We have a covered porch (open, not enclosed) that needs to be rebuilt with new decking and railing. It current has 4 x 6 posts supporting the porch roof. The wider dimension faces the house. The rail that extends from the front corner post back to the house interferes with a doorway. It was originally built with pressure treated lumber, so the top of the rail was shaved on an angle to allow the door to open.

Now we're trying to do something with with more low maintenance materials. I'd love to extend the deck out further past the door, but we can't move the post on the front which supports the roof. We do plan on replacing the 4 x 6 posts with 4 x 4 posts and sleeve covers, but the inside edge would have to remain where it is to line up with the top support beam.

We love having a wide flat rail on top (drink rail) and want to do that again, but not sure how to deal with a railing system, or composite top board, that cannot be shaved off to a thinner dimension close to the house without looking like a hack job. We could do a Westbury aluminum rail that attaches to the fascia and have it run around the outside of the roof support posts, with the drink rail notched to fit around the posts. Not sure how that would look, especially if we do a dark bronze rail and posts are white. I haven't been able to find any pictures of one done that way.

Any thoughts or other suggestions?