Express

Posts go no more than four feet apart, center to center, which is what our testing is based on. Divide the length of your run by four. If that comes out to a whole number, subtract one. If it doesn't, round down. Either way that's your line post count, and every run adds two end posts on top of it.

A 20-foot run works out to four line posts and two end posts, so six in total. A 22-foot run gives you five line posts and two end posts, so seven.

On stairs, plan a post every fifth step at most. Starting from the end post at the bottom, that puts your next post on the fifth step.

Only if you have the depth for it. The slim side mount plate is six inches tall and its top edge sits 1 3/8 inches below the deck surface, so you need at least eight inches of fascia with solid blocking behind it. Measure before you order — this is the most common reason a fascia-mount plan has to change.

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.

Finish, handrail, mounting style, height and lengths. Express comes in three powder coats — Standard Black, Standard Silver and Standard White — with a choice of three handrails and cable infill, on 36 or 42 inch posts. That fixed set is what keeps it in stock and priced below made-to-order. For any other finish, profile or infill, Signature is the path.

Surface mount and slim side mount, each in a level and a stair version. Surface mount sits on top of your deck or treads and is the straightforward choice for most decks. Slim side mount fastens to the fascia instead, which keeps the walking surface completely clear and is worth it on a narrow stair.

Yes, with double posts at the stair transitions. Express level posts and stair posts don't join to each other, so where the deck run meets the stair you'll stand a post for each. If you want the transition to read as one continuous system instead, that's a Signature conversation — talk to us before you order.

36 and 42 inches. A 36-inch post comes pre-drilled for ten cable runs and a 42-inch for twelve, all spaced 3 1/8 inches on center. Check which guard height your jurisdiction requires before ordering, since some call for 42. Anything outside those two heights means a Signature system.

One post per turn. Our corner post is drilled on three faces, so two runs meet at 90 degrees and each one terminates cleanly rather than bending cable around the corner. Most systems make you stand two posts back to back at every turn. You don't need to, which saves material and keeps the view open.

Three to choose from:

• The standard 1 x 2 inch aluminum rail
• A 1 x 4 inch beverage rail, wide enough to set a drink on
• The 6002 thermally modified wood rail, for exterior runs

The aluminum profiles come in the same three finishes as the posts and ship in 8.5-foot lengths, cut to length on site. Brackets are included with the posts, and the stair brackets pivot to match whatever angle your flight runs at.

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

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

Yes, and it's built for it. Posts arrive pre-drilled, all hardware is included, the fittings are hidden and swaged, and you can turn a corner with a single post rather than doubling up. Most homeowners work through a run with common tools and our instructions.

Express is kept in stock, and most orders ship within one to three business days.

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.

Outdoors, yes. Coastal, no. Express uses a High Performance (AAMA 2604) powder coat and sits outside the Coastal Products Warranty. Within five miles of saltwater, go with Signature on 2205 stainless posts, or Signature aluminum posts in our Superior Performance powder coat. That coating carries an AAMA 2605 certification, the highest performance standard for exterior architectural coatings on aluminum extrusions and panels.

Coastal means within five miles of saltwater. Cable there requires 2205 stainless posts, plus routine cleaning to keep the cable and fittings from discoloring and surface rusting. Boeshield T-9 slows that down.

In an extreme coastal environment we'd steer you off cable. Rod or glass infill, on 2205 brushed stainless posts or on aluminum posts in Superior Performance (AAMA 2605) powder coat, holds up far better, and that specification is what a warranty claim requires. Isolation hardware and anti-corrosion lubricant ship with the order wherever stainless meets aluminum. Express surface and side mount posts aren't coastal rated, so talk to your rep before ordering anything near the coast.

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