DriveTite Rod

It needs a Janka hardness rating of 690 or above, which pressure-treated pine meets. Cedar, cypress and Douglas fir are all too soft. You also need at least 2.5 inches of solid material to drill into, and at least four inches at a corner so the two runs don't drill into each other. If your posts don't clear both, DriveTite won't hold, and your rep can point you to a system that brings its own posts.

Cable and rod runs sit 3 1/8 inches on center and posts go no more than four feet apart, which holds deflection inside the four-inch sphere rule. A 36-inch system usually takes ten runs, a 39-inch takes eleven, and a 42-inch takes twelve. Confirm against your local code before ordering.

Read How Do I Install Cable Railing

Read How Do I Install Rod Railing

Our systems are engineered to meet or exceed the guard and handrail requirements that apply to your project, and several carry ICC Evaluation Service Reports (ESRs). Final authority always rests with your local building official, so tell us which code your jurisdiction has adopted and we'll design to it and share the engineering data with your submittal.

That's what it's for. DriveTite terminates cable or rod infill straight into new or existing wood posts, with no through-drilling and no rebuilding. The fittings are low profile and seat into the post behind a screw-on cover, so the infill is what you see rather than turnbuckles and tensioning hardware.

Level kits fasten into the face of the post through a single pilot hole and hide everything behind a slim cover. Angle kits use a tensioning screw and barrel fitting mounted to the post face, with a cover that slides on over the infill. Level for decks and balconies, angle for stair runs. Order by run type, not by post.

Yes. DriveTite Rod uses the same hidden hardware and the same wood posts as the cable version. Rod is stiffer, tests stronger, and handles an angled run cleanly. It still needs re-tensioning, just far less often than cable. Both anchor into the same 2.5 inches of solid wood.

Just the infill and a slim cover at each end. The fittings seat into the post rather than sitting proud of the face, and there's no through-drilling out the far side. The components are marine-grade 316 stainless.

A handrail is the graspable element you hold going up and down stairs. A top cap, also called a cap rail, ties the panels together so the guard stays put even if one breaks. In many designs the top of the guard doubles as the handrail, as long as it meets handrail usability rules.

Read How Do I Maintain Glass Railing

Count your end posts, then multiply by the number of infill lines your railing height calls for. We recommend ten lines at 36 inches, eleven at 39, and twelve at 42. If your height falls between those, round up: a 37.5-inch guard calculates at eleven.

A 12 by 20 by 12 deck gives you three runs and six end posts. At eleven lines that's 66 single kits, or six 11-packs.

You still want an intermediate post every four feet to control deflection and support the guard. Where your wood posts sit further apart than that, Express line posts can fill in.

Most Viewrail cable and rod railing lands between $60 and $245 per linear foot, depending on the infill you choose and whether you go Express or Signature. Express cable sits at the low end, coastal-rated rod at the high end.

Read How Much Does Cable Railing Cost

A drill, a T25 bit, an angle grinder with a wheel rated for metal, and a crimper. Rod is cut and crimped, so you need both, and the install runs much like cable. Deburr each cut end before it goes in. We can supply the grinder, wheels and a deburring tool if you don't already have them. Past that it's a tape measure and a roll of painter's tape to mark your drill points without marking the post.

DriveTite kits are kept in stock and ship the next business day.

Cable and rod railing are among the most DIY-friendly systems we make, as long as your layout is clear and your posts go in correctly. Express ships ready to install, DriveTite drills into wood posts you already have, and Signature is the path for larger or coastal projects.

Read Is DIY Cable Railing Installation Worth It

Either your own crew or ours. Many general contractors and stair crews install from our documentation. If you'd rather not lift a finger, our nationwide network of Certified Installers have trained on site specifically on Viewrail systems, and choosing one adds a two-year labor and workmanship warranty.

Days rather than weeks for most projects. A straight stair often finishes in one to five days depending on scope and how ready the site is. Railing runs vary with length and complexity. Your installer will confirm a schedule when they measure.

Coverage follows the powder coat. Superior Performance (AAMA 2605) powder coat is our exterior and coastal grade. High Performance (AAMA 2604) powder coat is intended for interior and sheltered exterior work. Structural coverage is separate and varies by product, so check the full warranty for your system.

Powder-coated aluminum performs well in most climates, coastal included, as long as the coating is right. Within five miles of saltwater, specify Superior Performance (AAMA 2605) powder coat, with 2205 stainless for the infill and exposed hardware. High Performance (AAMA 2604) is the right choice for interior and sheltered exterior work, but it is not coastal-rated.

Read Why 2205 Stainless Steel Is the Gold Standard for Coastal Railing