Top 10 Considerations for Balconies and Balcony Railings

A commercial balcony railing is a cost-effective way to attract tenants. It is not surprising that multi-family housing developments with commercial balcony railings rent faster and for higher prices.

Residential Balcony Rail by AGS Stainless

A composite or vinyl balcony railing is low maintenance and usually comes in a variety of colors. On the other hand, composite and vinyl are forms of plastic, which could be associated with a lower price. It may be impossible to hide this cheap look because paint doesn't tend to stick to plastic balcony railings.

Wooden balcony railing designs with cable infill and wood posts provide a classic look at a low cost of entry. However, a wood balcony railing must be treated and painted to extend its lifespan for exterior applications. Because a balcony is a flat platform that usually extends out from below the overhanging eaves of a building, it can accumulate a lot of rainwater that might puddle around the bottom of wood posts and cause rot. Factory primed, treated, and glue-laminated wood posts can be purchased to provide a more consistent result that resists the dangers of rot and reduces installation time. Similarly, cable sleeves reinforce cables and deter rot by preventing damage to wood posts.

An aluminum balcony railing is lightweight, easy to install, and more durable than one made of wood or plastic. Unlike stainless steel, aluminum is subject to significant corrosion. Aluminum is also a soft metal when compared to alternatives like iron or stainless steel. If there is a dent on the surface, powder coating and paint won't offer much protection against corrosion for a balcony with a metal railing. Stainless steel is a much better material for making metal balcony railing designs a reality.

A glass railing design for a balcony is used to offer a completely transparent look. Choosing a balcony with a glass railing is the best way to avoid obstructing spectacular scenery. Glass balcony railing systems also act as phenomenal wind barriers. The glass balcony railing cost will depend on what kind of glass is used as infill. Tempered glass is much stronger than normal glass and cuts costs because there is a lower chance that it will need to be replaced in the future.

Wrought iron balcony railing designs are renowned for their traditional feel. Unfortunately, the wrought iron balcony railing cost will be much higher than stainless steel after a high vulnerability to corrosion is taken into account. Iron is often powder coated or painted to make an exterior balcony railing more resistant to corrosion, but it will never be as resistant as stainless steel. Additionally, a balcony is the most defining feature on the exterior of a building, so even a glimpse of rust on a balcony with a wrought iron railing will cause people to reconsider a property.

This best of both worlds is a balcony with a stainless steel railing, which is beautiful, durable, and engineered to exceed most local building codes.

The infill for a cable balcony railing is practically invisible from a distance because it fades into the background. Surprisingly, the term, wire balcony railing, colloqially refers to a railing with this type of infill. Stainless steel cables sold by AGS Stainless are electropolished for superior corrosion resistance and beauty.

A panel balcony railing can hold a variety of different panels as infill. Balcony railing panels are often made of glass. Plastic, metal, or wire mesh for a balcony railing can also be included in panels. Panels can be attached to posts with stainless steel clamps that feature rubber inserts to prevent damage and movement.

A bar balcony railing has an aesthetic appearance with infill that highlights its strength. Metal bars are available in horizontal or vertical configurations to suit many designs. Imagine how difficult it would be to cut, grind, weld, and finish each bar without the help of AGS Stainless. That is where modern prefabrication technology comes in to create a custom component-based kit ahead of time. AGS Stainless can then ship everything directly from a factory in the Pacific Northwest for installation at home or on any construction site.

Balcony Rail Fittings by AGS Stainless

The following infographic displays many types of hardware that AGS Stainless sells for cable railing systems.

Eating outdoors on a balcony can reduce stress, improve concentration, and lead to better conversations. Balcony railing tables make these outcomes possible. A balcony railing table can also accentuate a railing system by AGS Stainless. In addition, there are several Do-It-Yourself (DIY) balcony railing ideas to choose from. One balcony railing table DIY idea is adding an umbrella to be prepared in the event of adverse weather conditions. Another DIY idea is a bird feeder for a balcony railing, which can provide an excellent opportunity to observe nature up close.

Balcony Grill with Cover

Each StarLight solar-powered LED accent light features a one-piece A316 stainless steel outer shell that resists corrosion.

A water-resistant LED light assembly with a solar-rechargeable NiMH battery saves time with virtually no upkeep required.

In addition, StarLights can be attached to balcony railing posts by using a metal mounting kit, which includes a drill bit and cutting tape.

AGS Stainless uses industry-leading manufacturing technologies like computer-aided design (CAD), three-dimensional (3-D) rendering, and fiber lasers to precisely cut stunning designs in outer shells for StarLights and create stainless steel parts for railing systems under the Clearview® brand.

A variety of popular styles for StarLights include Classic, Black Classic, Bubbles, Lantern, and Orbs from the Designer Series.

A balcony railing planter is an ornamental container for growing plants that can be placed on or next to a balcony railing. Balcony railing planters can be made of several materials like wood, clay, stone, or metal. Balcony railing planter brackets can hang planters off a railing system. Balcony railing flower baskets usually work by gripping the top rail of a railing system. Balcony railing flower boxes and balcony railing planter boxes are also very popular even though they take up a little more space. It is hard to go wrong when picking balcony planters for a railing because there are so many good choices.

Planters Next to Balcony Rail

A contemporary balcony railing design will be based on whatever is popular at the moment. Right now, stainless steel is hot and here to stay.

On the other hand, a modern balcony railing design is the very definition of timeless because it never changes. Modern railing designs for a balcony should be simple and functional.

A traditional balcony railing design is typically ornamental in nature, but defined by order and consistency.

A curved balcony railing is one of many interesting railing designs for a balcony.

Failing to meet balcony railing height requirements for an inspection of a large residential or commercial building could add thousands of dollars to project costs that have already been exacerbated by massive waste and a skilled labor shortage in the construction industry. A balcony railing guard that doesn't comply with regulations will need to be replaced in order to remain in compliance with enforceable balcony railing heights. A guard describes the height of a balcony railing that creates a safety barrier to prevent accidental falls. The International Existing Building Code (IEBC) requires new railings to be constructed in accordance with the current International Building Code (IBC). The standard balcony railing height for commercial buildings is a minimum of 42 inches from the floor to the top of the guard. As long as other code requirements are met, the railing for a balcony or outdoor space can exceed that height. A balcony railing height extension can be used to meet the IBC and effectively child proof a balcony railing that is too short.