How to Position the Deck Post for an Octagon Railing

Make a series of seven marks next to your house with your orange spray paint. Leave 5 feet between each mark. Center the marks according to the way you want your deck to be centered in relation to the house.

Place the short side of your 36-inch framing square flat against the house. Place the pull tab on your 100-foot tape measure against the house and have your assistant hold it in place. Stretch out the tape and line it up with your square to get a straight line out from the house. Place this setup at each mark along the house as indicated to get your post measurements.

Move your setup to the first mark against the house. Make a paint mark on the ground at 30 feet, one at 35 feet and another at 40 feet from the side of your house. Move your setup to the seventh mark and repeat the same measurements.

Place your setup at the sixth mark against the house. Make a paint mark at 25 feet, one at 30 feet, another at 35 feet, one at 40 feet, and the last at 45 feet from the side of your house. Move your setup to the second mark against the house and repeat these measurements.

Move to the third mark against your house. Place a paint spot at 20 feet, another at 25 feet, one more at 30 feet, again at 35 feet, another at 40 feet, one at 45 feet and the last spot at 50 feet away from the face of your house. Repeat these paint marks with your setup at the fourth and fifth marks to complete your octagonal grid.

Disregard the marks that are next to the house. Dig a hole at each of your grid marks with post hole diggers. Make each hole 36 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Remove any rocks from the holes and make the walls and bottoms of the holes as smooth as possible.