hardwood posts for deck railing

**fagersz** · 15th December 2007, 12:41 AM

Hi there again,
I'm getting to be a regular receiver on this forum.
Thankyou to those who helped and commented .
My new questions,
I've just fastened the joists and bearers of my 66 square meter deck using 75 mm bugle headed 14g screws zinc and I realised I should do the railing posts before I do the decking boards.
I'd thought I'd use 100mm by 100mm treated pine posts attached to joists and bearers (somehow).
But it occurred to me I may be able to use the hardwood bearers (100 mm by 75 mm) I have left over from the deck sub frame and save some money.
My questions are, can I use these bearers as posts?
If they can be used, are there any special considerations for the attachment to the deck joists and bearers.
Can anyone tell me how far apart and how high the posts should be to pass council regulations. It probably varies from council to council but I don't mind a bit of overkill since I have an enough wood.

I'm planning on using SS wire through holes in the posts for the railing .

Any help appreciated

Thanks heaps
z

**Make it work** · 15th December 2007, 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by fagersz

Can anyone tell me how far apart and how high the posts should be to pass council regulations. It probably varies from council to council but I don't mind a bit of overkill since I have an enough wood.

I can't see any reason why you could not use left over timber from the bearers as posts but I am not the inspector.

As for the height and spacing, what is on the plans the council approved?

One more thing, zinc screws are not very suitable for an outdoor application, seeing as they are already in the hardwood, you may want to paint any exposed metal with cold gal before covering it with the decking boards, also, NEVER EVER use zinc screws with treated pine, the chemicals in the pine will eat the zinc and then the steel in no time and then you are up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

**fagersz** · 19th December 2007, 07:41 AM

Thanks Allan M, for your advice.

The guy in the hardware convinced me that zinc were as good as gal.

At least I can paint over it, but I've put so much work into this project and now I've got something less than perfect.

Does anyone know how bad these zinc screws are in terms of longevity in exposed applications. (It says on the packet batten screws) .

Thank again

**Arthur Dyason** · 19th December 2007, 08:32 AM

If you can afford it use brass or stainless steel screws. No problems with weather or preserving chemicals.

**DvdHntr** · 19th December 2007, 09:41 AM

Poor Performance from Plated Coatings

Zinc plated coatings are not suitable for exterior exposure applications. Zinc plated bolts and hardware fittings such as gate hinges will not provide adequate protection from corrosion, and will rarely last more than 12 months in exterior exposures in most urban coastal environments.

Source: http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=1380

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