Hello BT.  I am building/contracting a screened porch.   The porch is just about finished with the exception of the railing and screens.  The porch is 15’X21′.  Each corner post is a PT 6X6 with a plastic sleeve as a wrap around the post.  You can see it in the picture below.  I want to use cable railing and framed screens.  I would like to use 5/4X6 handrails with a perpendicular 2X4 underneath for support.  I would also liketo use a 2X4 footrail with 2X4X3″H blocks underneath on both ends and in the center of each section for support.  

     My concern is how to attach the handrail and footrail to the posts.  There is a small gap between the plastic sleeve and the post.  Can I just mount a hanger through the sleeve if I use long screws and don’t torque it too much so that it doesn’t crunch the plastic?  I have looked at several cable railing products and they have a lag attachment that I can screw into the post and it should pass through a hole in the sleeve.  Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

     I would like to build the screen frames from the products that are available at the big home improvement stores, but I’m not sure how to best secure them in place.  I considered just using quarter round inside and out with a space in between to allow the screen frame to fit in.  But I don’t think that is the best design.  Again, any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

     The attached photo is looking through the short wall beside the fireplace out onto the sun deck.  I think I will not be using cable railing on the sun deck due to the temptation to climb it like a ladder and the close proximity to the swimming pool.

                                                                                                                   |

                                                                                                                        |Fireplace

                                                                                                                        |

                                                                                                                   |

                                                                                                                        |_

                                                                                                                         Door

_______________________________________________________

                                    House

     There are five posts that are 6X6 PT posts wrapped in plastic sleeve:  The three corners, the middle post on the long wall, and the post next to the fireplace.  Including the plastic sleeve, the post is 7.5X7.5.

     There are four posts that are 4X4 PT posts wrapped in plastic sleeve.  Including the plastic sleeve, the posts are 5.5X7.5.  The extra space allowed for electrical to be placed inside the sleeve.

     I would like to run the cable from corner to corner and pass through the posts in between.  The span between all posts is 54”, with the exception of the section beside the fireplace, which is 21” between the posts.

     The height of the wall is 87” that will need to have screen frames made.  There are also two sections that need screen above the wall where the gabled roof is open.

     Extraneous information:  In the photo, you can see the before and after look of the ipe decking (T&G in the screened porch and 5/4X6 on the sun deck).  The dark parts of the decking have one coat of Penofin sealer applied.  It was much darker when installed, but began to bleach with exposure to the sun.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or heckling!  Thanks.  Mule