a. Place top and bottom rail on a smooth, fl at and clean surface. Then orient the top and bottom rails so that the "ridges" inside the rails are in the same
b. Thread all pickets through holes in rails being careful to have the "hole" in each picket going in the same direction, and proper direction.
c. Make sure pickets threaded through rails are about 2" above rail and in-line with each other.
d. Snap in bumps from plastic locking strip into holes of the pickets for both top and bottom rails. Make sure arrows on locking strips face rails.
e. If the rails were cut shorter in Step 2, then there will be some "extra" locking strip at the end of install. Use scissors to cut off excess (leave
approximately 2" of strip after the last engaged bump).
f. Push fi rst picket into bottom rail, followed by the second and third, until the last picket. Then repeat for top rail. The engagement between the rails,
pickets and locking strip is about 75% at this point.
g. Stand up rail section and fully lock the pickets into the rails. Place one foot on the top of the bottom rail, between second and third picket while at
the same time placing a hand under the bottom of the top rail between second and third picket. Push with foot and pull with hand until locking is
complete (You should hear a snap). Repeat this process for the middle and end of the panel. All the pickets should now be "locked" into the top and
bottom rails. (NOTE: If a snap is not heard or felt, use a rubber mallet to tap underneath of top rail to ensure a full connection.)
h. If the aluminum rail is to be installed with no vinyl topper line up hand rail profi le on top of the top rail. Press it down onto the top rail so it fi ts snug.
Slide bracket covers on ends of both top and bottom rails. (NOTE: Bracket covers are not used on the top rail when a rail topper is installed.)
i. If the aluminum rail is to be installed with a vinyl topper cut the vinyl topper the exact distance between posts. Fasten the vinyl topper as follows.
From underneath the aluminum rail profi le, drill two holes with a
" bit. Then, fi t the vinyl rail topper over the aluminum hand rail profi le. Once the
8" bit. Then, fi t the vinyl rail topper over the aluminum hand rail profi le. Once the 8
two parts are nested together, drive two #8x
" screws through the drilled holes of the aluminum profi le and into the mid-section of the vinyl topper.
8" screws through the drilled holes of the aluminum profi le and into the mid-section of the vinyl topper. 8
Repeat this for both ends, and middle of rail installation.
Once vinyl rail topper is adhered to the aluminum profi le, align and press it down onto the top rail so it fi ts snug. Slide bracket covers onto bottom rail.