have a client wtih a great view of the ocean.
glas and plexiglass rail systems are not the answer. they have already tried a glass system and hated all the cleaning because after a while the salt spray and rain obstructed view on nice days, however they do make a ncie wind block. but when sitting inside in a chair trying to look out all they see is blury glass.
they suggested cable rail systems that they saw at a home show
I researched and found two major west coast companies, one in upstate washington and one in claifornia ( im in oregon)
the current deck system is less then three years old
so I am needing info the good , bad and ugly on the systems and if you have really used them.
Install tips etc,
so that I can have more information the next time I meet these people, next week
thanks
Replies
Stainless cable makes a great rail, if you can get away with it.
Feeney wire & rope makes a product known as "cable rail" http://www.cablerail.com if memory serves. Their system is sweet, because one end of each run is threaded for adjustment, and the other end has a cam locking device which you pull the cable through and never get it back out.. so tensioning is simple. Do look into the grade of stainless though - as some stainless steels will rust, and (again by memory) the feeney 'cable' may not be the top notch product - but the components are really slick anyway.
I'm amazed at how UN-univeral the rules are regarding this stuff. I just saw a project where it was installed vertically because horizontal guardrail components are illegal - this was a cool solution that I didn't expect to like as much as I did. I recommend spacing it a little closer than 4" in case the inspector tries the 4" sphere test. The cables will likely give a little - and putting them closer together will help offset the sag. If you try to tension them so they don't move at all under this test, then you probably have to work very hard over-designing the supports. A bit of a double edged sword - but nobody likes flaccid cable.
Check with a building official first, is the best advice I can give you. Some make exception for it, some take exception to it - the Feeney folks have a decent database of written documents from state to state - but local inspectors don't really care, in my experience.
Hammer,
Why cable and not just stainless rod? Easier to fabricate and maintain.
Jon
Got mine from the Feeney people in S.F. Here it is.