Deck Rail Cable Opinions Please

[Michael Larson]

Came across this today and would appreciate some opinions.

The top portion has 2 cables running horizontally to meet the 4" gap requirment.

Near the center of the run it's easy to spread the cables to beyond 4"

I would like to hear some opinions on this Rail #1 construction.

[Bruce M. Graham]

In some areas they do not allow the horizontal details as it lends itself to the ladder affect. Check with your local ahj.

[Michael Larson]

Bruce, Thanks for chiming in. I didn't consider that a problem as it was on the top 10" or so.

How about this rail example #2 ?

[Bruce M. Graham]

Ya but I see all these custom decks with the pretty cable railings and wonder how they get away with it.

Yours may still be a ahj issue, I have known some that would look at that and say the railing is not tall enough because they will not take the top section into account.

I still get this http://deckmagazine.com/ from my remodeling days, lots of good info.

[jkogel]

an Electric fence unit is all that's missing for rail #1.