Home Maintenance 101 -- Railings

Why does my railing sag in the middle?  A couple sections are a little loose on the ends, can that be fixed?  Some pieces are missing/rotten/loose, can those be replaced?

Once again, an eighty year old building can have eighty year old railings, and layers of paint can hide a multitude of issues.  Rule of thumb -- for every visible defect there are at least two more that aren't so obvious.    Railings consist of three major components -- top rail, bottom rail and balusters -- and are assembled as a unit. Be aware that replacing parts typically requires dis-assembly of the whole deal.

The most popular wood used in original railing construction was fir as it seemed to be the best option at the time, as well as readily available and inexpensive.  But even the world's finest woods have a lifespan and eventually need to be replaced after decades of New England winters.  The woods mentioned under my apply here as well, and added to those are pre-made composite railing systems.

Railings are, of course, life-saving devices and are by no means optional under any circumstances.  In fact, any landing thirty or more inches from ground level requires both railings and a handrail on right side descending.  The current building code calls for a height of 38" to 42" on new or repaired railings.

Therein lies the single biggest issue in porch railings: current height requirements. Original railings were an integral part of the porch design and fastened accordingly to the house and the columns.  In many instances this translated into a railing being fastened to a square column base built just high enough for that purpose, or the house end being fastened right under a window.  At which point many shake their heads in bewilderment and walk away...  There are, of course, various solutions that require serious thought and planning.

I wish there was a cheery point to inject about railing repair and/or replacement, but, alas, it's an involved, time-intensive project and requires a decent skill level to accomplish.  Not a cheap date.  Bottom line, would you bet your life on your current railings?  Food for thought...