how far apart should railing posts be
Secure the Posts. Bolt the posts to the inside of the rim joists. Maximum spacing of posts is 72 inches on center. Bolts should be vertically spaced no less than 5-1/8 inch apart. For a composite railing system, slide the post sleeve over the wood post, then the post sleeve skirt over the post sleeve; both should rest on the decking. Attach the top and bottom rails to the inside of the posts using two 3-inch screws diagonally 2 inches apart. Attach the top cap to the posts using two 3-inch screws diagonally 2 inches apart. Screw the top cap to the top rail every 12 inches.