Cable Railings for Clean Lines and Open Views

It does when it is built and tensioned correctly. The 2021 Washington State Residential Code (R312.1.3) says a guard cannot have an opening that passes a 4-inch sphere, and on the open side of stairs a 4-3/8 inch sphere. With cable that means running the runs close enough together, and just as importantly limiting post spacing and using proper tension so the cables cannot be pushed apart to a passing gap. Undersized posts and long unsupported spans are why some cable railings fail inspection.

Stainless cable takes an initial set and gets a retension pass shortly after install, which we do as part of the job. After that it is stable. The thing that causes ongoing sag is not the cable, it is posts that flex, so we build the posts ourselves in steel and size them for the run rather than using a generic kit.

Cable sits above steel picket and below glass. Most of our projects land between $5,000 and $15,000 installed. Because cost is driven heavily by the number of posts and terminations rather than by cable footage, a long straight deck run is far more efficient per foot than a short run with several corners.

Yes, and it does both well. Outside it is the usual choice for preserving a view off a deck or balcony. Inside it works on stair runs and mezzanines where a client wants openness without the cost of glass. Exterior posts get powder coated for the Northwest climate; interior posts can take a wider range of finishes.