Deck Cable Rail Systems

Hi, just wondering if cable rails for deck railings are OK, meaning Maplewood Code will approve them. 


Something like this

https://www.houzz.com/photo/1540590-ultra-tec-deck-cable-railing-modern-deck


thanks


It would make much more sense to just call them and ask them 


FilmCarp said:
It would make much more sense to just call them and ask them 

Have you ever dealt with them?  The last time I had to go there, I purposely brought along my mother as witness since a previous visit was just so nasty and uncalled for.  My mother thought I was joking.  We walked in, a woman was there before sitting in one of the chairs waiting for something, someone else was at the counter.  After we waited a minute the woman being helped at the counter left.  The woman behind the counter snapped at me, no friendly hello, nothing like that, about what did I want.  I made the colossal mistake of asking if the woman in the chair was before me or had she already been taken care of.  That got both me AND the woman who was sitting yelled at.  Oh, and I was apparently in the wrong department, I needed to "go to the OPRA department downstairs."  Yeah, there isn't any department downstairs labeled OPRA, it's the CLERK'S office where they handle OPRA requests.  That mistake on its own, not a biggie, but after being snapped at just for walking in, then yelled at for trying to make sure I wasn't jumping the line, it just finished off a typical visit there.  My mother apologized for thinking I was joking when I said I needed a witness before I would step foot up there

I can't blame anyone for not wanting to contact them directly

Oddly enough, in all my years of dealing with the downstairs departments (rec, taxes, clerk's office, health, etc) only once has someone snapped at me, which I'm willing to write off as a one time thing.  And that one time was nothing like what I've had to deal with upstairs.  Every other time the downstairs departments have been pleasant and helpful.  Upstairs?  Well, like I said, I literally won't go there without a witness now. 


I have been to the South Orange permit office many times.  It's well run, the staff is helpful, but it is busy.  I guess your approach would be to accept code advice from a message board and then complain about the office if it didn't pass?  


FilmCarp said:
I have been to the South Orange permit office many times.  It's well run, the staff is helpful, but it is busy.  I guess your approach would be to accept code advice from a message board and then complain about the office if it didn't pass?  

 First of all we’re talking Maplewood not South Orange here.  

Second of all, you don’t work the second floor yourself by any chance, do you? The negativity feels curiously familiar.

A problem experienced was described, how do you come up with that sarcastic guess as to how the poster MIGHT react???


I don't work for the town.   I do work as a carpenter in the film industry, and I do my own work on my house.  I pull permits and ask questions if I have them.   Now, about negativity; reread the post above mine for a description of negativity.  And as far as disclosure, are you related to spontaneous?  

  And finally, regarding the original post, I stand by what I said.  Ask the code official having jurisdiction to get the answer, not a message board.


First - sure they can ask the town TOO - it’s not an either or.  

Second - if you find a post too negative why would you continue with the negativeity that you disapprove of instead of contributing in a more positive style (I follow you here and am usually a fan)

Third - ABSOLUTLY  related to the poster.  Hint: can totally confirm the veracity of their experience...



FilmCarp said:
 And as far as disclosure, are you related to spontaneous?  

 Anyone who has been on MOL for more than 45 minutes knows this, not exactly insider knowledge   cheese 

As far as asking, if someone else tried to do the same thing, and was turned down, they could save the OP the hassle of calling code enforcement and being yelled at for no reason at all.

If I recall correctly, the SOMa Lounge person who had their painters forced to stop working halfway through the day, costing time and money, was also in Maplewood.  Turns out code enforcement was mistaken, you don't need a permit to paint the interior of a home.  Seems code enforcement doesn't even know the answers as to what you can and can't do  oh oh 


FilmCarp said:
It would make much more sense to just call them and ask them 

 And FWIW, putting out feelers in advance of even thinking of planning something is something many people have done.  You might not see how your post is negative, but it is.  I highly doubt they were going to plan out and build this thing without going to code for the permits and inspections.  They were just asking ahead of time to see if it was even worth considering before taking a day off and heading down there with plans in hand. 

If Joe Schmoe posted that he had the same thing put up just last week, then they know it's worth following through on.  On the other hand, if Joe Schmoe posted that he had the same idea, but that Maplewood code specifically forbid such a railing system in Maplewood, then they could save time and plan a different type.  Not hard to see what they were trying to accomplish here. 


Our deck, completed two years ago, has 4x4 feed wire (purchased from Tractor Supply). DH is an architect, so he does know a lot of building code stuff, but they approved it. I think there was something about minimum size standards, for safety.


spontaneous said:


FilmCarp said:
It would make much more sense to just call them and ask them 
Have you ever dealt with them?  The last time I had to go there, I purposely brought along my mother as witness since a previous visit was just so nasty and uncalled for.  My mother thought I was joking.  We walked in, a woman was there before sitting in one of the chairs waiting for something, someone else was at the counter.  After we waited a minute the woman being helped at the counter left.  The woman behind the counter snapped at me, no friendly hello, nothing like that, about what did I want.  I made the colossal mistake of asking if the woman in the chair was before me or had she already been taken care of.  That got both me AND the woman who was sitting yelled at.  Oh, and I was apparently in the wrong department, I needed to "go to the OPRA department downstairs."  Yeah, there isn't any department downstairs labeled OPRA, it's the CLERK'S office where they handle OPRA requests.  That mistake on its own, not a biggie, but after being snapped at just for walking in, then yelled at for trying to make sure I wasn't jumping the line, it just finished off a typical visit there.  My mother apologized for thinking I was joking when I said I needed a witness before I would step foot up there
I can't blame anyone for not wanting to contact them directly
Oddly enough, in all my years of dealing with the downstairs departments (rec, taxes, clerk's office, health, etc) only once has someone snapped at me, which I'm willing to write off as a one time thing.  And that one time was nothing like what I've had to deal with upstairs.  Every other time the downstairs departments have been pleasant and helpful.  Upstairs?  Well, like I said, I literally won't go there without a witness now. 

 I'm sorry I came across as negative.  Is it possible that what I have quoted above could be seen as negative as well?   I wish the OP good luck, because I like those railings and have built them before, but not around here.


I live in SO but I have heard bad things from MW friends for years about the Maplewood code/permit department. They are kind of famous for their rudeness and obstructive tendencies.  


update:


THEY called ME back and said cable railings are totally fine.


Zeus2112 said:
update:


THEY called ME back and said cable railings are totally fine.

 GREAT!!!  I wonder if they read MOL and got the point?

Good luck with your project!!!



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