Regardless of the material you use you need to be aware that florida has strict guidelines for deck building.
Florida building code deck railing height.
1 from a height of 36 inches 914 mm to 42 inches 1067 mm guards shall not have openings that allow passage of a sphere 4 3 8 inches 111 mm in diameter.
Florida deck building codes.
Commercial decks attached to multi family buildings such as apartment buildings or businesses are regulated under the international building code ibc.
Florida building codes user.
2 the triangular openings at the open sides of a stair formed by the riser tread and bottom rail shall not allow passage of a sphere 6 inches 152 mm in diameter.
Install railings on any deck that is 30 inches or more from the surrounding surface and on at least one side of a stairway leading to the deck.
Risers must be at least 4 inches in height and the stair nosing must be between 3 4 and 1 1 4 inches.
The ibc requires 42 high guardrails.
Stair rails on decks should be between 34 inches and 38 inches high measured vertically from the nose of the tread to the top of the rail.
Order a florida building code book florida building code 7th edition 2020 fbc 6th edition 2017 fbc code resources and supplements to the fbc find an amendment or declaratory statement find or submit a non binding interpretation find or submit an accessibility waiver what.
The height limit established by code is intended to provide a reasonable interval for the user so that they may rest on a level surface and to alleviate the negative effects of long uninterrupted flights.
Treads must be at least 10 inches deep measuring from front to back.
If you plan on building a deck on your own we still recommened seeking the advice of a professional deck builder.
The top of the handrail should be at least 34 inches.
Stair treads cannot slope more than 1 4 inch from the back of the stair to the nosing.
Stairs may not have risers greater in height than 7 3 4 inches or treads less than 10 inches.
Building a deck requires careful planning.
Florida building code requirements for decks.
Florida building code menu.
Handrail height measured above stair tread nosings or finish surface of ramp slope shall be uniform not less than 34 inches 864 mm and not more than 38 inches 965 mm.
The code establishes a maximum vertical height of 147 inches 12 feet 3 inches between landings or floor levels for a flight of stairs.
The code has some very specific requirements for deck stairs.
Decks 24 to 5 10 180 cm need 36 guards and anything above 5 10 requires a 42 high railing.