Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Pool deck railing options

I am putting up a deck around my pool and I'm considering my railing options. What is likely to be my most economical choice, I'm going to have about 120 feet worth of railing to put up with about 20 corners.. The drawing my city gave shows if I'm using ballusters I have to have 4" spacing on centers. I will have a 12'x16' main part of the deck, then a 2' wide deck around the rest of the perimeter of a 28' round above ground pool. The perimeter part will be in 18 sections that will be just under 5' long worth of railing per section.

An alternative I'm considering is this wavy translucent plastic, but I'm wondering if anyone has a feel for whether that willl or won't be cheaper than a basic railing with ballusters.

don't know if it is cheaper or not but it will cut down on the breeze on a nice summer eve or even day. I think the plastic may get cloudy after time

There are more railing options available than there are composites for decking -- and that's a ton!!

An acrylic or lexan panel will eventually cloud. You'll spend a lot of time and use a lot of MacGuires to keep it clear. Tempered glass won't cloud.

Metal railings would do fine and go up fast, but at $30 a ft. or more, ...

A wood railing gets back towards "economical", but the maintenance!!

Composite railings don't have the maintenance, but they are more expensive than metal.

Only one I know of that is both affordable up front and doesn't have the maintenance cost is vinyl. (Starts at about $15/ft.)

No matter how you cut it, railing is pretty pricey -- either up front (metal or composite) or down the road in maintenance costs.

I was thinking of white corrugated plastic panel anyway for the privacy as well..

Id go with a PVC fence as it has a U/V in itshould pass code and will let th air through it.

ED :D

White, or whatever color of corrugated panels could be made to work and be attractive. A bottom rail ether 4" or 6" wide of 1X or 2X, depending on the length of the span between posts (you could put blocks at mid-span if needed). On top of that a 2x2, a closure for the panel, the bottom edge of the panel, another closure, and another 2X2. Use the same arrangement under the top rail to capture the top of the panel. At each post, put a 1X2 or 2X2 on each side of the panel to capture the edges.

What you choose to make the railing out of is up to you. Obviously wood is an option, but that is going to mean maintenance. You can get the same components in a composite (Trex, WeatherBest, etc. -- whatever color appeals to you and works best). No maintenance, just more expensive initially.

A short solid or semi-solid vinyl fence would work well and be attractive. TONS of ways to design that. Go see a vinyl fence supplier.