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jeremy_segermeister17

Exterior railing help, cable railing kits

4 years ago

I'm finishing up a new construction home in California. We need to install a railing on the top retaining wall. I am looking for something relatively inexpensive and modern looking. Horizontal metal railings were out of my budget unfortunately.


I was thinking a cable railing with wood posts would be easiest since my wall is not level going across.


Does anyone have any recommended cable railing kits? I will have my contractor install.






Comments (26)

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    What is to code where you are . In many places cable is not. I am having a bit of trouble understanding exactly what this retaining wall is next to and why you need a railing.

  • 4 years ago

    It is allowed - our interior is all horizontal metal railings. But it was a whole fiasco to get it done and very expensive.

    The street is higher then my driveway/garage.. we live in the hills. Here is another angle. But most of the wall is 6’ above my driveway so I for sure need something to protect people from falling. The top on the left is county property and will be extra parking.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    This is a little off topic, but have you parked a car in your garage yet?

  • 4 years ago

    Yup. Tight but manageable.

  • 4 years ago

    I wouldn't buy a "kit" for that type of installation. You just need stainless steel cabling, a crimper and crimp fittings, some stainless steel eyebolts, and stainless steel turnbuckles to get everything taut. You can get everything you need by ordering these parts on Amazon.

  • 4 years ago

    Thanks! Would you mind sharing a link to a turnbuckle so I know what to look for?

  • 4 years ago

    Jeremy-

    This is what I was talking about: SS turnbuckle



  • 4 years ago

    I have purchased wire cable and accessories from e-rigging.com. you don't need to be 4" apart, I hope?

  • 4 years ago

    I think 4” is the code!

  • 4 years ago

    The building code applies to, well, buildings. The 4" spacing is to protect little 'uns from getting hurt in the guard rail. Will little children be playing on this railing?

  • 4 years ago

    Will the building inspector allow this type of railing? Many locales will not.

  • 4 years ago

    I would plant bushes there. This is our side yard and we have a very high raised area that has bushes as a barrier.

  • 4 years ago

    Bushes won't meet code if a railing is required.

  • 4 years ago

    Where we live it depends on what the use of the area is. So in our case this is a garden not walking path so no railing required. If this were a path or access way then railing needed.

    What is the top area used for Jeremy? Will it be a garden?

  • 4 years ago

    If it’s a paved parking area then yes agreed with Mark that needs to be very sturdy.

  • 4 years ago

    It will be parking. I can’t do exclusively shrubs since it doesn’t meet code.

  • PRO
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    If it's county property, why aren't they responsible for making sure no on falls off it? There no actual danger on your property since you're at the bottom of the cliff.

  • 4 years ago

    But Mark, that exceeds the maximum 4" opening code requirement... ;-)

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Soft balls and small children are one thing, but you want to keep those two ton car from going over the edge.

  • 4 years ago

    So, the county plans to pave the space? Do they have a timeframe? I'd talk to the County Planner and ask for his suggestions. You can put forward the position that creating public parking will create more hazard for your property then leaving it garden. And this means you'll going to incure greater expense for the railing. See if they can help or add the railing to their portion of the property.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Perhaps signage would work.


  • 4 years ago

    Mark-

    That won't help with toddlers. How about this?:



  • 4 years ago

    kudzu- every toddler I've ever met has been on a mission to meet death. Signs won't help. Only hyper-attentive parents or duct-tape/velcro works. ;)

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Leashes help, too. Or maybe an electric fence... ;-)