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Railing Shoe (16)

The railing shoe is the board that runs horizontally and makes up the bottom of the guardrail. Code requires that the spacing between the bottom of the guardrail shoe and the decking surface be no more that 4 inches. This is to prevent small children from slipping in-between and getting stuck.

Make sure to do more than just toe-nail this part in place. It's at the perfect height for guests to rest one foot on as they lean against the guardrail. One way to strengthen the guardrail shoe is to attach a small cleat to the inside face of the posts just below the intended height of the shoe. Setting the railing shoe on top and screwing down into the top of the cleat makes for a strong joint.

Whatever style of guardrail you choose to build, taking the time to find out what building codes require just makes good sense. Following the guidelines on BestDeckSite will ensure your guardrail will be safe for everyone and hold up well through the years. Look over the section on Railings & Stairs for more information.