Cable Railing
Project Guide
Understand the options and find the best solution for your project. No cable
rail experience? No problem! This guide is designed to help you navigate the
planning process for your own cable rail system, even if you have no prior
knowledge of cable rail. After reading this guide you will be able to make
informed decisions about the best system for your home.
Our goal is to simplify your cable rail design experience. If you have any
questions along the way, we would love to personally address your concerns
and provide more resources as needed. You can reach our cable rail team
at 1 (574) 742-1030, or fill out a Cable Railing Design Help form to
receive a customized quote from an expert who will walk you through the
entire design process.
From all of us at Viewrail – We wish you an enhanced view and a
transformed living space.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: What is Cable Railing?.................................. 2
Introduction
Can I Install Cable Railing by
Myself? Location & Use
Chapter 2: Cable Railing Posts....................................... 3
Post Material & Finishes
Post Mounting Style
Chapter 3: Cable & Components............................... 8
Cable Tensioning Components
Cable
Chapter 4: Handrail................................................... 11
Handrail Styles
Handrail Mounts
Chapter 5: Start Planning......................................... 12
Safety & Special Measurements
Draw Your Project
Version 2.0 — 9-22-2017
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Chapter 1:
What is Cable Railing?
Introduction
Cable railing offers an exciting alternative to traditional wood stair and deck railing,
instead harnessing the sleek design of stainless steel cable tensioned between metal
or wood posts. Depending on the configuration, cable railing complements a variety
of styles: modern, industrial, classic, or craftsman. Always simple and elegant.
Popular for both interior and exterior, stainless steel cable, along with properly
treated posts and handrail, offer corrosion resistance and durability. You can find
cable railing in homes and commercial spaces across the United States, Canada,
and tropical regions because of its versatility and open-concept experience.
Its luxurious appeal and corrosion resistance make it ideal for a high-end, modern
space. But don’t let that fool you – depending on the scale of the project, cable
railing systems can be quite affordable.
Can I Install Cable Railing by Myself?
Absolutely! Most manufacturers provide some form of installation instructions for their
cable rail system. If you plan to install the system yourself, it is important to look at
these resources and determine if you are comfortable with the process. Some cable
railing systems are easier to install than others! Viewrail prioritizes ease of installation,
which supports both contractors and those – like you! – who want to do a cable rail
project on their own. Check out our resources here!
Though many projects do not require the help of a contractor, especially complex
projects may benefit from an expert.
Location & Use
No matter the project, cable railing promotes a clean aesthetic that compliments
both interior and exterior spaces. On your stairways, use cable railing to create an
open-concept style, expanding your home by creating a visually larger and more
spacious room. Or, take your project outside – the sleek design of cable railing
minimizes distractions and extends your view on decks and balconies.
It is essential to select the products that are suited for your location and specific
application. If you live within 50 miles of the coast or near roadways that use de-icing
salt in the winter, select products made of a marine-grade stainless steel alloy for
maximum corrosion resistance. High salt content in the air can corrode metal posts
very quickly if they are not made from the proper materials (see Post Materials
below). Even the most stylish cable railing system will only remain beautiful if it can
withstand the elements! Read on to learn about selecting materials and styles that
will look beautiful for years to come.
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Chapter 2:
Cable Railing Posts
Posts act as the anchor for cable railing systems. It’s important to have strong posts to
support the tension required to keep cable railing taut. Explore your options! There are
many styles available to create a system that fits your budget and design preferences.
Post Materials & Finishes
Cable railing pairs elegantly with posts made of a variety of materials, most commonly
wood or metal. Each material provides a unique look and may be personalized with a
variety of finishes.
Metal Posts
For a sleek design, metal posts offer a strong and versatile solution. Normally constructed
from either stainless steel or aluminum, metal posts may be treated with a brushed finish
or powder coated in a wide variety of colors.
Q: “Are the posts pre-cut and pre-drilled?”
Yes. Some people don’t mind cutting and drilling on-site… but that’s not for everyone!
This can be a difficult (and messy) process. At Viewrail, we want to simplify installation for
you. Our design team helps you pinpoint your measurements and our manufacturing team
creates your custom posts, fully finished and ready to install as soon as you receive them.
Q: “What kind of metal is used?”
It’s important to select the right kind of metal for posts that will provide long-lasting beauty.
Stainless Steel and Aluminum are the most prominent options available –
find the best fit for your environment!
Stainless Steel
Brushed and powder coated stainless steel is the standard for cable rail posts, but there
are many variations available on the market. The most common type is 304 Stainless
Steel, which is popular because it is strong, affordable, and provides sufficient corrosion
resistance for most applications.
However, some applications require a stronger level of corrosion resistance. If you are
located in a coastal region within 50 miles of saltwater or near roadways where salt is
used to prevent ice build up, you will need to use a more corrosion resistant stainless
steel alloy. The most common alloy for this application is 2205 duplex stainless steel posts
which provide the absolute highest level of corrosion resistance on the market. Surface Mount Post
w/ Foot Cover is one of
many options available.
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Chapter 2: Cable Railing Posts
Aluminum
Aluminum is strong, lightweight, affordable, and can be powder coated to match
any design. Aluminum is less corrosion resistant than stainless steel, but will
Budget Tip:
get the job done in most environments. Some companies offer aluminum in a
brushed finish with no protective coating, but we’ve found such posts scratch
Powder coated
easily and don’t perform well. We recommend using aluminum posts with a high-
aluminum posts
quality powder coat finish for a budget solution that will hold up very well both
are a great option
indoors and outdoors.
for projects on a
budget!
Other Metals
Occasionally, you may come across posts made of Mild Steel or Galvanized They provide
Steel. These materials are not as strong as stainless steel and offer significantly the modern look
less corrosion resistance over time. We highly recommend selecting either you want at an
stainless steel or aluminum posts, as we’ve found these materials perform accessible price.
the best over time.
Choose Speedboat
Q: “How many posts will I need?”
Silver for a finish
Metal posts must be no more than 4’ apart to control cable deflection (read
that resembles
more about post spacing on page 12). The overall number of posts needed to
stainless steel.
complete your project will vary significantly based on the manufacturer.
For example, some brands don’t have a solution for mounting cable on one
corner post, so they put 2 posts on each corner instead. Some use this same
method for transitioning from level surfaces to angled stairs, which creates a
more cluttered appearance and works against your goal of an open and simple
cable rail project. Additionally, double posting at each transition increases your
costs significantly.
Unlike many options on the market, the Viewrail design solves this problem. Most
corners and stair transitions only require one post, which streamlines the system
and saves you money. A simple solution that’s an all-around win!
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Chapter 2: Cable Railing Posts
Wood Posts
Natural wood posts offer a strong and warm appearance, melding to meet your
style goals based on your choice of wood species, stain, and finish.
Already have wood posts? Great! Many companies offer kits that may be used to
tension cable into existing wood posts. Some may require special modifications,
such as drilling holes through the posts, while others like DriveTite Surface can
be used on most pre-existing wood posts with very little modification. Cable
railing is a fairly easy DIY project that can make a major impact on your living
space, and using your own wood posts is a great way to save time and money!
Q: “Should I use solid or hollow wood posts?”
There are cable railing systems available for both solid and hollow wood posts.
Check the specific kit you are looking at buying to make sure it is compatible
with the posts you are using.
At Viewrail, our DriveTite kits work with solid posts, while DriveTite Surface
can be used with solid or hollow posts with at least 1.5” of mounting material
for the screw.
Tensioning Screw POST
Surface Cover
CABLE
Barrel Fitting Cable Wedge
The DriveTite Surface system for solid or hollow wood posts is
shown above.
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Chapter 2: Cable Railing Posts
Q: “What species of wood is good for exterior wood posts?”
Let your creativity run wild with interior wood selections – all can be finished to
hold up to normal, everyday indoor use. However, think again when it comes to
exterior wood selection – pick woods that are strong enough to stand up to the Budget Tip:
elements and support your cable system, such as oak or maple protected with
an exterior grade finish. Keep in mind that wood strength requirements for cable Install cable
rail vary by brand, so it’s best to double check before purchase. railing on your
existing wood
Q: “What are intermediate posts and why would I need them?” posts.
Intermediate posts are thin metal posts that are placed between larger structural
posts to prevent cable deflection, or cable bending. Building code in most It looks beautiful
locations require that gaps in railing systems be no larger than 4”. The further and saves you
cables span, the more they are able to deflect. time and money!
To help reduce this bending, intermediate posts are placed between structural
posts positioned more than 4’ apart, supporting the railing system in a simple,
unobtrusive way. Read more about post and cable spacing on page 12.
Q: “Does cable railing work with vinyl sleeved wood posts?”
It definitely can! However, it is important to double check if the specific kits you
are looking into will work with vinyl sleeved posts. Due to how different kits are
designed to mount into a post, the vinyl sleeve could present an issue. Our
DriveTite Surface kits are perfectly compatible with vinyl sleeved wood posts.
These kits are designed to anchor into wood posts, even through the vinyl
sleeve, and support the cable railing system.
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Chapter 2: Cable Railing Posts
Post Mounting Style
Metal posts may be mounted in a variety of ways. Evaluate the area where you
will be installing your railing and refer to the chart below to figure out which post
mount style is best for your application. There might be one obvious solution,
but you also might have some options! Answer these two questions to help
determine the perfect post mounting style for your application:
How can my posts be mounted?
Posts are primarily mounted onto 3 types of surfaces: level, angled, or vertical
(fascia mounted).
Flat Surfaces: Posts mounting to flat surfaces are usually called Surface Mount,
Flat Mount, or Standard Mount. These posts mount directly to the floor or to the
tread of a stairway and can be used in most applications.
Angled Surfaces: On angled surfaces, like knee walls and ramps, use Angle
Foot Posts. This mounting style anchors onto the angled surface with a foot
customized to match your surface’s exact angle.
Vertical Surfaces (Fascia): Often called fascia mount or side mount posts,
this style saves space by attaching to a vertical surface like the side of a deck or
stairway. There are many different styles of these mounts available. Choose the Surface Mount
one that suits your home best! w/ Foot Cover
What is that surface made of?
The surface for installing cable railing posts must be strong, stable, and thick
enough for mounting hardware.
Wood Surface: The most common mounting surface is wood. Nearly all
standard posts are designed to mount onto a wood base. Be sure to check what
thickness and wood hardness is required for the design.
Composite Surface: Many decks are made from composite material. True
Angle Foot Post
composite is made of wood and plastic and should work with most posts w/ Foot Cover
intended for wood mounting. Beware: plastic-only composite is usually not
compatible. To mount on true composite, additional materials, like wood blocking
for fastening, may be required.
Cement Surface: Mounting posts into cement is tricky, but may be necessary
sometimes. Be sure to find hardware and posts, like Viewrail Special Application
Posts, that are compatible with cement installation. Consider working with a
contractor to help avoid cracks on your cement surface as you mount your posts.
Side Mount
(fascia mount)
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Chapter 3:
Cable & Components
After you’ve discovered what kinds of posts are available, the next decision you face is
what cable and tensioning components are right for you! Because posts and components
are designed to work together, we recommend purchasing both products from the same
manufacturer to ensure the system works as intended.
Cable Tensioning Components
Keep your cable taut between each end post with cable tensioning components. They come
in an array of shapes, sizes, and styles to best fit your needs.
Post Material
Now that you’ve selected your posts, choose cable tensioning components that are
compatible with the them. If you have wood posts, find a system like Viewrail DriveTite
Surface for easy installation. Pre-drilled metal posts are best paired with the cable tensioning
system of the same brand.
Level or Angled Runs
Sometimes the tensioning components used for angled runs, such as those going up stairs,
are different than the tensioning components required for level runs. Your project may have
a combination of level and angled runs. . . no problem! Just make sure you are using the
correct components for each application. Some systems, like the DriveTite Kits, avoid this
problem because both angled and level runs use the same components..
Hidden or Exposed Components
Visually, a big differentiator between cable tensioning systems is whether the components are
hidden within the posts or exposed along the cable runs.
Wood
Tension Receiver Barrel Fitting
Angle
Steel Insert Sleeve
Insert
Cable Wedge
CABLE
CABLE
Threaded Crimp Fitting
Tensioning Screw
POST POST
Some systems, like Viewrail Level Tension Kits (for metal posts) or Viewrail DriveTite
(for wood posts), discreetly conceal the tensioning components inside of the posts for a
clean finish. Other systems use exposed tensioning components that mount to the outside
of the post. With bulky hardware exposed, this style provides a less streamlined appearance.
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Chapter 3: Cable & Components
Ease of Installation
It is important to install cable rail properly to ensure safety and beautiful results.
If you plan to do the installation on your own, investigate to see if the company
Make sure to use
has installation videos or other helpful resources. Call and talk to the customer
cable provided by
service team to find out if you will get installation instructions with your order.
the same company
When your cable rail arrives at your home, you’ll be glad you thought to ask!
as your tensioning
components.
Cable
All cable used for cable railing is formed by twisting together thin pieces Many components
of stainless steel wire. There is a wide variety of cable on the market, each will only work with
different based on the number of wires, the thickness of the wires, and the a certain style of
arrangement in which they are twisted. cable!
Composition and Diameter
Cable is described by 2 major elements: composition and diameter. You’ll see
descriptions like 7x7 Cable or 1x19 Cable (the two most common). The first
number represents the number of wire groupings in the cable. The second
number stands for the number of wires in each grouping.
For example, a 7x7 cable is formed from 7 groups of 7 wires twisted together.
A 1x19 Cable is formed from 19 individual strands of wire twisted together into
1 group. This style is strong and provides a smooth appearance. Viewrail 1x19
Stainless Steel Cable is 5/32” in diameter. Diameter refers to the thickness of
the entire cable.
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Chapter 3: Cable & Components
How Much to Buy?
Calculate the amount of cable you need based on the length of the run multiplied by
the number of cable runs. Before multiplying, add one extra foot to the cable length for
installation. Be sure to add all runs together to get your total amount of cable needed.
For example:
The front side of a deck might be 12’ long. Each side is 8’ long. There will be 10 runs of
cable along each side (see Chapter 5 on page 12 for more details about determining number
of cable runs.)
Front of Deck: 12’ + 1’ = 13’ 13’ x 10 cables = 130’ of cable
Side 1: 8’ + 1’ = 9’ 9’ x 10 cables = 90’ of cable
Side 2: 8’ + 1’ = 9’ 9’ x 10 cables = 90’ of cable
Total cable needed: 130’ + 90’ + 90’ = 310’ of cable
Cable is sold in varying lengths, often only available in certain increments. We recommend
ordering more cable than you think you need, especially if you are under tight time
constraints. If a mistake is made along the way and a new piece of cable needs to be cut,
the extra cable will come in handy!
Learn More
Check out the Viewrail YouTube Channel for product animations and
installation instructions.
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Chapter 4:
Handrail
Top off your cable railing project with handrail that works in harmony with the
rest of your design.
Handrail Styles
Handrail with a simple form, such as round or rectangular shapes, pair nicely
with the sleek look of cable railing. Avoid handrail with intricate shapes
common with traditional stair systems. Such styles often clash with cable
railing’s modern appearance.
Metal, wood, and vinyl are the most common types of handrail for cable
railing systems. If you choose to use metal handrails, it is best to use the
same metal and finish as your posts. Wood handrail looks beautiful, but know
your environment – apply an appropriate exterior grade finish to ensure long-
lasting beauty.
Handrail Mounts
There are two main methods of mounting handrail on cable rail posts: Flat and
Universal.
Flat handrail mounts attach handrail directly to the post using simple, discreet
brackets. These disappear beneath the handrail for a clean look. Usually, flat
mounts are only available for level handrail, not for handrail on stairs or ramps.
Universal handrail mounts are adjustable. Transition from stairway to flat
surface while maintaining the same mounting method throughout.
Many different styles and
finishes are available.
Universal Top Flat Top
for Level or Angle Level runs only
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Chapter 5:
Start Planning
Safety & Special Measurements
Planning out your project is an important step for you and your contractor, if you
choose to work with one. This process helps you understand what challenges
you might encounter, how to space your posts, and what materials you need to
get your project completed.
Safety
Now that you understand each aspect of cable railing, it’s time to design your
own. But before the measuring begins, keep in mind these safety guidelines and
steps to meet your local building code requirements. Be sure to contact your local
code official before purchasing any products!
Post Spacing
As you know, cable rail is tensioned between two posts – but how far apart
should each post be spaced? Metal posts should be placed no wider than 4’
apart to decrease cable deflection and provide support to the railing.
If using wood posts spaced more than 4’ apart, use an intermediate post in
between them to minimize cable deflection. Intermediate posts are normally thin
strips of metal and neither secure the cable nor provide structural support to the
system, but they do help keep cable from sagging.
Even if you are using intermediate posts you will still need to have a structural
post at least every 8’ to support the railing.
Cable Spacing
The most common railing code enforces the 4” Sphere Rule, which prohibits gaps
in railing large enough for a sphere 4” in diameter to fit through. This ensures that
a child’s head will not fit between the railing. Because of this, each cable in your
railing system should be spaced no more than 3 ⅛” apart. This ensures that the
tensioned cables will not deflect enough to open a 4” gap in the railing.
You can calculate the number of cable runs needed based on the height of the
posts, keeping cables spaced at a maximum of 3 ⅛” apart in order to comply
with the 4” Sphere Rule. For example, using Viewrail Posts and Cable, a 36”
handrail height requires approximately 10 runs of cable, 37” requires 11, and 38”
requires 12.
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Chapter 5: Start Planning
Handrail & Post Height
In most locations, building code calls for stair handrail to be between 34” - 38” high. The
most common handrail height on a stairway is 36” tall. Handrail height for balconies varies
more based on location, but is commonly in the 39” - 42” range. When you read about a
post height, most times that measurement refers to the overall height of the handrail after
installation, including the added height from brackets and handrail.
Grab Rail
Occasionally, local building code may require the use of grab rail. This is an additional
handrail mounted lower on the posts, intended to provide an easier grasp for those going up
and down stairs. If your project includes stairs, be sure to check with your local code official
about grab rail requirements in your area.
Typical Grab Rail installation shown above
Common tools for installation
You may need to purchase a few special tools to
install cable rail. Check with the manufacturer to
see which tools are required for their system.
Here are some common tools you may need:
Cable Cutters, Crimping Tool, Drill, Screwdriver,
Stainless Steel Polish.
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Chapter 5: Start Planning
Draw your Project
Create a diagram to help you visualize your project! All you need is a measuring tape, ruler,
pencil, and paper.
Start with an overall sketch of your space. Do your best to make it as proportionally
accurate, and clearly labeled as possible. Like this example, make sure that it’s obvious
which areas are stairs, landings, balconies, and walls. If your project includes stairs, be sure
to draw or otherwise indicate how many steps you have per flight of stairs.
Next, measure the sides of each section and write these measurements on the
corresponding locations in your drawing. Include notes about unique sections or areas of
concern.
At this point, you should have enough information that a cable rail specialist should be
able to help you figure out the rest of the details about your project and help you order
the correct amount of posts and components for your project. You could also use the
suggested post-spacing measurements above to determine what you need for yourself.
Then all that is left is installing your system!
At Viewrail, we specialize in figuring out the complexities of your project so you don’t have
to. If you would like more help with designing your system, use the Design Center to
send us a few details, including a diagram like the example above, and we will help you
achieve a beautiful railing system.
VI
Get Design Help Now.
VISIT THE VIEWRAIL DESIGN CENTER
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