What kind of railing should I use for a dirt stairway?
by June
I have makeshift steps going up hill and need to install a railing to prevent a serious fall.
Suggested Project Book
To stay in keeping with nature, I'd use wood. Concrete set in 4x4 posts about every 5 or 6 feet and attach a hand rail. Stain to weatherproof the hand rail and to keep it smooth and not splinter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCqvGCYzOug
June,
A simple and inexpensive way would be to construct it out 2x4 pressure treated lumber. You could nail 2 of the 2x4's together to make a 4x4. Cheaper and better than the actual 4x4. Use those as posts. Use a post hole digger to dig a hole about 18" deep to secure the posts, with about 34.5" above ground. The proper height of a railing is 36-37". Use 2x4's laid flat on the posts as the actual hand rail. Use a sander our router to round over the edges of the railing or you can buy prefabricated pressure treated railing, but it is expensive. There are ways to make this a much nicer railing, but I'm not sure how much time and expense you want to put into this.