A railing is the part of the deck you touch every day and the part everyone sees from the yard. At Alexandria Builders we design and install deck railings and low-voltage lighting across Seattle and the Eastside — on decks we build and on decks that are already standing. Every system we install meets the Seattle Residential Code: a guard is required on any deck more than 30 inches above grade, it must be at least 36 inches tall, and no opening may pass a 4-inch sphere. We handle the code so you can focus on how it looks.
Railing Systems We Install
Aluminum railings. The most popular choice for the Pacific Northwest. Powder-coated aluminum never rots, never needs staining, and holds up to our nine months of rain. Slim black or bronze pickets disappear against the landscape and give a clean, modern look. Expect roughly 15–20 years without any maintenance beyond a rinse.
Cable railings. Stainless-steel cable with aluminum or wood posts keeps your view open — ideal for lake, Sound, and territorial views in Kirkland, Mercer Island, Magnolia, and West Seattle. We tension every run to code so the cable stays tight and the 4-inch rule is met.
Glass panel railings. Tempered glass panels with aluminum posts or a frameless base shoe. Maximum view, maximum wind protection, and the most premium look. We spec panels for Seattle’s wind loads and build in drainage so water does not pool at the base.
Composite and PVC railings. Trex, TimberTech, and Fiberon railing lines match their decking collections, so the deck and the guard age at the same rate. A good fit when you want a wider top rail for drinks and planters.
Cedar and hardwood railings. Traditional wood guards with a graspable handrail, built from clear cedar or ipe to match a wood deck. We build them with hidden fasteners and stainless hardware so the posts do not bleed rust stains.
Deck Lighting Installation
Lighting turns a deck you use until 6 pm in October into one you use until 10. We install low-voltage (12V) LED systems that are safe around children and pets and cost pennies to run:
- Post cap lights — soft downward glow at every railing post.
- Recessed stair riser lights — required by common sense, not code, but the single best safety upgrade on a Seattle deck in the dark, wet months.
- Under-rail strip lighting — a continuous line of light along the top rail for a modern, resort look.
- Recessed deck-surface lights — flush-mounted into the decking to outline the edge of the deck.
- Smart transformers — dusk-to-dawn photocells, timers, and app control.
We run wiring inside the framing and posts during construction, so there are no exposed cables. On existing decks, we route wiring under the deck and inside hollow posts wherever possible.
Replacing Railings on an Existing Deck
Many Seattle decks built in the 1990s and 2000s have railings that are too short, too loose, or rotting at the post base. If the deck frame is sound, we can replace just the railing — a two- to four-day job on most decks. We check post attachment first: a code-compliant guard has to resist a 200-pound load at the top rail, which usually means through-bolting posts to the rim joist with blocking, not toe-nailing them. If we find rot in the framing, we tell you before we start, not after.
How We Work
- Free on-site consultation. We measure, check your deck’s height and post structure, and talk through styles and budget.
- Design and quote. A fixed, written quote with the exact railing system, lighting layout, and material brand named — no allowances that balloon later.
- Permit review. A railing swap alone rarely needs a permit in Seattle; a new deck or structural change does, and we pull it.
- Installation. Our own crew, typically 2–5 days depending on linear footage and lighting.
- Walkthrough. We test every light, check every post, and hand over the warranty paperwork.
Why Homeowners Choose Alexandria Builders
We are a licensed, bonded, and insured Washington contractor (License #ALEXABL757D1) based in Bellevue and working throughout Seattle, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Renton, and Shoreline. Our Google rating is 5.0 across 20+ reviews. Railings and lighting are not an add-on for us — they are the finish work that decides whether a deck looks custom or looks like a kit.
Call (425) 866-0594 or book a free on-site estimate below.