Heath Outdoor Products MR-1 Porch Rails Aluminum House

 (1 customer review)

These work great as long as anchored in place with zip-ties (cable ties) or wire. Used alone and as intended by the manufacturer, the plastic snap-in ends are not strong enough to keep the rails in place, even for a single season. I don't know if the birds inadvertently carry the rails off, or if the snap-in part is just too weak, but they end up either missing or on the ground.

I purchased UV-rated zip ties (so they don't disintegrate in sunlight). I use two zip-ties per railing. Insert one end up through a porch hole, around the rail and back down through an adjacent hole. Zip and snug them up, snip off the loose end and you are good-to-go - you don't lose your railing. I have done the same thing with wire but it takes a little bit longer to attach and isn't as clean-looking as the zip ties.