Deck Rail Pocket Holes

In designing my deck renovation, I decided to create a decorative groove in each deck rail with a router bit.

What I realized by happy accident was that I cut cut a pocket hole in the groove in order to attach the rails with 2.5 inch screws to the deck posts. Not only did this add considerable structural strength, but the bonus was that the pocket holes actually look pretty cool as part of the decorative groove. I'm not going to fill them in with a plug or wood filler, and instead I like them as an added decorative feature. What a find!

I've added three photos: one giving a general view of the rails on the deck; another a closeup of the screw waiting to be tightened; and a third view giving a closeup of what the pocket holes look like as part of the routered groove.