Rail mounts for decks

Abstract

Described herein are rail mounts that are attached to a structure, such as a deck. The disclosed rail mounts include threaded rods that mate with holes in a railing post to allow the railing post to be attached to the structure using the threaded rods. The disclosed rail mounts are attached to the structure prior to applying any layers designed to protect the structure such that the rail mounts, including the threaded rods, receive the protective layers. A waterproof layer can be applied to the structure after the rail mounts have been affixed so that the threaded rods of the rail mounts extend past the waterproof layer without compromising the waterproofing of the structure. In other words, the waterproof layer forms a waterproof barrier even with the threaded rods extending from the rail mounts through the waterproof layer.

1 . A rail mount for a deck, the rail mount configured to enable installation of a post on the deck, the rail mount comprising:
 a baseplate forming one or more holes through which fasteners are configured to extend to secure the baseplate to a top of the deck;   a plurality of threaded rods affixed to the baseplate and extending perpendicularly to the baseplate; and   a support plate extending perpendicularly from the baseplate in a direction opposite the plurality of threaded rods, the support plate forming one or more holes through which fasteners are configured to extend to secure the support plate to a side of the deck,   wherein the rail mount is configured to be secured to the deck along an edge of the deck in such a way that the plurality of threaded rods extends vertically to pass through holes of a base of a post to be secured to the deck.   
     
     
         2 . The rail mount of  claim 1  further comprising a second support plate extending perpendicularly from the baseplate in a direction opposite the plurality of threaded rods and extending perpendicularly from the support plate, the second support plate forming one or more holes through which fasteners are configured to extend to secure the second support plate to a second side of the deck at a corner of the deck. 
     
     
         3 . The rail mount of  claim 1  further comprising a second support plate extending perpendicularly from the baseplate in a direction opposite the plurality of threaded rods and on a side opposite the support plate, the second support plate forming one or more holes through which fasteners are configured to extend to secure the second support plate to a beam of the deck. 
     
     
         4 . The rail mount of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threaded rods is adapted so that the post is secured to the baseplate rather than a fascia of the deck. 
     
     
         5 . The rail mount of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threaded rods is adapted so that a first post with a first configuration is interchangeable with a second post of a different configuration provided that a hole configuration of the second post is identical to a hole configuration of the first post, the hole configuration configured to be compatible with the plurality of threaded rods. 
     
     
         6 . The rail mount of  claim 1 , wherein a combination of the baseplate and the support plate results in a stronger mount for the post relative to a post solely mounted to a top of the deck or solely mounted to a side of the deck. 
     
     
         7 . The rail mount of  claim 1  further comprising a cap adapted to be applied to the post to cover the plurality of threaded rods. 
     
     
         8 . The rail mount of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate is integrally formed with the baseplate. 
     
     
         9 . The rail mount of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate is a separate component that is secured to the baseplate. 
     
     
         10 . The rail mount of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threaded rods is integrally formed with the baseplate. 
     
     
         11 . The rail mount of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of threaded rods is a separate component that is secured to the baseplate. 
     
     
         12 . The rail mount of  claim 1 , wherein the baseplate is twice as thick as the support plate. 
     
     
         13 . A method of installing a railing on a deck, the method comprising:
 forming a top recessed portion on a top portion the deck;   forming a side recessed portion on a side portion of the deck;   installing a side rail mount to a top and side of the deck, the side rail mount comprising:
 a baseplate forming one or more holes; 
 a plurality of threaded rods affixed to the baseplate and extending perpendicularly to the baseplate; and 
 a support plate extending perpendicularly from the baseplate in a direction opposite the plurality of threaded rods; 
   positioning a post on the top portion of the deck by passing the plurality of threaded rods of the side rail mount through corresponding holes formed in a base of the post; and   securing the post to the top portion of the deck by threading fasteners to the plurality of threaded rods of the side rail mount to hold the base of the post against the baseplate of the side rail mount,   wherein installing the side rail mount includes:
 passing fasteners through the one or more holes of the baseplate to secure the baseplate to the top recessed portion of the top portion of the deck; and 
 passing fasteners through one or more holes formed by the support plate to secure the support plate to the side recessed portion of the side portion of the deck. 
   wherein the baseplate is level with the top portion of the deck and the support plate is level with the side portion of the deck after installation of the side rail mount.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 forming a second top recessed portion on a top portion the deck at a corner of the deck; 
 forming a second side recessed portion and a third side recessed portion at the corner of the deck; 
 installing a corner rail mount to the top and the corner of the deck, the corner rail mount comprising:
 a baseplate forming one or more holes; 
 a plurality of threaded rods affixed to the baseplate and extending perpendicularly to the baseplate; 
 a first support plate extending perpendicularly from the baseplate in a direction opposite the plurality of threaded rods; and 
 a second support plate extending perpendicularly from the baseplate in a direction opposite the plurality of threaded rods, the second support plate perpendicular to the first support plate; 
 
 positioning a second post on the top portion of the deck by passing the plurality of threaded rods of the corner rail mount through corresponding holes formed in a base of the post; and 
 securing the second post to the top portion of the deck by threading fasteners to the plurality of threaded rods of the corner rail mount to hold the base of the post against the baseplate of the corner rail mount, 
 wherein installing the corner rail mount includes:
 passing fasteners through the one or more holes of the baseplate of the corner rail mount to secure the baseplate of the corner rail mount to the second top recessed portion of the top portion of the deck; 
 passing fasteners through one or more holes formed by the first support plate of the corner rail mount to secure the first support plate to the second side recessed portion of the corner of the deck; and 
 passing fasteners through one or more holes formed by the second support plate of the corner rail mount to secure the second support plate to the third side recessed portion of the corner of the deck, 
 
 wherein the baseplate is level with the top portion of the deck and the support plate is level with the side portion of the deck after installation of the side rail mount. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising an adhesive to the top recessed portion and to the side recessed portion prior to installing the side rail mount. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising installing flashing to the top recessed portion and to the side recessed portion prior to installing the side rail mount to enhance waterproofing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising installing a skirt to the side of the deck such that the skirt covers the support plate of the side rail mount. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising applying a waterproof layer over the top of the deck such that the waterproof layer covers the baseplate of the side rail mount and leaves the plurality of threaded rods exposed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the waterproof layer coats the plurality of threaded rods while allowing the plurality of threaded rods to be exposed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising applying a structural support layer over the top of the deck such that the structural support layer covers the baseplate of the side rail mount and leaves the plurality of threaded rods exposed.