This Old House advice on outdoor decks, decking materials, rails, furniture, finishes, and more
Decks: Featured Article
A four-sided face-lift—using sustainable materials where possible—improves a farmhouse's curb appeal from every angle… more
Q: We have a problem with our 1975 home that seems to be a common one in our neighborhood: wrought-iron railings embedded in the front concrete steps. We salt the steps when they're icy because they're on the north side of the house, and the railing has rusted and rotted where it is in the concrete. How do we remove the railing? Once we do, we'd like to install a new system with a better life span — maybe even something made of wood. Any suggestions?
— Gary, Southington, CT
When installing new pressure-treated decking, butt the ends of the boards tightly together as you fasten them down. The boards will shrink as they dry out, resulting in the appropriate-size gap of 1/4 to 3/8 inches between the boards.
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