Replies

1. 
   Shavey | Aug 16, 2004 12:11am | #1

   Check into trex, it`s not vinyl but very pleasing to the eye if you use their railing system posts and post caps

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/15/2004 5:12 pm ET by Shavey

2. 
   jonblakemore | Aug 16, 2004 12:43am | #2

   Let's take the 10'4" (124") section first. Subtract 4" from 124 (120) and divide by 5.5" (baluster thickness {1.5"} plus spacing {4"}). You get 21.818. This tells us you need 22 balusters as you always round up. The sum of the thickness of 22 balusters (assuming 1.5" balusters) is 33. 124 minus 33 is 91, which you divide by 23. The spacing is 3.956".

   Let's look at the 6'10" (82") section.

   82-4=78

   78/5.5=14.18 (15 balusters)

   15*1.5=22.5

   82-22.5=59.5

   59.5/16=3.71875

   Your balusters will be a little more than 3-11/16" apart.

   Clear as mud?

    

   Jon Blakemore

1. 
   crosscutter1 | Aug 16, 2004 02:46am | #3

   the 10' 4"is the total run of the rail  minus the 3 # 3 1/2" 4x4s so i would have 4' 8 3/4" between the 4x4s

    which equals 56 3/4"

   what do i divide that # by to get the spacing ??

   where does the 5.5 # come from

   am i wrong for assuming the 1.5 means 1 1/2" if so the ballusters are

   1 1/4" should use 1.25 instead of the 1.5 ??

   Edited 8/15/2004 7:50 pm ET by crosscutter55

1. 
   joewood | Aug 16, 2004 03:52am | #4

   Here's how I like to figure the spacing out ! Real easy, when you need equal spaces everywhere.

   I assume you meant you want to end up with as close to a 4" space between balusters as you can get ? In this example I ended up with a 4.5" space after dividing by 10. If I'd divide by 11 I would have ended up with a 3.945" space between each balusters, closer to your desired 4" spaceing. The balusters I show here are 1.5" X 1.5", between 4 X 4 posts.

1. 
   joewood | Aug 16, 2004 03:54am | #5

   Here that is again a little smaller size.

2. 
   jonblakemore | Aug 16, 2004 04:49am | #7

   "where does the 5.5 # come from"

   The sum of a 1.5" baluster and your maximum spacing (usually 4").

   "am i wrong for assuming the 1.5 means 1 1/2" if so the ballusters are

   1 1/4" should use 1.25 instead of the 1.5 ??"

   No, you are correct.

   I will try to explain myself again but please understand if I'm not successful.

   56-3/4" minus your first spacing (because you want to have an open space next to each 4x4, so there will be one more space than the number of balusters) equals 52-3/4".

   52-3/4 divided by 5.25 (your max spacing plus your baluster width) is 10 and change.

   So we need 11 balusters, the sum of their thickness's being 13.75, and 12 spaces.

   56.75 minus 13.75 equals 43 (43 is the sum of your spaces between balusters).

   43 divided by 12 equals 3.583.

   Your first layout mark will be at 3.58 with the baluster sitting past the layout mark. Now add your baluster thickness to the spacing (1.25+3.58) for all the other layout marks.

   Your layour will look like this.

   3.58

   8.42

   13.25

   18.09

   22.92

   27.75

   and so on.

   This would be a lot easier to explain if I could show you on a 2x4. I have used many methods and have found this one to be the quickest and most accurate for me.

    

   Jon Blakemore

3. 
   Jemcon | Aug 16, 2004 04:28am | #6

   Check your ballaster size the last 2 decks I built the wood ballasters were closer to  1 1/4" rather than 1 1/2". If you don't think that makes a difference.over 10' thats about 5". Do 100 feet of railing and your short ballasters.