attempt to box them in with the joists (using a 2x6) if they are on the outside of a rim joist? I'm saying mine was originally put on like that and I installed the new ones on the inside and boxed them to the joists.

@williardbillmore5713 2 года назад

@@michaelpeck5547 Why did you cut them down making them weaker at the exact point where they need to be strongest? Extra work to make the railing weaker...What were you thinking?

@michaelpeck5547 2 года назад

@@williardbillmore5713 Make up your mind. Now you like them notched and carriage bolted to the outside? LoL

@tcaver 4 месяца назад

I don't know how my deck passed inspection. Wish I could just have it knocked down and rebuilt. It sucks lol! I'll try this for the railing posts.

@Mr1ezlife 2 года назад

Thanks for this. I have a very similar deck but one end is bowing out between 2 sections. I could send you a pic

@cronicjointpain1 3 года назад

How would you fix a whole balcony that's wobbly?

@rxlo1062 4 года назад

Outstanding video 👍

@Tonnie31 3 года назад

I couldn’t find the ceramic lag bolts. Lowe’s had zinc lag bolts is that ok?

@edover50 5 лет назад

Nice job and great video Ethan . Do you ever need to add more meat behind the rim joist or did you just luck out this time?

@TheHonestCarpenter 5 лет назад

Thanks Ed! Around here pretty much every rim is doubled up, so plenty to attach into 🙂

@edover50 5 лет назад

Makes sense, mostly singles on the outside here.

@exstromb Год назад

My deck railing is very similar. Except, the railing posts are not aligned with the support posts and it looks like they have four bolts in them. It seems really unsafe. Do you know what I should consider for strengthening these railings?

@tsizzle 4 года назад

I had rusty joist hangers that I’ve since replace with Simpson strong-tie zmax and secured with their SD screws #9-2.5”. However, I notice some gap between the joist and ledger board and beam. Do I need to be concerned with that gap and the double-shear screws not penetrating enough of the ledgerboard and beams? What can I do about that? Fill the gap with some sort of shim? Also, the deck still feels wobbly overall. Should I install some SB16 sway bars diagonally between the joists corner to corner?

@John-q6q1y 15 дней назад

Any have their deck person put a long screw through the post to fasten into siding/house? He says it's standard.

@9728413655seti 3 года назад

Great job. Thank you!!

@RAJOTTE7711 Год назад

I have the exact same problem. My deck railings are for my above ground pool. The one end railing on the very end is leaning way out away from the pool. Now I have simple handyman skills at best but I was thinking of digging a hole next to the leaning railing and putting in a 4X4 post in the ground and cementing it in. I would use lashing straps to pull in the leaning railing until the 4x4 post dries. Then I would remove the straps and use lag bolts to screw the 4x4 post to the leaning post. Now would this hold up or is this just a dumb idea. Curious on your thoughts. Thanks

@kbenk108 Год назад

the color of the bolts is way to visible

@warrenlowe676 Год назад

Use an impact driver

@jmarasco510 4 месяца назад

Are timberlok screws good for posts?

@woodspirit98 2 года назад

I like the balusters attached straight to the deck like that as opposed to framing the balusters above the deck floor. Is there a name for that style?

@williardbillmore5713 2 года назад

Yeah, It's called a deck that is difficult to shovel snow from.

@ezmirza 3 года назад

Nice tips and great video. Question where did you get this lag screws only things I found at Home Depot was regular but they get rusty in few years and make a rust mark on wood.

@amritchhetri100 2 года назад

Thank you

@sallywooldridge5415 4 года назад

Very helpful thank you. What about on outside steps to the 2nd floor? How do I secure that railing? Thanks

@patrickenzo369 3 года назад

i realize it is kind of off topic but does anybody know a good place to stream newly released tv shows online?

@brianreginald3543 3 года назад

@Patrick Enzo Try flixzone. Just google for it :)

@bridgerzev8745 3 года назад

@Brian Reginald Yea, I have been using FlixZone for since march myself :)

@patrickenzo369 3 года назад

@Brian Reginald Thanks, I signed up and it seems to work :) I appreciate it !

@brianreginald3543 3 года назад

@Patrick Enzo You are welcome :D

@fyredragon5270 Год назад

Is there anyway to email you pics of my issue with my deck?

@artchung 4 года назад

if I attach another piece of 2x4 on top, will that make the post stronger?

@blacklegacyassets Год назад

thanks

@pc-fh7ff 4 года назад

What about stairs? Is it the same concept

@HNDSME247 4 года назад

How do you repair railing that meet at a corner. See pic.

@mattc8761 4 года назад

Hey man, great video. I have wobbly railings that also appear to be not very plumb. Any advice for correcting that at the same time?

@TheHonestCarpenter 4 года назад

That’s a trickier one m ceez. Might require removing the posts and cleaning up the seat cuts/notches

@mattc8761 4 года назад

@@TheHonestCarpenter thanks much! I'm willing to remove them altogether and replace all the railings so I'll try your suggestion first before I do that. Thanks again boss

@chrismoore9997 5 лет назад

Do you go back and pain that for cosmetic reasons?

@TheHonestCarpenter 5 лет назад

@Chris Moore It's sort of an opaque stain, but I leave that up to the client. Often I'm just coming in for the carpentry concerns

@tonyamosig5775 7 месяцев назад

Wood dries out and shrinks. You have to tighten. It's called maintenance. Not builders fault

@TheHmurveit 5 лет назад

I might have a wobbly railing but I want to attach lattice to the railing I have 2 x 4 studs and wondering about pre-drilling through the studs and through the railing

@TheHonestCarpenter 5 лет назад

I don't think it can hurt. Just be sure to use exterior-grade screws!

@zidane182 2 года назад

Man, mine just sits flat on top of the deck lol, not even a notch

@ThelifeandtimesofBarneyTaylor 5 лет назад

👍🏻👍🏻

@Lynn-pe5os Год назад

Can't hear you!

@thanhnguyen-gy4qc Год назад

Answer your viewer..😆

@scottr8588 5 лет назад

Seriously... One lag per post... Comical... What were thet thinking ( or not thinking). Those lag bolts cost less that the Liability Insurance Deductable. Whan I build stuff like this I spare NO expense on good hardware. I don't like having to come back and do a job over. Not to mention with facebook these days, something like this could destroy your name quick if someone goes through that rail and gets hurt.

@scottr8588 5 лет назад

BTW Good video Ethan.

@TheHonestCarpenter 5 лет назад

Scott R Thank you! I know what you mean. Man, it’s crazy, but I can’t count the times I’ve seen NO lags or carriage bolts or hardware or anything. Just 10 gun nails shot in at all crazy angles. You can hardly add fasteners later they’re so scattered. Construction in piedmont NC has to set records for “fast/cheap/finished” 😂

@scottr8588 5 лет назад

@@TheHonestCarpenter No its just as bad here. On the State website ther is a 3 page list of people in trouble for contractor fraud. They go through more trouble to do it the wrong way instead of just doing it right. Which brings me to my next point. Now no one trust anyone around here and the good suffer for the bad.

@TheHonestCarpenter 5 лет назад

@@scottr8588 I sometimes wonder if that's contracting everywhere. With my new shop space, and the ability to stage my videos a little better, I want to start doing the occasional video about how to deal with contractors. Simple stuff: what to ask in an estimate, how to know who to call. Stuff like that.

@scottr8588 5 лет назад

@@TheHonestCarpenter Great Idea... You could do like a little mini series.

@williardbillmore5713 2 года назад

There is a word for people who notch their deck rail posts. It begins with an s, it ends with a d and has a tupi in the middle.The only actions that would make this deck safe would be to tear out all those notched posts an rebuild them to code, inside the rim joists with through bolts nuts and washers, tieing them to the floor joists. Simply tightening the lags on that bad design will only slightly delay the inevitable injury when those posts weather and split, sending someone nosediving to the ground..

@TheHonestCarpenter 2 года назад

Definitely why they don’t build them this way anymore Willard. But it’s crazy how often you see the notched post in the south, where construction happened fast 70s-2000s. I bet 90% of decks were done this way 😬