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Landscape Design Porches & Decks

Need ideas for railing/wall around concrete pad

last year

We had a concrete pad poured and built a retaining wall around it but now wanting to put railing around it with our baby getting bigger and older running around on the concrete it is a big fall off the retaining wall. We are looking to put railing around the pad we would like it on the retaining wall or in the rocks around the concrete. We wish when we started this we would of set post in concrete then put in the back fill and gravel but it’s to late for that unless we would be able to dig a hole and set a post in concrete not sure with it being all gravel as back fill then rocks on top. If I anchor the post of the railing to the retaining wall I’m afraid the stones aren't heavy enough to hold someone from falling off. I’m afraid the wall would just go with them. Any ideas what we could do?

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olychick

last year

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Comments (9)

millworkman
last year
For the railing to be of any use or last it needs to be set in the concrete. I would core drill and install posts or use a base shoe with a glass balustrade. What type railing are you thing of?
Hunter Huett
Original Author
last year
Where would you core drill and put the post in the gravel? we would like something that would be easy to see theough but probably either wood or vinyl
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Love your entry!! A while ago I remember someone entering a post with brick and travertine mixed on an outside patio entertainment area and front entry.The poster had flagstone on steps with bullnosed brick edging the steps. They had found great colors that flowed together It was very pretty and the textures worked well. If you do a search on outside entertainment areas maybe you will find it. That said, I agree with squirrel that the stone on the columns wouldn't be the right fit. I would stick with the wood columns, and if a change is desired maybe change the look with simple detailing. Love the retaining wall! Where is it in proximity to the front of your house?
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Pictures would certainly help us see what you have to work with for sure.
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We stepped our main deck level down one step (a small landing outside the door and then a step down to rest of deck) and then used a combination of black wrought iron vertical railing joined with wood decorative posts. I don't know the style of your home, and the overall "color" of your view (ie, if it's light, you may want white railing), but this worked very nicely for us. The white painted corner posts tied in with the traditional style of our home, and the iron blended with the trees/forest so that it is practically invisible from inside, yet the overall look makes the outside area a focal point rather than a railing distraction. Just an idea. I'm not sure if it was all that affordable. My husband did the woodwork, and brought in the iron guy to measure and fill in the railing lengths. Reeha
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Okay so I really need your guys help! The original pic I posted was of the current house b/c I wasnt able to get to the new house at the moment. The carpenter who did this doesn't seem to want to make the time to come and fix it... Please see pics of the new railing, inspector said just to do a straight cut on both pieces of wood and to place an "S" piece of wood to connect the two. But where the spindle is concerns me, I feel like the "S" would almost skip over the spindle, and we cannot remove the top spindle because then the opening between spindle and wall would be too big! Attaching pics-opinions please..... (Carpenter asked US to pick up the pieces??! We have no idea how to measure and what we're doing?!). What else would we need? I think the inspector mentioned something about a plate to go underneath where it connects? (and I guess that piece against the wall, will need to come off). Thank you in advance..
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millworkman
last year
"Where would you core drill and put the post in the gravel?"

You don't that would be into the concrete pad. You would need to remove the gravel so you can dig holes and properly set any posts or post bases in concrete.
Hunter Huett
Original Author
last year
Im trying to avoid putting the railing on the concrete. i didnt know if i could set the post in concrete with the gravel being so deep
millworkman
last year
That why the gravel needs to be removed so you can get the post base below the frost line and or virgin dirt.
Hunter Huett
Original Author
last year
Yeah i know not sure how to dig that deep to get to that point
millworkman
last year
last modified: last year
Start by removing the stone and then get a post hole digger or rent a power auger.
Olychick
last year
last modified: last year
Why don't you just get large rectangular planters and place them at the edge of the concrete where the steep drop off is? It would soften the harshness of all that concrete, once planted.

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