An Insight Into Stair And Porch Railings Basics

By Author: Stella Richard
Total Articles: 6
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An Introduction – Stair or porch railings, both not just provide an additional safety to your home, but are a vital element to home décor. They can be made of any material; wood, wrought iron, aluminum, etc and of whatever style, finish and type of length you prefer, leading into and away from your home.

Building a railing shouldn't be considered just a formality or constructed as an afterthought. Railings are a vital safety factor and also an important architectural component for stairs, porches, decks, etc. Be of any design, simple or elaborate, contemporary or traditional, their basic function is to provide a safety barrier, especially if there are children around.

Basics – The first step to building a handrail is to take required measurements for the railing. Don’t forget that checking with your local building construction codes is crucial before you start. Mark the spots you want on the wall or floor and use a level to check that they are all in the same line. Choosing the proper material is again a crucial step in building a handrail, since it has to be able to not just beautify your home, but also ...
... enable a safe and stable structure. Now handrails are usually made from wood; oak, poplar, pine posts that are carved or shaped into beautiful pieces, allowing them handholds of roughly 2 inches in diameter for stairways.

Stair railings are mounted on metal wall brackets that are attached with metal or wood screws. And while wood is the most commonly used material, many people prefer using metal components, aluminum railings, steel pipes and even cables or plastic/acrylic components for their railings.

Design – Wooden posts come in a variety of designs and can be bought readymade or you can get custom-designed rail posts and handrails. If wood is your choice, then redwood, cedar or oak are your best options for outdoor railings. Make sure to use stains and paints that don’t erode with weather changes and to avoid pressure-treated materials that are bound to contain toxic chemicals. Also, though rough-sawn wood can be used for balustrades, newel posts or bottom rails, avoid the same for handholds, to save yourself from catching splinters. Metal handrails for porches are not as common as wooden ones, but many homeowners like using wrought iron porch railings.

In fact, wrought iron railings give a distinct ethnic fool to old buildings, inns and Victorian homes. Aluminum railings are also commonly used for industrial structures and indoor stairwells for people who like contemporary touches to their home. Aluminum stair railings are also resistant to moisture and insects, and last for many years. It can be combined with other materials, including wood, to create a distinctive look for your porch.

Safety – The most important function of a handrail is but to provide safety. Building construction codes instruct that any staircase that has more than three treads requires a handrail. Also important is to take into consideration the space between two rail posts, especially if you have small children or pets. There are hundreds of DIY projects available on the internet and can help you in the lengthy process of building a handrail for your stairwell, porch, deck or terrace.

Mainland Aluminum is the Vancouver based Aluminium Railings company also deals in custom designs, fabricates and installs quality aluminum products for commercial and residential use.