Railings not only add style and elegance to your stairs and patio, but also provide a safety element to your home. To know about outdoor handrails for steps in detail, continue reading…
Outdoor handrails look good as well as provide the much-needed safety to people while climbing up or down a stairway. They also help the elderly move around safely without any assistance. Handrails are available in various styles, patterns and finishes, and can be tailor-made as well according to your requirements. You can also choose to paint the handrails to match the exterior house paint and the overall structure of the house, for enhancing the aesthetic beauty of your home.
Handrails for an Outdoor Stairway
There are plenty of options to choose from when you think of outdoor handrails for a stairway. You can go for metal handrails, wooden handrails, stone handrails, aluminum handrails, cemented handrails, or glass handrails. However, you need to consider few things before choosing your outdoor handrails, like, the outdoor stair design, the structure of your house, exterior house paint (if you intend to paint the handrails), etc. You also need to consider the materials used for installing these railings, as outdoor railings are subject to different weather conditions. Let us look into some of these handrail types in detail.
Metal Handrails
Metal handrails add strength and elegance to your home and are probably the most popular option for an outdoor stairway. These handrails are not only aesthetically appealing but are also good when it comes to safety. They are sturdy, and so can support the weight of a person.
Metal handrails are available in many patterns, curves, and designs, or you can get them custom-made according to your preference. The most important thing about these handrails is that their installation is easy and they are durable. You can paint these handrails in any color you like, or consider painting them to match your exterior house design. They come in wrought iron, cast iron, aluminum and stainless steel.
Aluminum handrails are cheaper, lightweight, durable and are easy to install. They are suitable for all weather conditions and do not require a lot of maintenance as they do not rust or corrode. Wrought iron handrails look elegant and add an aesthetic appeal to your home. They are sturdy, durable and attractive, and blend well with any type of exterior home decor while increasing the safety of going up and down the stairs all the time.
Wooden Handrail
Wooden outdoor handrails add a rustic, classy and elegant look to any home. There are numerous styles and designs to choose from when it comes to wooden handrails. You can get any wooden stair railing design custom-made in red oak, cherry red, white oak, mahogany, pine wood, maple, birch, ash, poplar and antique pine wood. These handrails look great whether they are used as indoor or outdoor stair railings. They are strong and long-lasting, however, if you live in an area that is prone to heavy snowfall or rain, then wood handrails may not be a very good option as outdoor hand railings.
Stone Handrail
Stone outdoor handrails look great and add a royal charm to the house. They are available in various designs and styles and add beauty to the decor of any home. Safety is no longer an issue here, as stone handrails provide high means of security. This makes them an ideal choice for outdoor stair railings. You can paint it in any color to match the exterior color of your house. Also, they will never go out of fashion, can withstand harsh weather conditions and are highly durable too. If you want the effect of stone handrails without using stone, then you can go in for cemented handrails.
Glass Handrail
Glass handrails are delicate and a bit expensive from the other handrails. They are not durable, may not be able to sustain all types of weather conditions and are not sturdy as well. However, they have a class of their own and hence can be used as an option for outdoor handrails. Glass handrails are available in clear, tinted, frosted and opaque patterns.
Vinyl Handrail
Vinyl railings are ideal for porches, steps, decks and balconies. They are highly durable and require very little maintenance. Vinyl handrails come in a variety of colors and patterns and are the cheapest of all outdoor handrails. So it is a good option for homeowners who are looking for handrails on a budget. These handrails last long without any change in color or decline in quality. Vinyl outdoor railing is a good choice for places with extreme weather conditions.
Choose from the many different styles and designs of handrails according to your needs as well as your budget, or custom-make to suit your personal style and liking. While installing outdoor handrails, it is very important to keep in mind the height of the handrail for providing the necessary safety and comfort. Apart from focusing on the aesthetic value of your home, the safety measures should also be considered while installing outdoor stair railings.
