Deck Makeover Complete: Adding the Perfect Railing for Safety and Style
“This post is in partnership with Barrette Outdoor Living because I love em & know you’ll love em too!”
Going into a new year, this is when we usually start thinking about what projects we want to tackle around the house & try our best to create a plan for getting them done — emphasis on TRY. Simultaneously, we reflect on the projects we completed in the previous year, thinking about what we completed, how it worked out for us, and if there’s anything that may roll over into the new year for us to tackle.
2024 was an interesting year for us, in many ways, and that definitely didn’t help with projects. Having a new baby changed a lot, specifically when it came to priorities & capacity. Last year we worked on 3 indoor spaces, in addition to still working on our outdoor spaces, knowing that being outside would be an important part of my postpartum journey and beyond. Top of the outdoor list was finally adding railing to our deck.
With today being National Backyard Day, it felt like the perfect time to give you all an update on this project. Also… Happy National Backyard Day!
National Backyard Day
Zyrtec designated March 19th as the first-ever National Backyard Day in 2021 to honor these areas as sanctuaries for relaxation, creativity, and connection with nature.
In case you missed it, in 2023 I partnered with Barrette Outdoor Living to completely renovate our deck — we gutted the previous wood deck, reinforced the foundation, replaced the planks with Barrette’s composite deck system, and added a pergola to create our own outdoor resort. One thing was always missing though — railing. From a safety perspective, we wanted to safeguard the perimeter of the deck; and aesthetically, the railing would frame the area without it feeling constricted. The deck would truly be complete.
Last year was a hard year for getting anything done, much less an outdoor project — juggling a new baby, health concerns, a hectic work schedule, unpredictable PNW weather, and wasp nests around our home (big fun!). That said, we knew that the RDI® Elevation Rail we selected back in 2023 was still the best choice for us, for both the design & ease of installation, especially now in this new season of life we’re in.
The Elevation® Rail Aluminum Railing pre-assembled kits include pre-strung, continuous stainless-steel cables and adjustable panels which meant this could be a DIY project, time & weather permitting. Instead of having to painstakingly string & tighten the cables, their patent-pending OneTen™ built-in centralized system meant my husband wouldn’t need any special equipment to complete the installation, and that he’d be able to tackle this project solo on his schedule. The easy install system fit our unpredictable (please read: chaotic) lifestyle.
We measured to account for the deck’s new design & to ensure all sides that aren’t for entering/exiting would be secure. The modern design with the matte black finish of the aluminum & clean lines of the posts (a la our pergola), and unobstructed views of the open cables all fit our design ethos & enhance the overall hygge meets industrial vibes we’ve been creating for the backyard.
As with all projects, this one wasn’t without its challenges. In addition to time & weather, we also had to contend with the imperfections of the previous decks foundation; however, because of the ease of installation, we were able to work around those imperfections. Installing the section by section — 2 posts, support brace, top rail, and cables — we were able to pivot & adjust as needed to account for the not-always-so-straight foundation.
While it may have taken longer than we planned — life happens, ya know! — the end result was well worth the efforts. Our vision for the deck is finally complete with the added benefit of it being safer. What we love most is that the railing, as well as all of our other Barrette Outdoor Living items, will last us for many years to come — even with the PNW weather — and that the final look has a timeless quality that reflects our personality and feels uniquely ours.
With it being National Backyard Day and Spring beginning to blossom — no seriously… we’ve already spotted cherry blossom trees! — now is the perfect time for us to start thinking about how we can continue to transform our outdoor spaces into inviting retreats. For us, there's no better way for us to embrace this season of renewal and we plan on making the most of it by continuing to enjoy our backyard oasis!
