Composite Deck with Wire Panel Railing in Veneta, Oregon

The whole reason to build a deck on a property like this is the view off the back of it. So the railing became the decision that mattered — every option that meets code puts something between you and the field, and the question is only how much.

Finished

We went with welded wire panels in a white frame. Sitting down, the wire all but disappears; the field reads as continuous from the deck. A solid balustrade would have cut the view off at chest height from a chair, which is exactly where you spend your time.

The deck itself is capped composite in two tones, with a darker board picking out the border and the stair treads. It is a small thing that costs almost nothing at the framing stage and makes the deck look designed rather than laid.

What railing keeps a view open?

Wire panel and cable both do, and wire panel costs considerably less. Glass gives the clearest view of all and needs cleaning constantly — on a rural lot with dust and pollen, that is a chore that never ends.