finishing · best read in summer
Log Railing Spacing & Code Basics: Posts, Rails and Spindles
Railing projects fail inspection for one famous reason: the 4-inch sphere rule. If a 4" ball can pass between spindles, it's a do-over. The second most common miss is post spacing that lets the top rail flex.
Here's the counting logic — posts, rails, spindles — and the calculator that turns a run length into a parts list.
In this guide
- The 4-inch sphere rule, explained
- Post spacing: the 6-foot guideline
- Counting spindles per section
- Loft vs. deck considerations
- code variations disclaimer & when to check locally (coming in the full draft)
Skip the math
Our calculators turn measurements into an order list — the same way our pros figure it on the phone.
Draft status: outline + introduction. Full sections are written during the content phase — structure, titles and CTAs are final for review.