Outdoor Rails: Iron Handrails, Cable, Balconies and Gates

Outdoor stairs get ignored until someone slips. Front steps, patio steps and the garden stairs behind the house are used every day, in the heat, in the rain and in the dark. A good handrail on those steps is a matter of safety first and appearance second, and the best ones deliver both.

Mac Stairs works on exterior metal as well as interior stairs. Here is a look at the main outdoor jobs, and what to think about before you call.

Iron handrails on stone steps

Many Dallas and Carrollton homes have a front entry with stone or brick steps and no real handrail, or a rusted one that has seen better days. A black iron handrail that follows the rise of the steps solves both problems. It gives people something to hold, and it looks like part of the house instead of an afterthought.

On stone, the posts are normally set into or fixed onto the steps themselves, which means the work has to account for the material. Ask how the rail is anchored, and what keeps the base from loosening over time. A rail that wobbles after the first winter was not secured well.

Cable rail for patios and porches

Cable rail is popular outdoors because it hardly blocks the view. On a covered patio, along the edge of a porch, or beside garden steps, the thin lines let your eye pass through to the yard while the rail does its job. We have installed it on a covered patio, beside stone steps and up garden stairs, and it works well in each place.

Spacing and tension are what make cable look professional. Slack cable looks sloppy and sags. Well-tensioned cable looks straight and crisp. You will also want sturdy end posts, since all the pull of the cables lands on them. If a contractor can't explain how the posts handle that, keep asking.

Metal balconies

A metal balcony or balcony rail is a different animal, because people stand on it, lean on it and put furniture near it. It has to feel solid, and it has to look right from the ground, where most of the world sees it. Design options run from simple horizontal bars to decorative panels with geometric or scroll patterns.

The detail to watch is where the balcony attaches to the house. Good workmanship there is invisible when it is right and obvious when it is wrong. This is also a good time to think about the finish, because balconies take sun on one side and rain on the other.

Gates

A custom iron gate is a natural add-on to a rail project, since the metal can match. Amy Erickson, a customer, wrote: "Marlon and his team did a fantastic job on our stairs! He built a custom gate for us as well." If you're already planning a rail on your front steps, it is worth asking whether a gate in the same style would finish the look.

Weather, finish and upkeep

Texas weather is hard on metal. Sun fades paint, humidity encourages rust, and a sudden storm can find any gap in a finish. Before you agree to anything, ask what finish goes on the iron, how the bare metal is prepared first, and what you will need to do to keep it looking good. Those answers tell you a lot about how long the work is meant to last.

• Ask what finish is used and how the metal is prepared before it.
• Look at how welds and joints are cleaned up, since rough spots show up first.
• Check how and where posts are anchored, particularly in stone and concrete.
• Find out what touch-up you can do yourself later.

What to expect from the process

Outdoor work still happens at your house, near your front door and your landscaping. You want a crew that shows up when they say and leaves the yard the way they found it. B.R. Baumann's review is a fair summary of what to look for: "He and his crew were very professional and efficient. Great price and wonderful product and service!"

Get a quote

Mac Stairs gives free estimates for outdoor rails, balconies and gates. Text a photo of your steps or patio to (469) 727-3208, chat with Marlon on the phone, and he will send a quote.