Blog Category : Cable Railings

Beautiful Before and After Deck Railing Makeovers

August 3rd, 2021 Keuka Studios Editorial Team

How to decide what type of deck railing is best for you.

Your deck is a great place for various activities including a place to entertain, dine, work or enjoy family time. After a while, your deck will need a refresh. One key component to planning a deck refresh is deciding what type of deck railing to choose. There are a variety of railing styles, materials, and colors to choose from for your dream deck.

One approach to choosing the style of the railing is to complement the architecture of the home’s exterior. Some railing designs are more modern, while others may be more traditional. A recent trend is to bridge different styles together which is considered transitional architecture.

Materials for deck railing posts include steel, aluminum, stainless steel and, wood or composite. Some railing infills that are available include cable, glass, or metal spindle. Environment, Cost, and Maintenance are a few considerations to think about when determining the material. Some materials are better for oceanfront or harsh environments like 316 stainless steel or galvanized steel.

Another consideration is the environment, for example, what is the prevailing wind direction. Are you interested in blocking the wind or feeling the natural breezes? A glass railing will block the wind while a cable railing will keep the gentle breezes flowing. When considering cost stainless steel will cost significantly more than steel.

Also, there are hundreds of powder coat colors choices so choosing the best color for your railing may be fun or difficult. Some homeowners prefer to have the railing color complement their home, while others want the posts to disappear into the landscape.

Lastly, you’ll want to think about how much maintenance the type of railing you install will require. For instance, a wood railing will need frequent painting or staining, and a glass railing will need to be cleaned to remove fingerprints or water spots, etc.

Below are some Before and After railing images that we hope you will find helpful in choosing your deck railings.

Wedding Venue Redo

Painted wood railing replaced with curved steel cable railing system

Before white painted wood railing on deck overlooking lake. After the same deck view with Curved cable railings.

Before: The vision for this project on Rock Island in Sparta, NJ was to create a wedding venue with the perfect setting for a romantic indoor and outdoor event. The deck had an old rotten painted wood railing that needed to be replaced. The owners desired a railing that would showcase the beautiful lake rather than block the view.

After: Our Keuka Style curved cable railing system was chosen to wrap all the exterior decks and interior stairs. The curved style of this railing has a nautical appeal that complements the water views. The posts are made of steel and powder-coated “Oil Rubbed Bronze”. Cable infill opens up the views of the lake rather than obstructing the view as the wood railing did. The Rock Island Lake Club created the perfect setting with relaxing outdoor deck spaces for guests to mingle and enjoy.

Oceanfront Renovation – Cable Railings

White painted tubular railing replaced with anodized aluminum cable railings

Before of deck worn deck with white painted railings and After of the same deck with updated wood and cable railings.

Before: This vacation home on the ocean located in Loveladies, NJ, sat vacant and neglected for several years. The entire exterior was in disrepair. The original railings on the decks, balconies, and rooftop were an outdated metal tubular style that was painted white. All of the deck railings including the stair railings needed to be replaced.

After: After purchasing this beachfront home the owners decided to refurbish the house and decks. Since the ocean views and contemporary style were important features of the home, they chose our Ithaca Style cable railing system. The thin railing posts have a modern aesthetic. They are fascia mounted to the curved deck for a streamlined minimal look. The posts are made of anodized aluminum, with 316 ss cables and IPE top rail.

Log Cabin – Deck Railing Update

Wood railing replaced with green cable railing

Before of wood spindle railings on log home. After image of the same house with painted green cable railing system.

Before: The owners of this secluded cabin located adjacent to the forest realized their deck and railings needed to be replaced. Instead of using the same style of railing, they opted to replace the wood railing with cable railings.

After: Since views of the forest were paramount to this renovation project the owners chose a cable railing system to replace the dated wood spindle railing. Since cable has a way of disappearing from the view. By choosing to powder coat the railing posts green the posts accent the home and at the same time blend in with the forest greenery.

Hudson River Expansion – Glavanized Stairs, and Deck Railings

Deck railings replaced with galvanized steel railings and stairs

Before of worn cottage on the Hudson river. After of the same home expanded in size with galvanized stairs, railings and spiral stairs.

Before: Located on the Hudson River, NY, with a natural beach and water access this home was in the perfect location for a family getaway. The harsh environment took its toll over the years resulting in the need to completely renovate the home and update the decks.

After: The owners did a complete renovation enlarging the size of the home, and increasing the outdoor entertaining space. The decks were expanded and two rooftop decks were added. The client chose Keuka Studios to design and fabricate a grand double staircase for the front of the deck and a two-story spiral staircase to access the main deck from the ground and both rooftop levels. The railing is our Ithaca style, The railings, and stairs are made of galvanized steel. creating a rustic industrial style. The railing infill is 316 ss cable.

Villa Harrah – Deck Railing Modernized

Black metal railings replaced with curved cable railing system

Before image of concrete pool deck and patio with old metal railing

Before: Villa Harrah in Lake Tahoe, NV was built in 1963 by William Harrah founder of Harrah’s Hotel and Casinos. Legend has it that he hosted showbiz icons including Judy Garland and the “Rat Pack” at this mega-mansion. The current homeowner decided the residence required a dramatic overhaul to bring it up-to-date. The exterior had several decks wrapping the home and stairs including a pool deck that required a refresh and new railings.

After pool deck with curved cable railings

After: Known for its majestic beauty, the owner’s objective was to create open views of the lake and surrounding mountainscapes. For this luxury home, they chose our curved Keuka Style railing system for the exterior. The curved railing posts have a nautical aesthetic that perfectly blends with the environment. The railings are custom-crafted to be fascia and surface mounted, including at different heights to accommodate the partial concrete wall.

At Keuka Studios, we custom fabricate residential and commercial stairs and railings to fit your style, space, and requirements. To learn more about how each cable railing project moves from vision to reality. Take a look at our custom railing design process. We take pride in building craftsman-quality and commercial-grade stairs and railings for interior and exterior applications. Contact us to get started on your project.

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Amazing Before and After Stair Makeovers

July 10th, 2021 Keuka Studios Editorial Team

Stair and railing before and after images are a great place to start when trying to do a remodel or create a new project. Some people have an eye for design, however, for those who have difficulty imagining the transformation of a project these pictures will help you see the vision. Not only do stairs function as a way of transitioning between levels, and railings provide safety they also set the tone for the interior design style. Many staircases are located at the entrance of a home and are the first thing guests encounter when entering your home. Your stairs make your home’s first impression so why not make it great!

Stair Before and After Creative Ideas

1) Traditional Stair to Modern Glass Floating Stair

BEFORE – The owners of this coastal Connecticut home realized that the location of their large traditional stairs blocked the home’s main wall facing the ocean. In addition, the limited amount of windows resulted in a dimly lit entrance. The goal of this project was to create an open and inviting space with lots of natural light and open up the view. They completely gutted the entrance and changed the direction of the stairs to achieve this transformation from traditional style to a modern light and airy aesthetic with a floating staircase.

AFTER – To achieve the objectives of this project, floor-to-ceiling windows were added to allow for the flow of natural light throughout the entrance. When transcending the stairs the glass window wall allows for stunning views of the ocean. To maintain the openness without blocking the views, our engineers designed a mono stringer floating stair with glass railings. The single stringer is made of steel and powder-coated black, the treads are 3-inch thick white oak and we used 3/8 in thick starfire glass panels for the railings. The result is an open, modern, and light-filled room.

What stair and railing is this? Keuka Studios mono-stringer floating stair made of steel with glass railing.

Learn more about types of stairs on Keuka Studios

2) Colonial Spindle Baluster to Modern Cable Railing

Before makeover traditional white spindle stair railinging

BEFORE – Located in Webster, NY this couple wanted to add a touch of their own personality to their new home so they opted to replace a colonial spindle baluster railing. The existing stair just wasn’t their style, since they were inspired by a modern minimalist style they decided on a cable railing system. Also, because they have small children one of their project requirements included adding matching gates to the stairs.

AFTER – Our client selected our Ithaca-style cable railing system with its narrow posts and distinctive modern style to replace the colonial stairs. They added matching gates and modernize the stairs with thick wood treads.

What railing is this? Keuka Studios Ithaca-style cable railing system made of steel with matching gates, wood top rail and stainless steel cables.

Learn about our cable railings and why they are the best.

3) Contemporary Wood Spindles to Sleek Stainless Steel Railing

Before wood contemporary railing with carpet on stairs

BEFORE – This client decided to remodel their outdated heavy wood contemporary, carpeted, and dark, stairs. Their vision for their stairs was to create a modern style that would be open and minimalist. In keeping with today’s design trends, they opted for a sleek stainless steel cable railing system.

After image stairs with stainless steel cable railing

AFTER – Their remodel objectives were realized by updating the carpet and adding a stainless steel cable railing system. This client chose our Ithaca-style railing system for its sleek streamlined design. They also opted for the posts to be made of stainless steel and included our escutcheon plates to cover the post hardware. Exquisitely crafted by our talented team this railing system has an impressive, refined, and sleek appearance.

What Railing Is this? – Keuka Studios Ithaca Style cable railing in stainless steel with stainless steel top rail and escutcheon plates.

4) Shaky Spiral Stair Update to Switchback Stair

ShakysSpiral stair with winder treads.

BEFORE – This beach house on Fire Island, NY had a shaky spiral stair with narrow winder steps that made it difficult to maneuver up and down the stairs. The objective of this project was to design a stair that would fit into this tight space while eliminating all winder steps to make it a safer transition between floors. It was also important to our client to improve the stability of the steps and keep the stairs open to the rest of the room. We started by measuring the site with a FARO 3D laser scanner to understand the dimensions we were required to work within. This allowed our engineers to create a custom stair that would fit in the allotted space and meet the customer’s objectives.

Updated switchback stairs with landings and wood treads

AFTER – We solved our client’s dilemma by replacing the rickety spiral stair with a mono-stringer floating switchback staircase. This eliminated all of the winder treads and by adding landings the access to the upper level is much safer and easier. Combined with the cable railing system the stairs maintain an open aesthetic and fit within the available space.

What type of stair is this? Keuka Studios switchback mono-stringer stair made of steel with Ithaca Style cable railing system.

5) Office Space Colonial Stair and Railing to Floating Stair and Curved Cable Railing

Before Office Spindle stair railing and balcony

BEFORE – Located in Burlington, NJ this office building entry interior design was stuck in the ’80s. The staircase boosted colonial wood spindle railings accented with pink and turquoise decor. The objective of this project was to makeover the dated space into today’s modern style. It was also important to create an open space by adding floating stairs and include ADA-compliant handrails.

AFTER – To bring this entry into the present and meet the requirements for this project our engineers designed a mono-stringer stair with our curved Keuka style cable railing system. The cable railing seamlessly transcends the stairs and wraps around the upper-level balcony. The stairs have thick treads and include an ADA-compliant handrail. The color palette was changed up using neutral colors with dark accents. The result is a complete modern makeover.

What railing is this? Keuka Studios curved Keuka Style cable railing system with ADA compliant handrails.

Learn more about ADA handrail ideas.

6) Enclosed Condo Stairwell to Floating Stairs and Railing

Before of closed stairwell with dated wood spindle stairs

BEFORE – Located in Hartsdale, NY this condominium had an enclosed stairwell with a heavy wood, old-school contemporary railing. The space was dark and dated. With an eye for detail, the vision of this client was to give the space a refresh. The objective included creating a space that would feel larger and more open. This was accomplished by removing the stairwell walls adjacent to the living room and allowing for natural light throughout the space.

After Open floating stairs with cable railing system

AFTER – To accomplish the objective of opening up the stairwell we crafted a mono-stringer steel staircase with floating treads and our Ithaca-style cable railing system. The treads are thick wood with a matching top rail. As a result, the interior of the condo feels larger and more spacious.

What stair and railing is this? Keuka Studios mono-stringer stair with Ithaca style cable railing system made of steel with wood treads and top rail.

Browse More about Stairs on Keuka Studios

How much do custom floating stairs cost? Custom stair Designs How to measure stairs

At Keuka Studios, we custom fabricate residential and commercial stairs and railings to fit your style, space, and requirements. To learn more about how each cable railing project moves from vision to reality. Take a look at our custom railing design process. We take pride in building craftsman-quality and commercial-grade stairs and railings for interior and exterior applications. Contact us to get started on your project.

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Fascia Mount Vs. Surface Mount Vs. Undermount

Fascia Mount Railing Post on Deck and Surface Mount post on stairs and balcony
June 8th, 2021 Keuka Studios Editorial Team

Advantages and Disadvantages

What is the difference between surface mount and fascia mounted deck railing posts?

Surface-mounted posts are mounted to the top surface of the deck, they are occasionally referred to as deck mounts, floor mounts, or even top mounts. Fascia mounted posts are mounted to the side of the deck and sometimes are referred to as side mounts or joist mounts.

What is an Undermount deck railing post?

Undermounted deck railing posts are designed to appear to slice through the surface of the deck and have all the mounting hardware attach the post to the structure below the surface decking.

I always get customers asking me how to attach their railing to their application. While there are many different ways to attach your railing, the most popular methods are mounting to the fascia or mounting to the surface. In addition, many clients opt for the more sleek and modern style of under mounting the posts. 
 

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Use Escutcheon Plates for a Refined Railing Look

Railing Escutcheon Plate
June 8th, 2021 Keuka Studios Editorial Team
What are escutcheon plates?

By definition, an escutcheon (pronounced es·cutch·eon) plate is a shield, cover, or an ornamental or protective plate. Escutcheon plates are used to conceal something functional like mounting hardware or an unwanted hole.

Use escutcheon plates for a clean, simple, or modern style railing.

More and more customers are looking for a clean, seamless, or modern look for their homes. For interior or exterior railing, whether it’s a cable railing or any other type of railing, the escutcheon plate is a great choice to conceal the hardware. I find that especially with interior applications, you might want all the fasteners and hardware hidden with no exposed bolt or screw heads. Escutcheon plates are a perfect and easy solution. They simply slide over the post, hiding the hardware and providing a more refined look. Our escutcheon plates are typically machined from a solid billet, not the thin stamped sheet metal common in the industry.

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Screen Porch Cable Guardrail Solutions

Cable guard on screen porch.
May 23rd, 2021 Keuka Studios Editorial Team

Adding a screen porch to your home extends your outdoor living lifestyle. Whether your screen porch is used as a dining porch, sleeping porch or just to relax. It allows you to enjoy the fresh air and outside environment without dealing with unwanted bugs and critters.

When deciding on your screen porch design, it is important to understand the building codes in your municipality. Typically, a guardrail is required for an elevated porch of 30 inches or more above ground level. In addition, if the screens extend to within 24 inches of the floor or walking surface, a guard rail is required. Cable guardrails add an extra level of safety to the screens, especially for toddlers and pets that could push through a screen. A cable guardrail maintains the open airy feel while preserving your view and providing an added level of safety protection. Residential guardrail requirements that do not act as handrails are required to be a minimum height of 36 inches.

There are a number of ways to add a cable guardrail to your screen porch while maintaining your view. They include adding it to the outside of your screen porch, to the inside, or using cables lagged into the wood columns. See some unique approaches below.

What is a Screen Porch Cable Guardrail?

A guardrail made with cable or wire rope that wraps the screen of the porch from the walking surface to a height of 36 inches or more. The guardrail must adhere to required safety codes, and provides a barrier from falls through the screen.

Screen Porch with Exterior Cable Guardrail

Raised Deck and screen porch with cable guardrail

The cable railing guardrail for this home was made to complement the architecture and wrap the outside of the porch. The exterior of this home marries a variety of materials including wood, steel, and stone, with modern crisp architectural lines. The desire to enjoy the outdoors and extend the season led to designing a variety of multi-purpose exterior spaces. The covered screen porch was added to this home’s design to provide a functional space that could be used year-round.

The home’s floor plan was designed to easily transition from the interior to the screen porch that overlooks a beautiful pool and golf course. The cable guardrail wraps the exterior of the screen porch and matches the deck and stair railings creating symmetry across the facade. We fabricated this railing in our Ithaca style with an aluminum top rail and powder-coated it oil-rubbed bronze.

Screened Sun Porch with Interior Cable Guardrail

Sun room with guard rail on windows screens

A coastal sunroom is a great place to relax and take in the beach views while enjoying the ocean breeze. With floor-to-ceiling screens, this project required the addition of a guardrail. To maintain the views the owners chose our Ithaca Style cable railing system. We fabricated the cable railing posts to fit in-between the interior of the home’s screened window columns. The posts are anodized aluminum, with the addition of escutcheon plates to cover the hardware and create a more refined look. The cables and fittings are made of 316 stainless steel. To maintain consistency the same cable railing system is used on the exterior deck and boardwalk.

Cable Guardrail Attached to Porch Columns

Screen Porch with floor to ceiling window and cable guardrail

This cable guardrail protrudes through then lags into the existing wood columns, so it does not require additional posts. Living near the forest is a wonderful place to enjoy the serene tranquility of nature. Since the objective was to bring the natural outdoor environment closer to the living space, a screen porch was a perfect choice. To maintain a minimal aesthetic and implement the required guardrail this customer chose a cable lag system. Our unique cable railing fittings are available with lag hardware that screw directly into the wood columns. The deck railings on the exterior of the home feature our curved Keuka Style cable railing system.

At Keuka Studios, we custom fabricate residential and commercial stairs and railings to fit your style, space, and requirements. To learn more about how each cable railing project moves from vision to reality. Take a look at our custom railing design process. We take pride in building craftsman-quality and commercial-grade stairs and railings for interior and exterior applications. Contact us to get started on your project.

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Rooftop Deck Cable Railing

Contemporary Martha's Vineyard summer home with complete cable railing system
January 26th, 2021 Keuka Studios Editorial Team

Whether you live oceanside, in a bustling city, deep in the woods, or at the peak of a mountain, the best way to achieve a 360-degree view from your home is with a rooftop cable railing deck. Cable railing is nearly transparent and has a modern aesthetic. If you have a flat rooftop, you can utilize cable railing and turn your roof into the ultimate outdoor living space. A rooftop deck makes a great addition to your home or business.

Why Cable Railing?

What’s the point of a rooftop deck if the required railing blocks the view? Cable railing solves this dilemma. At Keuka Studios, we design railings with 1/8-inch or 3/16-inch diameter stainless steel cable infill that blend right in with their surroundings and are easy for the eye to ignore. When it comes to railing post design, our Ithaca Style railings, in particular, pose minimal interference to your panoramic views.

Another option is our Keuka Style post with its curved form that adds an artistic feel as it beautifully wraps a curved or rectangular roof top. Our railing posts paired with a flat top rail allow for an unimpeded view of your surrounding cityscape, landscape, or waterfront.

Need Ideas for Your Rooftop Deck?

Now that you’ve decided on cable railing for your rooftop deck, you might need a little inspiration for how to make the most of your new space. Rooftop decks are perfect for lounge areas, dining areas, outdoor kitchen, bars, gardens, and even pools.

1. Martha’s Vineyard, MA – Modern Rooftop Lounge

View of ocean from Martha's Vineyard rooftop deck

2. Huson, MT – Garage Rooftop Railing System

Deck railing over a garage.

3. Portsmouth, NH – Apartment Complex Recreational Rooftop

Apartment Complex Recreational Rooftop

4. Sea Bright, NJ – Oceanfront Rooftop Deck

New jersey Cable Railing and Stairs

5. Danbury, CT – Modern Rooftop Deck

Roof top deck cable railing over glass porch on cube style home.

At Keuka Studios, we take pride in building craftsman-quality residential and commercial-grade cable railing systems. Every Keuka Studios custom railing is built specifically for your space. As a result, our products fit perfectly with your home or business’ existing architecture, both in terms of structure and style. To learn more about how each project moves from vision to reality, take a look at our custom railing design process.

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Design Trend: Blackened Stainless Steel

December 22nd, 2020 Keuka Studios Editorial Team

If you’re looking for cable railing with the durability of stainless steel but aren’t a fan of the metal’s bright luster, then blackened stainless steel may be the perfect material for your new cable railing. Here at Keuka Studios, we now offer stainless steel cables and fittings with a black patina made from Type 316 marine grade stainless steel.

With the black stainless steel, appliance trend still gaining steam, our product carries this unique look beyond the kitchen. By incorporating black stainless steel cable railing into interior staircases or balconies, you can create a sleek, cohesive look throughout your home. If you want your space to have a minimalist, rustic, or urban-modern interior design, blackened stainless steel will give an understated look to your railing system. Plus, the blackened metal will seamlessly match dark or muted hues on your walls or within your decor.

When it comes to exterior staircases and decks, black stainless steel cable railing can heighten transparency, depending on the location. If your home or business has a naturally dark environment, for example, if your deck overlooks a wooded area, black stainless steel blends into the background and thus doesn’t distract from the view.

Interested in black stainless steel cable and fittings for your railing? Buy black cable fittings online.

Black cable railing in mountain home interior.
Open-tread stairs with black cable railing
Log home with wood railing posts and black cable stair railing

At Keuka Studios, we custom fabricate residential and commercial stairs and railings to fit your style, space, and requirements. To learn more about how each cable railing project moves from vision to reality, take a look at our custom railing design process. We take pride in building craftsman-quality and commercial-grade cable railings for interior and exterior applications. Contact us to get started on your project.

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7 Mountain View Cable Railing Decks

December 21st, 2020 Keuka Studios Editorial Team

A home tucked away in the mountains that overlook vast forests and valleys is any nature lover’s dream. With an organic mountain vista all around you, the architecture of your home shouldn’t stand in the way of the view. Rather, it should enhance it. By installing cable railing on your deck or patio, your mountain home can have both a modern design and a natural, unobstructed view.

Keuka Studios has created cable railing systems for homes in mountain ranges across the U.S. To name a few, we’ve designed railings for clients in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, the Rocky Mountains of Montana, and the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. Also, we’ve designed railings for clients in Canada. For example, we crafted a custom railing for a client in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia. All of our railing systems arrive at their destination ready for assembly.

If you need design ideas for your future railing system, take a look at these cable railings we’ve crafted to help maximize aerial views.

Mountain View Cable Railing Inspiration

Timber deck with cable railing

1. The Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina

Located near Biltmore Lake, this mountain home with a large timber frame incorporates Keuka Studios Ithaca Style railing. The railing has “Raven Black” powder-coated steel posts and a Brazilian walnut top rail.

San Francisco deck with dining table and cable railing

2. San Francisco, California

For our client in San Francisco, we designed a cable railing that preserves this amazing overlook. When they dine on the deck, the homeowners have a panoramic vista of the whole city. The railing features a wood top rail and steel posts powder-coated in “Raven Black.”

Close up of silver powder-coated post and aluminum top rail

3. Bear Mountain, California

Keuka Studios designed cable railing for a California home that looks out on Big Bear Lake. This home near the popular Bear Mountain ski resort features a concrete curved deck with our Keuka Style cable railing. The photo below is a close up of the railing’s “Silver Vein” powder-coated steel posts and matching aluminum top rail.

 

Slate deck with cable railing

4. Soquel, California

Our Ithaca Style cable railing preserves the view from this slate deck overlooking a California hillside. The railing features “Dazzling Pewter” powder-coated steel posts that match perfectly with the slate. In order to create contrast, the homeowner chose Brazilian Walnut (IPE) for the wood top rail.

Keuka Studios cable railing on deck that faces snowy Vermont mountain

5. Central Vermont

Located near one of central Vermont’s majestic ski mountains this modern craftsman chalet has our Kauai Style cable railings on the interior and exterior.  The vision for this deck was to have a place to entertain and enjoy a drink and the view after a fun day of skiing. So we integrated an aluminum shelf into the deck railing.

Deck Railing with mountain view

6. Carson Range, Nevada

Located in Clear Creek near the eastern slope of the Carson Range this home is surrounded by millions of acres of forest. The dramatic mountainside setting creates a perfect mountain retreat. Since the objective of the project was to maintain the view, our curved Keuka Style cable railing was chosen to complement the architecture, steel channel structure, and curved rooflines of the home.

Expansive modern dining room with views of Lake Tahoe through the Keuka curved wire rope railings.

7. Sierra Nevadas

For our client’s home in South Lake Tahoe, we crafted a cable railing system that allows for magnificent views of the Sierra Nevadas. Whether relaxing by the fire or dining with friends and family the cable railing system allows for clear lake and mountain views. Solanna Design envisioned our curved Keuka Style cable railing system wrapping the exterior decks, stairs, and pool that perfectly complemented the architecture of the home.

At Keuka Studios, we custom fabricate residential and commercial stairs and railings to fit your style, space, and requirements. To learn more about how each cable railing project moves from vision to reality. Take a look at our custom railing design process. We take pride in building craftsman-quality and commercial-grade stairs and railings for interior and exterior applications. Contact us to get started on your project.

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5 Considerations For Choosing Railing Color

Cable railing image in the evening light.
December 19th, 2020 Keuka Studios Editorial Team

Part of planning your outdoor deck project is thinking about what the railing color should be. This can be perplexing or lots of fun! Your home color is a personal choice, and your railing color will be a personal choice too.

Here are some things to consider when selecting your cable railing colors.

Which is more important to you?

Is it the look of your deck and railing from the outside of your house, or how it will look from the inside of your house?

deck railing color from inside and outside
Looking at the home from the outside vs. from indoors.

Which railing color will best blend in with your view? 

Dark colors generally blend in better with a forest view and stand out against a water view. Lighter colors blend in better with ocean and lake views.

deck railing with forest view railing color blends in
Notice how the dark color of the railing posts blends in with the trees.
cable railing color on deck with water front view
Light-colored posts blend in with the water view.

What type of experience do you want while enjoying your deck?

One way to think about railing color is to establish a theme for your deck space. Should your space provoke a specific feeling or mood? Do you want it to feel Zen-like, nautical, rustic, or modern?

More passive or neutral colors can give a soothing Zen-like feeling to your outdoor space. Silvers, whites, and stainless steel can look more nautical or modern. Browns and greens can feel more rustic and blend in better with a backyard garden space.

Did you know light conditions can greatly affect the appearance of railing color?

It is important to look at color samples in the area where they will be used. Whether you’re planning an outdoor deck railing project or an indoor staircase, look at color samples in natural light. Direct sunlight is best. Observe the railing color sample during the daytime and evening. Observe the railing color in the environment that the color will be used. The eye perceives color differently on vertical surfaces than it does on horizontal and curved surfaces. If the color is being applied to a vertical surface, be sure to look at the sample on a vertical surface. This will give you a better perspective on how the color will actually look.

Should the railing color match the outside of the house or accent it?

Many times we are asked by customers, “should the railing color match the house color, window trim, or accent color?” These are important things to consider. Contrasting colors can be used to accent or draw attention to the railing, making the railing a focal point. Similar colors can make the railing posts appear to blend in with the home. See these example images below showing different railing color variations. These images may help you visualize how your completed project will look.

wood rail vs metal rail
Wood top rail vs. metal top rail.
matching the trim or the siding
Railing matches siding vs. trim.

Why choose just one color for your railing?

You can create contrast or similarity depending on the aesthetic and architectural style you are trying to achieve. The top railing can be powder-coated in a contrasting color to the railing posts, or they can be the same color to create more uniformity.

Deck with railing top rail different than post as compared to Deck with top rail the same as the posts
Railing contrasting top rail color vs. railing with uniform post and top rail color.

I hope this has helped you to make your railing color choice easier, so have fun with your project! For more color options see this page on our 6 signature colors. There are thousands of custom colors available for metal railings so you can create a style you’ll love.

At Keuka Studios, we custom fabricate residential and commercial stairs and railings to fit your style, space, and requirements. To learn more about how each cable railing project moves from vision to reality, take a look at our custom railing design process. We take pride in building craftsman-quality and commercial-grade stairs and railings for interior and exterior applications. Contact us to get started on your project.

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5 factors to consider when selecting a top rail for your deck railing

Keuka style corner post with IPE wood top rail.
December 19th, 2020 Keuka Studios Editorial Team

When choosing the right top rail for your railing project, there are many factors you should consider, including:

Style

Shape

Material

Color/Finish

Lighting


What is a railing top rail?

A top rail is a horizontal member across the top of the railing system that is typically affixed to the vertical posts and acts as a cap to the railing. The top rail is different than the handrail (which is meant to be graspable)

What style top rail do you want for your deck railing?

When you’re thinking about the style of your top railing consider the style of your home and your personal taste. Do you prefer the simplicity of a square or rectangular top rail for a modern touch?  Or a rounded profile that is smooth to the touch and rounds out the hard edges of the deck design? 

Take a look at these projects for ideas on how this can work with various home styles.
Log Style, Modern Craftsman, Contemporary, Modern, Tropical, Colonial

What to consider when deciding on the shape?

The variety of the shapes of the top rail are reliant on the type of material to be used. Wood has the most flexibility of shape as we can custom mill it to nearly any shape and size. There are however limitations on how small the cross-section can be in order to maintain the structural integrity.

Metal rails are available in a somewhat lesser variety of shapes due to the relative difficulty in machining shapes into them. Typically metal top rails are made from tubing, extrusions, flat bars, and pipe.

Another consideration is whether you want the shape to act as a shelf allowing for guests to set their drinks on it?  Or maybe you would prefer the top rail to be rounded to discourage items from being placed on the railing?  
Is the view the most important aspect to you, then maybe a thinner top rail is the best choice to be the least obstructive to your view.  

Some examples of wood and metal rail profiles shown below:

What type of top rail materials are there?

When choosing a top rail for exterior applications there are many wood and metal options. Wood is the easiest material to install since it’s the easiest to cut drill and miter. Since the top rail is the only section of the railing you will consistently put your hands on, wood is typically softer to the touch than metal. Wood will not fluctuate in temperature as much as metal. Metal rails can get very cold in the winter and hot in the summer. If choosing wood we typically recommend IPE (Brazilian walnut) for your outdoor application. IPE (pronounced ee-pay) is a very strong wood that is considered to be part of the “ironwood” family. IPE requires some maintenance and should be oiled once or twice a year. 

A metal rail is, of course, the lowest maintenance selection.  There are solid or tube metal options available in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. We provide a splice plate system that easily attaches to the railing posts for finish fitting on location.

What color or finish should I choose for the top rail?

For metal railings, there are a variety of finishes available. All metal rails can be powder coated in a wide variety of colors. If you find choosing a color daunting see these links for help.
5 considerations for choosing color
6 Popular cable railing color options

Steel railings have the option of being galvanized before painting or if you prefer the look of galvanized metal this could be the option for you. Stainless steel rails add glitz and shine to your railing system without paint, and has the added benefit of standing up well in a coastal environment. And yes, stainless steel can also be painted. Aluminum is a great choice and can be anodized to have a more natural look, or can be powder coated also.

The first image below shows an aluminum top rail powder coated to match the railing post.
The second image below shows our curved Keuka style railing post powder coated black with an aluminum rail powder coated sparkle silver.

Do you want LED lighting built into your top rail? 

If you think concealed LED lighting is the way to go, we recommend a tube (round or square, or rectangle) type top rail that can easily hide the electric wires within it. Hiding the wires in the post as they run back to the LED drivers can be a bit more challenging, however, we have options to accomplish this.
See more pictures of the Sequoia project with concealed lighting here.
image

Whichever top rail material and style you choose for your railing applications, please make sure it works with the type of railing you have chosen. If you have a cable railing system there are force factors involved that most railings do not have. Therefore, it is imperative that the top rail be very sturdy since it’s a key component of the entire railing system.

In addition to the top rail, your project may also need handrails that comply with ADA requirements and ideas. Handrails are required on commercial projects and add an extra element of safety to any stair railing. See this link for more information on ADA compliance requirements

If you still need help, our team of experts can advise you on the available options, to reach your desired result.

At Keuka Studios, we custom fabricate residential and commercial stairs and railings to fit your style, space, and requirements. To learn more about how each cable railing project moves from vision to reality, take a look at our custom railing design process. We take pride in building craftsman-quality and commercial-grade stairs and railings for interior and exterior applications. Contact us to get started on your project.

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