Everything You Need For A Complete Trex Transcend Deck Railing
The timeless, traditional look of Trex Transcend composite deck railing is a match for nearly any deck. But how can you make sure you're getting all the parts and pieces you need for a complete railing system in one order?
That's why DecksDirect is here. Check out our basic shopping checklist below to get everything you need for standard deck layouts. After that, we'll run through some extra shopping lists you can add for unique layouts or specialized looks.
For even more personalized planning help, give us a call at 1-888-824-5316. An experienced project planner will work with you to create a perfectly-tailored order for your space.
Trex Transcend Shopping Checklist
Everything you need for standard level railings, stair railings, and traditional 90-degree corners.
- Step 1: Posts & Post Trim (learn more)
- You'll need at least one post every 8 feet
- Post Sleeves
- Post Caps: standard or lighted
- Post Skirts
- Structural Posts & post mounting hardware (these two are only required if you don't have existing wood posts)
- Step 2: Rail Kits (learn more)
- Step 3: Specialized Installation Tools (learn more)
More Planning Help
Some unique deck features might require additional parts. Follow the links for a supplemental checklist of items to add for your unique feature.
- What Do I Need For Angled Railing Connections?
- Can I Cut One Rail Kit Into Two Short Sections?
- What Do I Need For A Deck Board Drink Rail?
- What Do I Need For A Safety Handrail?
- What Do I Need For A Coordinating Gate?
- Free Planning Help
Planning Your Transcend Railing
The first step in planning out your deck railing is to measure your deck space. It's helpful to draw out your deck's layout, measuring and labeling the lengths of each outside edge.
- Draw the layout of your deck
- Measure the lengths of each edge and label them
- Plan where your posts will go - Trex Transcend can span up to 8 feet from the center of one post to the center of the next post
- Fill in between the posts with rail kits
Then count up the various types of posts and the various lengths of rail kits you'll need. Your shopping list will consist of:
- Posts and post accessories
- Rail Kits
- Installation tools
For unique layouts or looks, you can supplement this list with some specialized products.
As always, we staff a team of experienced deck project planners to help you plan for all of your deck's unique features. Give us a call at 1-888-824-5316 for totally personalized project planning!
Step 1: Posts & Post Trim
- Post Sleeves
- Post Caps: standard or lighted
- Post Skirts
- Structural Posts & post mounting hardware (these two are only required if you don't have existing wood posts)
Like most composite railing systems, the Trex Transcend line is often used to update and replace existing wood railings. Instead of installing brand-new posts, it's often easiest and most cost-effective to keep wood posts in place and simply slide a Trex post sleeve over the top to upgrade the look and protect the wood from weathering.
Post sleeves come in a whole range of colors to fit your style, and all the colors coordinate perfectly with the Trex Transcend decking line, if your deck uses composite boards.
To complete the look, add post caps and post skirts, which also come in the same Transcend color options. Instead of the basic composite post caps, you can instead choose to use lighted post caps, which we'll run through below.
If your deck doesn't have existing wood posts (maybe you're building a brand-new deck or already removed your wood posts), you can mount a structural post to your deck instead, then slide the post sleeve over it.
Use a 4-inch or longer structural screw, like these Pheinox RSS Rugged stainless steel screws from GRK Fasteners to attach your structural post to a deck surface.
Lighted Post Cap Shopping Checklist
- Post Cap (see options below)
- Low Voltage Transformer (if you're using a low voltage post cap)
- Lighting Extension Wire (if you're using a low voltage post cap)
Instead of the standard composite post caps, you can choose from a wide range of decorative post caps, including many with lights built-in. Here are a few of our favorite lighted post cap options. You can use these on every post, or add lights to the corners of your deck with unlit post caps in between.
Flat Top Low Voltage LED Post Cap Light by Trex
- PVC material
- Downward light projection for safe walking paths
- Easy plug-and-play low voltage wiring - just plug into a transformer
- Available in all Transcend colors
Ornamental Low Voltage LED Post Cap Light by LMT Mercer
- Vinyl material
- Available with downward lighting, halo-style lighting, or a combination
- Easy plug-and-play low voltage wiring - just plug into a transformer
- Available in all Transcend colors
Solar Post Cap Light by Ultra Bright
- Composite material
- Downward light projection for safe walking paths
- Solar-powered - no wiring required!
- Can change light color with included magnet
- Available in all Transcend colors
Step 2: Rail Kits
In between your posts, you'll need horizontal rails and the skinny balusters that make up Transcend's traditional look. Luckily, it all comes packaged in easy-to-shop kits that also include the brackets you need to connect the rails to your posts.
Stair rail kits are designed to attach at an angle, including the baluster spacer inserts and the foot block.
When you pick your kit, you can choose whether it will include slim, round balusters that open up your view or standard square balusters for a more traditional look.
-landscape.jpg "Trex Transcend Square Balusters")
Step 3: Installation Tools
- Install Template (recommended)
Trex Transcend is generally fairly easy to install, even for budding DIYers. And you can do it without many specialized installation tools.
The only really specialized tool we'd recommend is Trex's Install Template , which will make sure you mount every bracket perfectly level and at a consistent height. This simple PVC template will save you a ton of time measuring and marking each of your posts.
Supplementary Shopping Lists For Special Cases
If your deck has unique shapes or features, you may need to combine the shopping list at the top with one of these additional shopping lists.
What Do I Need For Angled Railing Connections?
What you'll need:
Not all decks are square. If your deck has a corner cutout or any angles that aren't a square 90 degrees, there's an easy way to adapt your Trex Transcend railing.
Trex offers a specialized set of brackets that attach to the corner of a post sleeve to create a 45-degree angle. Because of their unique shape, they're often called "birdsmouth brackets."
Just cut a notch into your rails and attach it to the bracket:
There's another option, too, but it requires you to use Trex's larger 6-inch post sleeves. Just cut your rails at an angle and attach them using the Trex 45 Degree Gasket Kit.
You can create gentler angles using the regular Trex Transcend Gasket Kit and choosing the 22.5-degree option.
Can I Cut One Rail Kit Into Two Short Sections?
If you need two smaller railing sections, you can save on materials by buying one longer rail section and cutting it into two smaller pieces you can use in two different places on your deck. Use a carbide-tipped blade and either a miter saw or jigsaw to cut through your top and bottom rails.
You'll need an extra set of brackets and gaskets. Each rail kit only comes with enough brackets to fit a single rail section. So if you're cutting one rail kit into two, you'll need to buy a rail cut kit, as shown below, featuring an extra set of brackets and gaskets to hide the cut ends of each rail
Allow for some lost length during cutting. Make sure you buy a rail long enough to fit both your sections, plus a little extra. As you cut the rail apart, you'll have to make sure the baluster holes are spaced properly from your posts - that means it's inevitable that some of the rail will have to be cut and thrown away. For example, you won't be able to buy a 6-foot section to cover two 3-foot sections - we'd recommend buying at least one extra foot. For example, buy a 6-foot rail section to cut down into two 2-1/2-foot rail sections.
What Do I Need For A Deck Board Drink Rail?
What you'll need:
- Instead of the complete rail kit, use:
- Universal Top Rails
- Universal Bottom Rails
- Infill Kit
- Balusters: round aluminum or square composite
- Flat-Bottom Deck Boards (Trex Transcend Lineage, Transcend, or Select)
Trex Transcend looks dynamite with a deck board mounted as a drink rail. If that's the look you want, you'll need to adjust the original shopping list slightly.
Instead of the traditional crown top rail, use Trex's Universal Rail, a long, flat, functional rail that allows you to mount the deck board of your choice. That means ditching the overall rail kit and instead shopping for the individual parts.
The list above will get you everything included in the typical rail kit, minus the crown top rail and with the universal top rail in its place. If you need help planning this shopping list, give us a call at 1-888-824-5316 and we'd be happy to build the complete list for you!
What Do I Need For A Safety Handrail?
What you'll need:
- Trex Handrail Mounts
- Trex Handrail Returns
- Trex Handrail Sections
- Trex Handrail Connectors (if needed
- Trex Handrail Elbows (if needed)
Trex makes a beautiful ADA-compliant handrail to add extra safety to your deck or deck stairs. It's made of smooth powder-coated aluminum and looks great with the Transcend system.
In general, you'll want handrail returns for the ends of your railing and long handrail sections to make up the graspable part of the handrail. The mounts attach the handrail to your railing, as shown above.
Depending on the length and layout of your railing, you may need internal connectors to link two long handrail sections, or elbows to accommodate a corner.
As always, we're here to help: call 1-888-824-5316 and we'll set you up with a personalized handrail shopping list!
What Do I Need For A Coordinating Gate?
What you'll need:
Trex is truly prepared for anything in the outdoor space. The brand offers a gorgeous deck gate that coordinates with any of its railing systems.
Just add an adjustable gate kit to your shopping list, along with a hardware kit that includes hinges and a latch to attach your gate to your preferred spot in your railing. The gate will fill an opening up to four feet (48 inches) wide.