Corrosion can mean having to replace metal porch railings.
Metal porch railings are often installed with the vertical supports installed into concrete steps, porches or landings. This can allow water or ice to pool at the base of the supports, causing corrosion, and the eventual failure of the railing. Replacement will involve removal of the old railing, which can be fairly easily accomplished with the right tools. Installation of the new railing will not involve setting the new railing's supports into the concrete. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Loosen and remove the lag bolts attaching the railing's banister to the side of the house.
2. Cut off the vertical supports of the railing at the level of the concrete with a reciprocating saw. Be sure the saw has a metal-cutting blade attached. File off any excess metal sticking up from the concrete.
3. Put the new rail in position. When purchasing new rails, make sure that they are built with an integrated flange and mounting holes on the bottoms of the vertical supports. These can be screwed directly into the concrete, making it unnecessary to make a hole or dig out the old support base. This design is also more resistant to corrosion. Mark the position of the mounting holes on the bottom of the vertical supports onto the concrete.
4. Drill holes with a three-sixteenth-inch carbide bit at the marked locations. Place the rail in place, lining up the mounting holes with the drilled holes. Secure the banister to the wall of the home with lag screws.
5. Insert corrosion-resistant masonry screws into the mounting holes and screw them into the holes in the porch with a socket wrench.
6. Patch the old holes in the concrete with concrete patch mix. In most cases this won't be necessary -- the supports for the new railing will probably match the location of the old railing's supports.
Tags: mounting holes, vertical supports, into concrete, concrete with, holes with
