 |
| The aluminum baluster fits exactly into the wooden hole, but water gets in anyway. |
 |
| Rain gets inside and it's all over. |
The balusters on our deck are mounted in holes drilled into a piece of cedar 2x4. That's great for a while. But constant freeze/thaw and sun/rain and before long there is water seeping into the holes and rotting the wood from the inside out. Paint won't stick to rotting wood.
Solution
Wandering through Lowe's the other day, Stan discovered a product that solves this problem: Instead of drilling holes INTO the 2x4, you screw a plastic plug ONTO the wood that holds the baluster. That way you don't have to cut into the 2x4 and invite water and ice inside.
We've started the conversion to the new system on the rotten front deck railing and so far, so good. We're painting the wood in the garage before installation, there haven't been two dry days in a row yet.
 |
| These little buggers aren't cheap. $26 for a "contractor pack" of 130. But they should do the trick. |
