You've finished setting the posts, cut a neat batch of balusters, and the railing looks evenly spaced from the ground. Then the inspector brings out a rigid test sphere, and one end bay fails because the clear opening is wider than it appeared. That mistake can mean removing finished pieces, filling holes, and rebuilding a […]
You're on the deck with a tape measure in one hand, balusters in the other, and a nagging question in the back of your mind. The posts are set, the railing run looks straightforward, and still the spacing has to be right the first time because a bad layout isn't just ugly, it can fail […]
For most deck and guardrail work, balusters must be spaced so a 4-inch sphere cannot pass through any opening, and in California stair runs there's a specific exception that allows up to 4-3/8 inches on stair treads while other guard openings stay at 4 inches. That's the core of baluster spacing code, and it exists […]