Railings
Got a question about our PVC Panels? Have a look at the questions and answers below. Click on each question to see it’s answer. If your question isn’t listed already, use the form on this page to ask us directly. We are here to help.
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Can you paint your railings?Some components, yes. Others, no. All railing components are available in black or white. Our PorchCo Panel Inserts and Hermitage Sleeve & Cap Kits can bee painted! You will want to use a paint appropriate for vinyl such as Sherwin Williams Pro Industrial Acrylic. The Timbertech Premier Railing Kit, however, is not meant to be painted. Doing so would void the warranty of that product. Therefore, you can always build your own railings out of wood using this method, and therefore have a fully paintable railing system.
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What if I need more or less than 4’ panels?Our panels come in a standard length of 47.75″. We understand the spacing between your posts are never going to be exactly that. Not a problem! Our panels are designed to be cut and butted together to reach the required length. If you have a 6 ft section between posts for example, (and you are purchasing one of our continuous designs) you can buy two 4’ panels and cut one in half, using that extra half in another section of your porch or deck. We do suggest a maximum length of 10′ between posts.
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How do I join panels?Panels are designed to be simply butted together and they will be held in place with screws from the top and bottom rails.
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How do I determine how many panels I need?If you would like us to help, we can prepare a full materials list and estimate for you. Just send us an email with your post to post measurements, desired finished railing height and design, and we will take it from there!
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Why PVC?Our panels are made from cellular PVC because we wanted a product that was low-maintenance and would not rot, warp or twist like wood. Because porches and decks have so much exposure to the elements, this is the perfect solution to keeping your railing in like-new condition year after year. Also, because we are cutting the panels out of large sheets of PVC rather than carving wood, we have many more options when it comes to design.
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Every product has pros and cons. What are the cons with your product?What other supplier tells you this?! But there is not – nor will there ever be – a perfect product. The only down side we can find is that the cut edges expose the slightly porous core of the PVC sheet product. Dirt can collect in these pores. We have determined that the cleaner “Chomp Pro Gutter Cleaner” does a great job of cleaning the panels. Painted panels have less of a problem. We don’t see this as major problem except for those very particular clients. Click here to purchase Chomp.
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Can I get panels in different sizes or designs other than what’s available on the web site?Yes. For a one-time design fee of $200 per unique design and / or size, we can create your own custom panel. Just give us a call and we can work out the details of this.
Screen Doors
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What makes your screen doors unique? We think there are several things that make our screen doors unique. The main difference is that our doors are hand crafted at our shop in Nashville, TN, by local craftsmen. Another is that they are 1 3/4″ thick! Compare that to your Home Depot screen door! Our doors have no metal joinery, and have beveled edges to ensure water will wick from the surfaces. Overall, they are quality doors that are built to last.
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How do you know what size door to purchase?If your framed opening is already built, then we recommend subtracting 1/4″ from all sides to determine the size of your door. See this diagram for more info.
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Do your doors come with hardware?No, we do not sell door hardware. Therefore, you are welcome to use whatever you’d like! However, we recommend purchasing one of these packages from our friends at Complete Home Hardware.
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What should my midrail height be?If you have a railing or kneewall on your porch, typically that midrail height will line up with that. If not, you can choose whatever you’d like! Typically our doors have a 36″ midrail if there is an opening in the lower portion of the door, or a 24″ midrail if the lower portion of the door is solid. Keep in mind, that midrail measurement is from the bottom of the door to the top of that midrail.
Bed Swings
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How strong does my structure need to be?Your structure should be strong enough to support 1,000 lbs. Please consult a structural engineer to make sure your structure is strong enough.
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Can I purchase ropes on the Porch Store?Absolutely! When you are purchasing your swing, you will be able to choose between our 2 point or 4 point rope systems. Then you will need to tell us the floor to ceiling height where your swing will be hanging, so we can custom make your ropes!
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Where should I place my eye bolts?The placement of your eye bolts will depend on whether you are using our 4 point or 2 point rope system. This diagram should help you plan the placement of your eye bolts: Dimension Drawing (note: you will see the ropes are recommended to be slightly splayed, to prevent the rope from rubbing against the arms of the swing).