Should we DIY a cable railing system for our cabin porch, even though it will be 5 feet off the ground and built on a hill, instead of using builder grade vertical wood slats as recommended by the builder?
Asked by Daniela Montero 
6 months ago
Last Updated: May 12, 2024
We are getting a cabin built and thinking of doing a cable railing instead of the standard wooden slats. The porch will be 5 feet off the ground due to the hill it’s on. They’re advising against going through the 4 porch supports, what do you guys think? We were planning on putting inserts in each hole. Appreciate any advice!
That structure is actually a shed, not a cabin.
Indeed, it’s a shed turned into a weekend cabin project
What’s the reason for placing it there? Is the cabin going to be raised up? Its main function is to prevent people from falling.
Yep the porch is going to be 5 feet off the ground and we really want to be able to enjoy our view.
I used to be employed at a company that specialized in iron railings. Before my time there, they used to do cable railings, but they stopped because customers were unaware that they needed occasional tightening. It led to numerous issues.
And sometimes they become loose due to the posts warping from the tension. This causes the load-bearing to shift and compromises the integrity.
It’s best not to drill through posts that support the roof
Might rely on the post and hole you’re creating. It may not be perfect, but it can work if the calculations are correct.
Most likely not suitable for a DIY enthusiast
Keep in mind that the maximum span for wire rails is around 4 feet. Wire railings can be pretty terrible.
Yeah we definitely need to add some supports in between. What’s the deal with them being terrible?
Who wouldn’t recommend that? That’s how they’re set up. Just make sure to choose the right system and it should work perfectly.
Here’s the deal – having one step without rails is not a problem. In fact, the rails will end up being more of an eyesore when the kids start messing around and causing the posts to loosen.
We’re opting for a post and pier foundation for this structure since it will be situated on a slope and the porch will be 5 feet above ground level
Keep it up!
Feel free to do as you please remove the post and watch the roof float
If it were me, I’d definitely ask them to elaborate on what exactly their problem was.
It’s totally okay. Feel free to drill a small cable hole in those posts without any concerns. The builder is just covering their bases.
Have you considered tempered glass or acrylic panels?