- 1). Sketch the house with various types of railings. Review design books and home improvement websites to see which styles are commonly used with architecture matching your house. Draw porch posts and balusters that are both square in shape, round in shape or any combination of the two. Sketch fancier railings if your house is Victorian, for example. Experiment with rustic timber railings if it is a log home or ranch house.
- 2). Use graph paper to design the spacing of posts, railings, steps and handrails. Buy all pre-made component parts of the railing or build your own from scratch. Use a circular saw to cut posts from post material that are 6 inches by 6 inches or larger. Notch angles into the top 4 or 5 inches of each post to add design appeal. Cut hand rails and foot rails from 2- by 6-inch salt-treated lumber. Miter corners with a ban saw to give the railings a professional appearance.
- 3). Attach porch posts with stainless steel wood screws and angle-iron hardware. Consult with experts at your home improvement store to buy installation hardware for the type of wood you are using. Use 4-inch stainless steel nails to "toenail" the posts to decking, if you prefer. Install top and bottom rails and secure balusters between posts with 4-inch stainless steel screws. Assemble the railings in sections and measure carefully before you attach sections to support posts. Use a carpenter's level to check your work.
- 4). Buy concrete angle-iron fittings and concrete screws to attach railings to a concrete patio. Use a concrete drill bit to install the metal hardware. Adjust porch railing posts to fit an uneven foundation by sliding shims of wood beneath the posts to raise them. Use the carpenter's level to ensure the top railing is even. Cut off posts slightly, using a circular saw, to accommodate larger discrepancies in concrete porches or patios that raise the posts too high in places.
- 5). Install a gate on a porch railing area constructed of 2- by 6-inch boards forming the perimeter of the gate. Construct an X-shaped interior framework to give the gate structural support. Use heavy-duty stainless steel hinges and a stainless steel latch on the gate. Avoid any metal nails, screws or hardware that are not stainless steel to prevent rust stains on the railings or gate.
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