Factors To Consider When Designing Custom Hand Railings

Custom hand railings come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and they're made from a variety of different materials. As you consider the many different options that are available for custom railings, keep these factors in mind so that you ultimately design a custom hand railing that's perfectly suited to your project.

Local Building Codes

Your custom hand railing will have to meet any applicable local building codes, so make sure you're familiar with these requirements before you settle on a design. 

If you're working with a contractor in your area, they'll likely already be familiar with what the codes require. If you're working with a non-local company, you can contact your municipality's or county's building code officer to find out what the requirements are.

In general, these requirements aren't hard to meet and you still have plenty of flexibility while designing a custom hand railing that meets the specifications. You don't want to find out after your railing is installed that it must be altered or replaced because it doesn't meet local codes, though.

Location of the Railing

As you determine what material to construct the custom hand railing from, consider where the railing will be located. In particular, pay attention to whether the railing will be indoors or outdoors -- and where it will be if it'll be outside.

If your hand railing will be inside, where there's a controlled environment, the railing can be made from any material that's suitably strong. Iron, steel, plastic and wood are all viable options since the elements don't come into play.

If your hand railing will be outside, you may need to consider what elements the railing will be frequently exposed to. In a location that gets plenty of sun and rarely sees precipitation, any of the aforementioned materials might be fine to use. 

In a place that's heavily shaded or often damp, you may want to use a metal or plastic. Plants are more likely to grow on wood in these spots, and wood can rot if exposed to too much water. Additionally, plastic is sometimes better than metal for extremely wet locations, because plastic doesn't rust like steel and iron can.

Future Maintenance Required

No matter what material the hand railing is made from, it will require periodic maintenance. Not all materials need the same maintenance, though. Wood has to be painted or stained occasionally, and steel must be repainted unless you want an industrial, gray look. Wrought iron requires just an occasional cleaning once in a while, as does plastic.

To learn more, contact a company that offers custom hand railings.