I used black metal balusters on a deck I did for a client. They are now sold at Lowes, but at the time I found them at www.rockler.com. They sell a variety of styles. The simple round ones were about $20.00 for a box of 10. Ron

I am currently in process of doing something similar to what your asking. TimberTech Radiance Rail with IPE as a top rail. I'm trying to determine what would be the best way to connect the IPE to the rest of the railing, the only contact the top rail makes is the posts. I'm thinking of just screwing down the top rail into the 4x4 PT posts and plugging. What were you thinking of doing? P.S. I'm using a 5 3/8 IPE railcap and found that when you set the railcap over the radiance rail post slips, it doesn't completely cover them - you have approx 1/16-1/8 of the post slip edge showing (on either side). The overall width of rail cap is actually wider then the post slip, but the profile of the rail cap cuts in making the bottom side a little just a little too narrow to completely cover the rail. I can take a picture and show you if you don't already have the prdocut to test with.

Would love to see the photos, but when I click on it the only thing I get is a cat food commercial. I'm fairly new to this, what am I doing wrong? We are about to embark on a deck redo also and have looked extensively at Azek. I'm going to do the floor in Acacia color and the railing in Kona (because there is no railing in Acacia). To tie it together I'm going to have the second board in from the outside be in Kona and the Kona color railing will go on the outside board which will be the Acacia.....just trying to change it up a bit. Your comments are letting us know we are on the right track....especially about the ketchup and wine as we entertain outside a lot. Thanks for the informative post.

Thanks Steve, the more I think about it I think I would like the look of the two different woods. I read up on the plugging process and it really doesn't sound all that bad, just time consuming. My deck won't be all that large (16' x 15'), so that does sound like the way to go vs the hidden fasteners. Another question, if my joists are 16" OC and plan on plugging, can I use 1x6 Ipe or should I still use 5/4x6? The deck will about about 30" - 34" off the ground if that matters at all. Thanks again, --eric