Beautiful railings, including the railing that surrounds your deck, plays a major role in your home's curb appeal. Even when it's not visible from the street, a strong, sturdy deck and the railing that surrounds it can still raise your home's resale value. That's extra living space, after all. Even if it is outdoors. But even more important, your deck and its railing need to be structurally sound for safety purposes. You don't want to take a fall off your backyard deck, and you certainly don't want your family, friends or guests to have a mishap. For these reasons, it's vital to keep railings in top condition. Here's how:
Today's homeowners have multiple options for creating a railing around a wooden deck. More popular ones include:
Once you've decided on a material, professional installation is best. Unless you're confident in your construction abilities, weight-bearing structures, such as deck railings, should be built to code. You'll likely need a permit, as well. Adding a well-built, professionally installed railing to your deck will impress future homebuyers. It will also delight your friends and family when the weather turns friendly.
The best advice for maintaining your deck railing over time is simply to inspect it regularly. Take a good, long look every spring, and if you see issues -- nails that are popping up, boards that are weakening -- have them repaired right away. Clean your deck and railings annually, regardless of their composition, and make sure to stain and seal wooden railings at least every other year.
The condition of the trim around your home, including railings, affects your home's value. Take the time to keep them in top condition to maintain their value and their safety.
Hi, I'm Anthony Blevins and I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you. I have been a licensed realtor since 2015 and have lived in South Florida for over 30 years. My background is a business professional with over 14 years of experience as a wealth portfolio manager for high net worth clients in both the Naples and Palm Beach Island area. One of my first jobs while I worked my way thru college was in the construction industry, building, remodeling and restoring homes as I earned my Bachelors degree in Finance. I like to spend my free time offshore fishing, boating, scuba diving in the keys and enjoying all the benefits the South Florida weather has to offer.