The correct way to join horizontal members is over a post, i.e. the joint in this railing should be over the post, not sistered with a member supported only with a fastener. The number one rule of framing is – Do not hang anything on a nail.
This reminds of standing under a house in Belize with the man who built that house. The beach houses in Belize are built on stilts so we were drinking a beer under the house, waiting for the rain to stop. I was examining the framing while we were trapped there and admired the lap joint in a large beam- probably a 12 X 8. It was a beautiful joint, very tight and well fitted, but it was not over a support. I asked the owner / builder about that and he said, “I would have to cut off the beam to make the joint where you want it.” I agreed with that. Then he asked, “What would I do with that piece?” I had no answer.
The correct way to join horizontal members is over a post, i.e. the joint in this railing should be over the post, not sistered with a member supported only with a fastener. The number one rule of framing is – Do not hang anything on a nail.
This reminds of standing under a house in Belize with the man who built that house. The beach houses in Belize are built on stilts so we were drinking a beer under the house, waiting for the rain to stop. I was examining the framing while we were trapped there and admired the lap joint in a large beam- probably a 12 X 8. It was a beautiful joint, very tight and well fitted, but it was not over a support. I asked the owner / builder about that and he said, “I would have to cut off the beam to make the joint where you want it.” I agreed with that. Then he asked, “What would I do with that piece?” I had no answer.