Steel Railings, Built to Fit and Built to Last

Under the 2021 Washington State Residential Code (R312.1.2), guards at open-sided walking surfaces must be at least 36 inches tall, measured vertically above the walking surface. On the open sides of stairs, guards must be at least 34 inches measured from a line connecting the tread nosings. Where the top of the guard also serves as the handrail, it must be between 34 and 38 inches. A graspable handrail itself must sit between 34 and 38 inches above the tread nosing (R311.7.8.1). We build to these numbers as a matter of course, and the scan confirms the finished height before we cut anything.

Guards cannot have any opening large enough to pass a 4-inch sphere, from the walking surface up to the required guard height (2021 WA Residential Code, R312.1.3). There are two exceptions on stairs: the triangular opening formed by the riser, tread and bottom rail may not pass a 6-inch sphere, and guards on the open side of stairs may not pass a 4-3/8 inch sphere. In practice that means vertical pickets land around 4 inches on center.

Most of our railing projects land between $5,000 and $15,000 installed. Steel picket and horizontal-bar railings are the most affordable thing we build; cable sits above that, and glass and floating stairs are the premium end. The real drivers are linear footage, how many corners and transitions the run has, the finish, and how true the existing framing is. Send photos of the space or the plans and we will come back with a rough number, usually within one business day.

Plan on 4 to 8 weeks from deposit to installed. Steel lead time runs 1 to 2 weeks, fabrication happens in our Vancouver shop, and powder coating turns around in under a week. Terms are 50 percent deposit, 50 percent on completion.

Both. Everything is fabricated in our Vancouver shop and installed by our own crew. Nothing is subcontracted, so one team is accountable from the first measurement to the final fastener.

Wet season is the whole problem. Exterior rails get full prep and powder coat rather than paint, and we detail the mounting so water drains instead of sitting in a joint. Powder coat costs a little more up front and is the reason our exterior rails still look right a decade later.