Most people put more brain power into deciding what top-quality decking material they should use than into agonizing over the type and design of a railing. So please keep reading to learn the importance of a railing for both its architectural element and for safety.
Photograph courtesy of Claesson Koivisto Rune.
For more of this modestly scaled vacation retreat in the Stockholm archipelago, see Architect Visit: Claesson Koivisto Rune in Ornö.
What is a railing?
Like a seat belt in a car, a railing is the seat belt for a deck, balcony or next to a staircase. It is the barrier that keeps people from accidentally falling off and hurting themselves.
Photograph by Pia Ulin courtesy of Bangia Agostinho Architecture.
A metal balcony railing in Brooklyn turns a corner and continues down a stairway.
There are a few major components to a railing.
What are the parts of a railing?
A simple but elegant decorative element: architect Barbara Chambers’ railing has posts capped in copper.
A stainless steel and cable railing nicely mirrors the horizontal wood decking.
Photograph by Gentl & Hyers.
Which railing designs are best?
Let me answer that question with a question: how imaginative are you? A railing creates the “walls” of your deck, defining the space and giving it a frame.
A wooden railing complements the architectural style of a covered front porch in Mill Valley, California.
Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.
There are many materials to choose from including wood, metal, cable rail, tempered glass, and composite.
What are the best materials for railings?
Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.
An ornate welded steel railing can also be an art piece. Notice, however, the rust staining the concrete.
Photograph by Kier Holmes.
Photograph courtesy of Brook Landscape.
A steel garden staircase in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn has a cable railing and wooden treads. For more of this garden, see Designer Visit: Brook Klausing Elevates a Brooklyn Backyard.
Photograph by Kier Holmes.
A decorative wood railing surrounds a porch in Mill Valley, California.
To give you an idea, railings should really be called “rulings.” They are all about codes, regulations, and other rules.
What are the design rules for railings?
I will not attempt to explain them all; the final authority on when and where railings (stair rails or guards and handrails) are required on steps, stairs, landings, balconies, and decks rests with your local building code official.
The design of a fire escape railing must follow strict rules in New York City.
Photograph by Erin Boyle.
If you have read the above section on rules and visited your local building department to learn even more rules, then you might be able to install your own railings.
Can I install my own railings?
If you are intrigued by cable railing, you can buy cable rail kits online for a DIY weekend project to update your deck design but warning: this can be a costly choice depending on style and amount needed.