Fresh Start

Give your outdated deck a style boost with a great-looking custom rail design. Our design takes a typical picket fence motif, then updates it and adds custom details you typically won't find on a builder's deck.

The materials list below is for one four-foot-long railing and one post. The letters are keyed to the instructions and plans that follow. An * indicates you need to determine length on the job site.

• A) 1 post: 5-1/2 x 5-1/2 x 38-1/2 inches
• B) 1 cap: 1-1/2 x 7-1/2 x 7-1/2 inches
• C) 1 cap: 3/4 x 5-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches
• D) 4 cubes: 3/4 x 3/4 x 3/4 inches
• E) 2 rectangles: 3/4 x 3/4 x 2 inches
• F) 1 triangle: 3/4 x 2-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches
• G) 2 post ornaments: 3/4 x 3-1/2 x 6 inches
• H) 4 cove molding pieces: 3/4 x 3/4 inches
• I) 1 top rail: 1-1/2 x 3-1/2* inches
• J) 1 bottom rail: 1-1/2 x 3-1/2* inches
• K) 1 top-rail support: 3/4 x 2* inches
• L) 8 pickets: 3/4 x 3-1/2 x 34 inches
• No. 3, No. 6, and No. 8 galvanized finishing nails
• 1-1/2-inch galvanized deck screws
• 3 x 3/4-inch rust-resistant corner irons

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Level
• Circular saw
• Jigsaw
• Router with carbide router chamfer bit
• Power driver/drill
• Phillips-head bit
• 1-inch boring bit
• Pocket square
• Combination square
• Framing square
• Hammer
• Nail set