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Micro-Adjust Deck-Baluster Spacing for an Eye-Deceiving Layout

No math, no measuring—just a simple jig made from an elastic band is all you need to lay out a good-looking deck railing.

By Mike Guertin

Tim Scissons’ 1992 tip in issue #77 of Fine Homebuilding magazine had a cryptic description, but I knew there was a nugget of genius in it.

I played around with the notion Tim presented—using an elastic band to lay out balusters—and developed a simple process to mark out the elastic and employ it to mark out baluster positions.

If you like nanometer precision, then this isn’t for you. If you’re like me and feel a fat-pencil-line level of accuracy is okay for deck-baluster layout, then you’ll probably like the tip.

If you try it, use 3/4-in.- or 1-in.-wide Non-Roll elastic band. I paid about $2.50 for a 9-ft.-long (relaxed) roll.

www.mikeguertin.com

–IG @mike_guertin

 

 

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Previous: How to Make Rot-Resistant Deck and Porch Railings Next: Installing a Railing Cap

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View Comments

  1. User avater
    ArmandLewis | Oct 04, 2019 05:22am | #1

    Cool!

  2. berferdt | Jan 13, 2020 11:50am | #2

    I've always used the rule/tape angled to create even divisions for marking - no need to worry about managing one more 'tool'. Do the same thing laying out wainscotting.
    Also learned from a master tilesetter that the spacing on such things can grow incrementally across the length - can be imperceptible increments, but over a distance the difference can be substantial.

  3. TimBeynart | Nov 19, 2020 09:41am | #3

    I'm a programmer by trade, and this technique is used in code to space objects evenly across an area. Each object's coordinates is nudged by the same factor (just like the stretch in an elastic band). Pretty cool to see it in the meatspace.

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