Deck planning · Guide 9 of 10 · 4 min readUpdated
Preview deck railings and framing in 3D
Use plan, framing and 3D views to answer different questions about a deck, including sightlines, awkward junctions and whether the chosen layout can be built.
Use the view that answers the question
A finished 3D view helps you judge proportions, railing visibility and how a stair opening relates to the deck. A top-down plan is better for setting out corners and checking usable floor space. An exposed framing view can reveal that a neat surface hides a difficult joint or unsupported board end.
Wood, aluminum and glass railing options also change the experience of the space. Glass can preserve a view but makes cleaning and the supplier’s panel system important. A more opaque guard may give a stronger sense of enclosure. Compare maintenance, available assemblies and connection details alongside appearance; a convincing model is still only a preview.
Example: the stair opening looks fine from above
Orbit to the approach people will use and inspect the stair rail beside the deck-return rail. Then expose the framing around the opening. A conflict between posts or an awkward connection is easier to resolve before quoting than after the finish boards hide the support.
Choose the railing before opening 3D
In Edges, enable Railing on this edge where needed. Under Railings → Default for the deck, choose Wood, Aluminum or Glass panels, then set height, finish, maximum post centres and actual square post width. Post centres are horizontal plan distances, including on stairs. Glass can use wood or aluminum posts and rails.
Enable Different railing on edge to override one side. Use default on every edge clears those overrides. House sides have no level railing; valid stair openings remove their own portion of the level rail. Stair railings use the style of their edge and the selected rail sides.
Railing heights, sections, panel sizes and connections must suit the selected system and location. The style presets are visual options, not approved guard assemblies.
Switch between the finished deck and its structure
Open 3D view above the plan. Finished deck includes the decking, railings, stairs, house-edge context and enabled framing. Framing hides the decking, railings, house and ground so the supports and foundations can be inspected.
Opening 3D from Framing plan starts with the framing view selected. If that view is unavailable, create a framing layout first. Drag to rotate, scroll or pinch to zoom, and use two fingers to pan. Framing mode lets you rotate beneath the structure.
Understand blue schematic members
Joists, beams, posts and footings remain visible when their dimensions have not been entered. Blue identifies categories using placeholder sizes. Those visual sizes are not written into the project, the schedule or the purchase list.
Enter Joist, ledger, rim & blocking size, Beam lumber, Post size and footing dimensions in Framing to replace the placeholders. Dropped-beam elevations also depend on joist depth, so enter all relevant sizes before interpreting vertical fit. A saved render keeps a note when schematic framing is present.
Choose the right kind of saved file
| Control | Result | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Save render | PNG image of the current 3D view | Sharing a visual; it cannot reopen the editable design |
| Print plan | Plan drawings and schedules through the browser print dialog | Paper or a PDF through your device’s print options |
| Download project | Editable UC project file | Reopening geometry, framing, stairs, railing settings and prices |
| Open project | Loads a downloaded UC project | Continuing or moving the design to another device |
Keep the model and the takeoff in context
The 3D view uses the same plan geometry as the designer. It is a planning model, not a photorealistic site survey or a construction detail. It does not add a stair-stringer cutting plan, fastener design, structural analysis or railing-system approval.
Purchase list combines the decking order with whole framing boards and support posts based on your entered sizes and stock choices. Railing posts and complete section assemblies are now counted separately for supplier quotes. Record product names, links and quote dates alongside entered prices. Use Additional items for stair lumber, concrete, anchorage and supplies excluded from the assembly quotes. Unpriced rows stay excluded from the subtotal; labour and tax remain separate.
If the view is blank or unavailable
Wait for the view to finish loading, then use Reset 3D view to fit the model. Choose Framing if the boards hide the joists. Blue members mean missing size inputs, not missing geometry.
If the page reports that 3D is unavailable, use a browser and device with WebGL/hardware acceleration available. The 2D plans and editable project remain usable. After an interrupted 3D display, switch to a plan view and reopen 3D. Download the project before clearing browser data; recovery is local to that browser.