Buckeye

I'm replacing an outdoor railing by my back steps, using pressure-treated 4x4s for the posts and 1x6 for the railing itself.

The steps are quite a bit wider than the doorway so the railing needs to be offset (over the steps) from the posts. I want to fasten the railing to 2 pieces of 4x4, and those 3 pieces to the 4x4 post to make the best use of a couple of 4x4x8'.

Configuration:
___ ++_
| | |_| |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | |_|
| | | |^ 1x6
| | |_|
| | |^ 4x4 piece
| |_|
| |^ 4x4 piece
| |
| |
| |
^ 4x4 post

I hope that makes sense. The ++ is finger space between the railing and the 4x4 piece adjacent to the railing.

I'm thinking of bolting the left 4x4 piece to the post, bolting the right 4x4 piece to the left-piece-and-post, and using lag screws to fasten the railing to the whole she-bang.

Any suggestions about the fastening configuration? Just use lag screws throughout?

I'm not confident that a bolt all the way through from the railing to the post would be sturdy enough.

Bob Willing

Two years ago I made and installed the railing for my 40 ft deck. I use double galvanized carriage bolts (2 each post), and I also notched each post about half way through so the post set on the deck for added support. Up here in the UP of MI it is code to use double galvanized bolts. They are very solid and I am not afraid to let my grand kids push and play around them. I have post every 6 ft and 5/4 X 6 12 ft long between posts so this makes for a very strong railing.

Hope this helps

Bob