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I recently completed decorative columns on a wrap-around porch and want to add a railing system. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what products would be best to use for durability, weather resistance and strength? Are any of the new composite materials worth using for a rail system? I had planned on using cypress or douglas fir. For the columns, I used MDO and trimmed them out with cypress. While cost is a factor, it is my own home and I expect to stay in it for a long time so it is not the primary consideration.
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We are finishing a hoouse with vinyl rails. They are not a bad looking system. Good and strong. This is a new system and isnt as expensive as a lot of the others we have looked at. Cuts way down on labor and eliminates painting. Materila is about double that of treated pine.
Rick Tuk
*brand?
*Assuming you want a painted look rail...I have seen fiberglass rail systems at Home Cheapo (or someplace) that I believe are a step above the vinyl ones that Rick refers to. Kind of pricey though.
*Stain grade? Paint grade? Real wood? Fake plastic?
*AndrewI ment to ask the distributor yesterday. One word of advise, if using vinyl, make sure of the placement of your posts. You cant make a gooseneck at the top of the stairs.Rick Tuk
*"Does anyone have a suggestion as to what products would be best to use for durability, weather resistance and strength?"Sure. Stone.
*We are finishing a hoouse with vinyl rails. They are not a bad looking system. Good and strong. This is a new system and isnt as expensive as a lot of the others we have looked at. Cuts way down on labor and eliminates painting. Materila is about double that of treated pine. Rick Tuk
*brand?
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I recently completed decorative columns on a wrap-around porch and want to add a railing system. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what products would be best to use for durability, weather resistance and strength? Are any of the new composite materials worth using for a rail system? I had planned on using cypress or douglas fir. For the columns, I used MDO and trimmed them out with cypress. While cost is a factor, it is my own home and I expect to stay in it for a long time so it is not the primary consideration.