Deckorators CXT8 User Manual [en, es, fr]

Deckorators® CXT 8' Rail Installation Instructions

PFS AA-652

For each 8' on-center railing section you will need:

One 8' Deckorators CXT Line or Stair Rail Kit that contains:

* (1) Upper rail
* (1) Lower rail
* (2) Inner rails
* (3) Support block kits that contain:

• 3 4" Support blocks

• 3 Support block connectors with screws
* (1) In-line or stair hardware kit that contains:

• 4 In-line or stair brackets

• 16 1" long countersunk screws

• 4 1-1/2" long pan head screws

• 8 2" long countersunk screws

• 2 2-1/2" long countersunk screws

• 1 Drill bit

• 1 Screw pack consisting of 40 screws
(use with Deckorators Baluster Connectors)

• 1 Post Sleeve Bracket placement template

Baluster options:

One Co-Extruded Composite Baluster Kit that contains:

• 20 – Balusters

• 40 – Baluster Connectors with screws

Classic, Estate, Twist or Ellipse baluster kits that each contain:

• 10 aluminum balusters

• 20 balusters needed per 8' on-center railing section
(Classic, Estate and Twist)

• 24 balusters needed per 8' on-center railing section (Ellipse)

and

Baluster connector or designer baluster connector kits
that each contain:

• 20 baluster connectors

• 1 kit needed per 10 balusters

Glass baluster kits that each contain:

• 5 glass balusters

• 20 stainless steel screws

• 12 balusters required per 8' on-center railing section
and

Glass baluster connector kits that each contain:

• 2 connectors

• 1 kit needed per baluster

Use rail kit without pre-drilled holes with Glass baluster kits.

One 40" or 52" Post Sleeve Kit that contains:

• 1 post sleeve

• 1 post base trim

One Post Cap for each post sleeve (sold separately)

For Installations Using Co-Extruded Composite,

Classic, Estate, Twist and Ellipse Balusters

Each Deckorators CXT Rail Kit

or

(1) - Upper rail (Colonial or Contemporary Style)

(1) - Lower rail

(3) - 4" Support blocks

Items you will need:

• Drill/power screwdriver

• Assorted drill bits

• Hammer

• Miter or circular saw with
fine-tooth carbide tip blade

(2) - Inner rails

(3) - Support block

connectors

with screws

• Construction adhesive

• Marked speed square

• Two clamps

• Carpenter’s level

• Carpenter’s pencil

(1) - Drill bit

(16) - 1" long

countersunk screws

(8) - 2" long

countersunk screws

• Adjustable wrench or socket
wrench for bolts, etc.

• Safety glasses/goggles

• Assorted fasteners
(see instructions)

• Tape measure

(4) - In-line or stair brackets

(4) - 1-1/2" long
pan head screws

(2) - 2-1/2" long

countersunk screws

Prior to construction, check with your local regulatory agency for
special code requirements in your area. Common railing heights are

36" and 42". Structural support should come from the continuation of
deck support posts that extend up through the deck floor or from railing
posts that are bolted to the inside of the rim or outer joists. Never
span more than 8' on-center between railing posts. Install railing posts
before deck boards are fastened to the joists.

Pre-drilling of all railing components is essential to successful
installation. Do not over-tighten screws. Read instructions completely
to get an understanding of how the product goes together and how each
piece affects the other.

Step 1: Determine the number
of railing posts needed for your

deck. Post spacing is 8' on­center. Example: A 16'x20' deck
attached to a building with a
4' access opening on one side
will require a total of eight posts

3

(fig. 1).

fig. 1

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PAGE 1 - 8' CXT Rail_ENG

8' Rail Installation Instructions continued

Step 2: Install rail posts prior to installing deck

boards. Cedar or pressure-treated pine 4x4 railing
posts provide the structural strength for the railing.
The length of each post is determined by the total
of the joist width (7-1/4") + decking thickness (1")
+ railing height (36" or 42") + spacing for post cap

(1-1/4") = 45-1/2" or 51-1/2".

Important: Do not notch the 4x4 railing posts. Notching
will reduce the strength of the post and could result in

railing collapse or failure.
Step 3: Position, plumb with a

level, and clamp the rail post on
the interior face of the joist. Plumb
again. The 4x4 railing post should
be bolted to the inside of the
joists using two 1/2"x6" galvanized
carriage bolts. Corner posts use a
third carriage bolt inserted through
the adjacent joist (fig. 2).

Step 4: Install decking; notch deck boards to fit around the 4x4 railing
posts. Allow 1/4" space between the deck boards and any permanent
structure or post. Additional blocking may be necessary on the 4x4 for
fastening deck boards.

Step 5: Trim 4x4 post sleeves to length. Post sleeves should be a
minimum of 1-1/2" longer than the railing height to accommodate a post cap
(fig. 3). Example: For a 36" high railing, trim post sleeve to a minimum of
37-1/2"; can be left longer if desired. Slide a trimmed post sleeve over
each 4x4 railing post. Use shims as needed to create a snug fit. Slide a
post base trim over each post sleeve.

Step 6: Note! The rails are pre-drilled. To ensure the outer balusters are
equally spaced, the rail components require trimming at both ends. Ensure
the holes are a minimum of 2-5/16" from post. Using the lower pre-drilled

rail as a guide, place it adjacent to the post sleeves and center the rail
so the furthest pre-drilled holes for the balusters are equal distances
from the post sleeves. Mark the gap between the posts on to the lower
rail and trim to fit. Note! If using rails without pre-drilled holes, trim rail

components first, then mark baluster placement on lower rail and upper inner
rail, starting from the center of the rail. (Rails without pre-drilled holes are

used with glass baluster infill or other unique infill configurations).

fig. 3

Step 7: Note! To ensure the balusters are installed plumb, the holes between

the rail sections must all be aligned. Tip: Use a gauge pin or a 3/32" drill bit
to ensure the holes are aligned. Using the trimmed lower rail as a guide,

set one inner rail in the trimmed bottom rail and align the pre-drilled
holes. Mark the cut lines on the inner rail with a pencil. Note! To allow for

the thickness of the brackets, the inner rails should be 1/8" shorter than the
outer rails with all holes equally spaced. Remove an additional 1/16" from

the pencil mark on each end and trim the inner rail to length. Repeat for
the second inner rail (fig. 4).

fig. 2

fig. 4

Step 8: Assemble the lower inner rail and support block assembly. A

support block is needed every 2' on-center. Check building codes for a
maximum spacing between deck surface and bottom of rail (sweep). A 3"
sweep is recommended, but can be more or less if codes allow (fig. 3).
Trim support blocks to desired height and pre-drill 1/8" holes in the proper
location. Holes must be centered on the inner rail for support blocks to fit
properly. Using the support block connectors, fasten support blocks to the
underside of the inner rail.

Step 9: Mark the height of the brackets on the inside of the post using
the bracket placement template included in the kit. Another option is
to use the inner rail as a guide. The top of the bracket should be even
with the top of the inner rail assembly. Drill two 1/8" holes through the
bracket holes shown on the template and through the post sleeve for both
the upper and lower brackets. Remove the bracket placement template
from the post sleeve and fasten the upper and lower brackets to the post,
using two 2" long countersunk screws. Tip: For best results, use a long drill
bit or add an extension bit to the drill. Repeat on the adjacent post. Set
the inner rail in between the lower brackets and pre-drill eight 1/8" holes
at each bracket hole and into the inner rail. Fasten the rail to the bracket
using eight 1" long countersunk screws.

Step 10: Set the lower rail on the lower inner rail between the posts.

Tip: Set the drill to the lowest setting when installing baluster connectors
and do not overdrive the screws. Using two 2-1/2" long countersunk screws,
set the two outermost baluster connectors in place. This will properly

align all pre-drilled holes. Using the screws provided with the baluster
connectors, install the balance of the baluster connectors onto the lower
rail assembly. If using Deckorators aluminum balusters with connectors,

use the 40-pack of 1" screws included with the rail kit. The screws
included with the Deckorators connectors are too long for use with the
CXT railing system.

PAGE 2 - 8' CXT Rail_ENG

8' Rail Installation Instructions continued

Step 11: Determine the length of the balusters (fig. 3). Fig. 3 illustrates

how a 36" high railing might be sized. Starting with a 3" sweep + 2" for
the bottom railing, 29" baluster height + 2" for the top rail = a 36" rail
height. If these are the dimensions that you are going to use, cut the
balusters to 29" length using a cut-off or miter saw. Use 35" balusters for
42" railings. If you want to have your railing at a different height, use fig.
3 as a planning tool to determine the height to cut the post sleeves and
the balusters. If you are using 32" glass balusters, your overall railing height
will be 39". Note: Use a fixture to ensure a consistent length (+/- 1/16"). Trim
the balusters to the required length. Install balusters on each baluster
connector. Gently tap the balusters with a rubber mallet to eliminate any
gaps. Check for level end to end. Tip: Wrap painters tape around the back

side of both posts and place balusters against the tape. The tape will balance
the balusters in place until the upper rails are installed. Remove tape when
upper rail is in place.

Step 12: Important: When using Deckorators Designer Baluster Connectors
(both Estate and Classic), the upper inner rail must be inverted (fig. 5). Use

an exterior adhesive on the underside of the Designer Baluster Connectors to
prevent the balusters from spinning. Install the baluster connectors on the

underside of the top inner rail (fig. 6). Set the rail on to the balusters, gently
tapping the rail to remove any gaps. Attach the inner rail to the brackets
by pre-drilling eight 1/8" holes at each bracket hole and into the inner rail.
Fasten the rail to the bracket using eight 1" long countersunk screws.

Inverted
Inner
Rail

Designer
Baluster
Connector

fig. 5

fig. 6

Step 13: Measure the distance between the posts and trim the upper top rail
to length and set on the assembly. Taking care not to drill all the way through
the upper rail, use a 1/8" drill bit to pre-drill four 1-1/2" deep holes, equally
spaced, through the underside of the inner rail and into the underside of the
upper rail. Tip: Place a piece of tape 1-1/2" from the end of the drill bit. Do not

drill past the tape. Fasten cap rail in place using four 1-1/2" pan head screws.

Step 14: Apply construction adhesive to the inside edges of the post caps and
place over each post sleeve.

Note: Touch-up paint is available to repair any chips or blemishes that occur
during assembly and installation. Contact a Deckorators customer service
agent at 800-332-5724 for availability.

Deckorators is not suitable for structural use. It should not be used for primary load-bearing members such as posts, joists, beams or stringers. The same common-sense precautions should be taken
when handling Deckorators as with wood or other building materials. Dust masks and eye protection devices are recommended to avoid possible irritation from sawdust and chips. Gloves will help to
protect the hands. Hands should be washed after doing construction work.
The diagrams and instructions in this brochure are for illustration purposes only and are not meant to replace a licensed professional. Any construction or use of the product must be in accordance with
all local zoning and/or building codes. The consumer assumes all risks and liability associated with the construction or use of this product. The consumer or contractor should take all necessary steps
to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the project, including, but not limited to, wearing the appropriate safety equipment. EXCEPT AS CONTAINED IN THE WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTY,

WARRANTOR DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

Manufactured by UFP Ventures II, Inc., a Universal Forest Products Company, 801 E. Lessard, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821 877.463.8379

©2012, 2014 Universal Forest Products, Inc. All rights reserved. Deckorators is a registered trademark of Universal Consumer Products, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.

ASTM D 7032 compliant. See CCRR-0171 at www.ati-es.com for uses and performance levels. 6475_3/14

www.deckorators.com

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