Today’s railings are anything but black and white, literally and figuratively. There are endless colors, styles, widths, materials and maintenance level options and considerations. One thing for sure is your railing will have a substantial impact on the look and style of your deck. Although there are many choices, here are some thoughts and considerations to aid you in your decision.
The first thing you need to think about is, how do you feel about maintenance? Did you just unconsciously make a face? If so, wood may not be for you; it requires the most upkeep. Most of the other materials we use are low-maintenance. Do you have a beautiful garden, pool, golf course or other view that you want to see from your deck? The railing that least obstructs your view from any deck is a Feeney cable rail. Cable rail can be installed with wood or composites like TimberTech. Slender black pickets also reveal a great deal of the yard beyond the deck. With a slender profile black railing picket, your eye is naturally drawn through the rail.
Planning on using TimberTech or another composite decking material? Most composite brands have railings that are designed to complement the decking, including posts, caps and skirts. TimberTech’s Radiance rails are known for their clean lines and no visible hardware. They also have a wide variety of integrated lighting options. If you decide to go the extra mile and include the lighting as part of the rails and/or stairs, you won’t regret it.
If you like the classic look of the slender and elegant picket fence, we can easily achieve it with a few different materials including iron, aluminum and vinyl. Iron potbelly rails come in at the high end and vinyl is the most economical. Want to have some fun? Take a look at the deck visualizer on the Deckorator web site. You can see nearly endless combinations of rails, balusters and posts. You can even pick what the yard looks like.
If you take the time to check out our photo gallery or a deck visualizer from Deckorator, TimberTech or another company, you will understand why it is impossible to cover the whole topic of railing selection in one blog entry. We frequently work with customers to narrow down their selection to two or three different styles and then they often allow pricing to help guide the ultimate choice.
If you’re thinking about adding an outdoor living space to your Columbus backyard, give us a call to see how we can make creating your dream backyard an enjoyable experience, start to finish. The consultation is completely free. Call (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.
Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus 