fence/railing rebuild for raised patio

I bought my house last year, and in the back yard it has a retaining wall about 3-4 feet high with a length of four stairs going down it. With at least one little one being mobile it wasn’t really safe (no gate, no railings, rocks all over, etc.) and this year I wanted my first outdoor project to be to remedy that. (2nd picture is old railing system)

This is the end of phase one. I’ve ripped down all the decking except the old posts and installed new 2×4 and 2×6s along the top and bottom. I used store bought balusters and then capped it all with 5/4×6’s, which I dog eared and routed with a 1/2 inch roundover bit on both sides. I also made the gates from scratch which is just more of the same, in terms of posts for the gates I had to remove the stair treads and attach the 4×4s directly to the stair frame and then surround that with dirt, I couldn’t dig down any deeper as it was solid rock. I then cut two 4×4 areas of the treads at the location of the new posts and reinstalled them (first time using the multi tool, PITA). It didn’t come out perfect but it could have been MUCH MUCH worse.

I still have to complete the other side near the shed so its completely closed (and make another gate) but that will have to stay how it is until I can get my hand on someones hammer drill.

All material was bought at the local “big box” store and only cost me about $230, including a $30 box of screws.

-- Mat