A beautifully-designed porch railing may easily breathe new life into a property and give it a great sense of style. Porch railings not only offer safety (as mandated by your local construction requirements), but also a ton of beauty and curb appeal. Another thing that you can try is Outdoor Porch Curtains to get the privacy that you need.
One of the most essential components of a porch is the handrails. It’s vital to select the necessary materials, designs, and patterns for such a prominently displayed railing. After all, you wouldn’t want a handrail that’s an ugly mess and obstructs your view. Luckily, there are a plethora of options available nowadays, and most of them don’t require any maintenance.
Your porch handrails can be upgraded or replaced to totally transform the design of your home. You can complete the task yourself or hire a professional if you’re not so confident about your construction skills. If you ask anyone, they’ll probably suggest the latter because it spares you from the headache of construction problems and gives the railings a more polished look.
In this article, we will guide you in finding the perfect style for your home, whether it’s wooden, vinyl, metal, composite, or glass railings. This post includes five different types of beautiful and useful materials that are ideal for your porch railings.
1. Wooden Porch Handrail
The most common material for porch handrail systems is wood. Wood is everlasting and versatile as well. Regardless of whether you’ll use it for pickets, posts, fences, or top and bottom rails, it would still look fantastic. It can be used to sculpt post caps and balustrades into artistic shapes to match any home’s design.
Nonetheless, while wooden railings are sturdy, keep in mind to pick a pattern that wouldn’t totally cover your porch or obstruct your view. Additionally, take into consideration that wood necessitates a great deal of maintenance. With that in mind, a wood handrail can survive for two decades or even longer if you commit to maintaining it.
2. Vinyl Porch Railing
Another practical yet beautiful porch railing is made out of plastic or vinyl. It requires little maintenance and can be quite durable. More importantly, it enhances the beauty of your porch while being able to withstand the harsh effects of nature.
Additionally, you can create a customized pattern for the railing. It comes in a variety of designs and coatings that won’t splinter, break, or tarnish over time. Most importantly, it is an affordable solution that doesn’t require annual sealing, staining, or finishing.
3. Metal Porch Railing
The sturdiest railings are undoubtedly those that are made out of metal, and they do not drastically raise the cost of house repairs. You can choose from steel, iron, or powder-coated aluminum railings; each is a low-cost method to give your porch some elegance. That is why most homeowners go for metal railing made custom to have a railing system that is both elegant and long-lasting.
Installing a metal railing is simple; you can mount it on a steel frame that matches it or pair it with a wooden railing. This railing has the benefit of having metal balusters in a variety of shades and designs. You can also choose from a wide variety of shapes such as round, square, or baroque. It’s very easy to maintain and very lovely when installed.
4. Composite Porch Railings
There is a good reason why composite handrail systems are incredibly popular now. They are attractive, low maintenance, long-lasting, and cost-efficient. Additionally, you can alter them to match the color and design of your home.
A composite handrail is a boon for do-it-yourself enthusiasts because it typically arrives in a readymade, simple piece that fits into place. They are offered porch railing kits and come in a variety of sizes, designs, and colors.
A composite railing’s disadvantage is that colorfastness could be a problem. They every once in a while, but not very frequently, fail to live up to their promised lifespan.
5. Glass Porch Handrail
It’s a smart option to choose glass panels over typical pickets or balusters if you’ve got a porch to flaunt. Such a railing is truly lovely in its own way. Your home will look sleek and contemporary thanks to the modest appearance of the glass.
Always put in mind that railings made out of glass should also have tempered glass polished edges to be safe. For a sleek and strong look, you may install it with a post and rail structure made out of aluminum.
Do you want to give your railing a special touch? Allow for creative etchings or a color accent on your glass panels.
The disadvantage of this type of railing is that this will probably cost more than others and needs to be installed by an expert.
A glass handrail will also need additional maintenance if you expect it to be shiny and brand new all the time, even more so, if you reside near the sea or the ocean. A glass railing can easily endure more than ten years with the right amount of maintenance.
Conclusion
The ideal porch railing should be chosen just as carefully as the rest of your home’s features. A handrail system is not only a necessity for safety, particularly in the case of raised porches, but it also emphasizes the exterior of your home by providing a clear frame.
We hope that our collection of porch railing materials will assist you in designing the ideal look to complement your house. You should be able to find a porch railing that combines fashion, practicality, and safety. Just take into consideration that your railing would need to adhere to regional building regulations. Once it’s done, you are now prepared to impress your guests with a custom-made handrail system that adds value to your home!
