Hog fencing is hot right now.

DH wanted the cables. I was concerned about safety. I don't want my grandchildren climbing the cables. I hope these are safer. Expensive I'm afraid.

same thing will go on house deck when it is built. Let me know if you want the brand. It is the same company doing our screen porch.

Ours would look better on a contemporary style home but dh won here.

Jn334 - I really like the look of that. But still prett climbable I’d think? My nephew would scale it like a fence, and it’s an 18’ drop to th ground below.

ILoveRed - is that vertical cable railing?

Kristin...yes. DH says the brand is Westbury. They are also doing our screen porch. The rep designed everything with the gentleman at our builders supply company where we are buying our materials. Very good company to work with.

Unless the photo is distorted, the spacing on those verticals looks very wide. I believe for child safety the spacing should be around 4" or less; if this is flexible spacing, count on active children getting (at a minimum) their heads stuck between the verticals (or going through). Tough challenge, good luck!

Couldn't find a website but this is the product. Westbury vertical-cable

https://www.decksdirect.com/cable-deck-railing/vertical-cable-systems/westbury-verticable-railing

Nah...my kids call me the safety police, lol.

"The 316 stainless steel cables are spaced 3" on center, plus the system has a vertical support baluster every 12" for extra stability that won't distract from your view."

Well...don't forget to check the building code for what is permitted in your area...in many jurisdictions horizontal elements are not allowed, since they are climbable, and verticals must be spaced so that a 4-inch ball cannot pass through...

I like damiarains first and third image. My neighbors who are doing contemporary houses all put in metal railings

We are just doing aluminum railings on our back deck, stairs and around the basement walk out area. We have three kids and a dog and needed to be mindful of safety too. Also horizontal was a no go here building code wise according to our team.

Thanks, all. I particularly like damiarain's first image - it's a nice contemporary look while still seeming fairly classic. I may explore the mesh, too, as it looks like there are options for smaller mesh that little feet couldn't get into to climb.

Weirdly, I think the horizontal is allowed by code here, as my architect (who is on top of these things) included it and the deck showroom has it displayed, too. The showroom makes sure to warn it's a bad idea for safety reasons if you have kids or expect kids to be visiting, though. And it's a complete no-go for the former teacher, former lawyer, current mom and aunt in me, which all combine into visions of what can go wrong with curious kids (especially in a group egging each other on) and a nice climbable railing.

Please do not put any furniture on your deck. Patio furniture is way too easy to push up against ANY type of railing and climb over. It is easier to climb on furniture, therefore more tempting than the railing itself. Further, it gets the little ones up above the railing before they have developed the skill set to actually climb it,... which is less safe than actually being able to climb it.

It is only Canada that does not allow horizontal railing. In the US, the NFPA, ANSI, IRC, CPSC, and several other organizations have gathered statistics for decades, and still can not find any link to horizontal rails and actual injuries.

Fred how can people have a deck with no furniture on it? That seems entirely unlikely to happen! We live in Canada so I guess that’s why we aren’t allowed the horizontal railings.

Alison, when you put it that way, it sounds as absurd as the lack of horizontal railings actually being a hindrance to an imaginative child that wants to get above the railing....

I think a kid who wants to climb will! I have three. I don’t make the rules but plan to abide by them. As for deck furnishings perhaps you were being funny? I’ve never seen a deck without furniture. And regarding safety while I do think a kid will climb if they want to I also don’t endeavour to make it easier on a regular basis ;)

Yet, it takes about 2 seconds to pull a patio chair over to the railing.

My nephew is one. He could absolutely climb over a railing right now, but he could not move a chair over to one (and my one year old niece is a few months from being in the same situation). I'll take my little bits of safety where I can get them :-).

Kristin, I would go with the vertical slats and stay away from any grid — hogwire, cattle panels, horse panels or any of the similar products. They are all far too easy to climb.

FYI, the grid that you frequently see is not hogwire — that is a misnomer, perpetuated by lazy copy editors. Hog wire panels and cattle panels have openings 6 inches wide and graduated in height from top to bottom, none of which are symmetrical. The more often used utility panels have 4x4 inch square openings and are quite easy to climb. Even 2x4 mesh panels or fencing (known as no-climb, haha) can be climbed — just ask my small pony. Actually, in a pinch I've climbed over such a fence by wedging my toes in.

While it is true that a climber will find a way to climb, there is no need to make it easy or inviting. Stick with the vertical.