five feet is way short. atleast make it 10, but it should be a double barrel. It should be made out of pvc called schedule 80, its actually electrical conduit so there will be little bells on each end that have to cut off. Its the most durable and strongest pvc made, it will not crack. You have to make feet on it. and you should really have some like studs going perpindicular to the legs of the rail, something like a 1 1/2 x 1/2 stud.