Porch railing: types and features

For arranging a building of any type, various structures are used to increase the functionality of the building, increase its attractiveness and ensure safety. This type of fixture includes an outdoor porch with railings.

High-quality and attractive entrance group is an important component of the whole building project. And the main link in this composition is assigned to the porch of the house. Its size and shape can be very different, ranging from large square and ending with small designs of intricate shapes. However, despite the diversity of dimensions and options available,When using different types of raw materials, regulations concerning safety regulations require the presence of a fence if the type of device of the porch includes two or more steps. As for raw materials, modern technologies allow using various materials for the production of handrails.

Railing perform a number of very important functions.

Among them are such fundamental functional tasks.

• support for people when climbing or descending from a ladder. This is critical for structures installed in a private house, where there are members of the elderly family or young children;
• front railings act as a guarantor of safety, since their presence prevents the risk of injury in certain situations;
• the aesthetic component - buildings that do not have a railing, largely lose on the basis of the appearance of the structure as a whole. Stairs and a porch, equipped with railings, make the building design complete and increase its attractiveness.

The configuration of the railing involves the presence of racks and handrails. The first components perform the carrier and enclosing role. Such a model is called a lattice device. Racks with panels are of the same type. Components can be made from different raw materials. Balusters in any designs are installed only in a vertical position. They are mounted in special niches or attached to the ends of the bearing parts of the flight of stairs. To increase the strength of the whole structure, the distance between the uprights is equipped with elements that are arranged in a horizontal position.

The joining of wooden components with railings is performed using sleeve connections. A rack of stainless steel are connected by a metal strip, which is combined with a handrail. Concrete and stone parts dock with mortgage anchors. They are placed in the upper edges of the racks during the production of elements. Outdoor stairs should not contain gaps between elements whose size will be more than 10 centimeters. In particular, such restrictions are relevant in cases where it is intended to use the ladder by children.

Height is a very individual parameter. It is based on the ease of use of the railing by man. Experts recommend optimal height, which is 80–90 centimeters. However, a railing can be made for the porch according to the needs of the homeowner.

Taking into account the specifics of the installation, the railing can be of the following types:

• enclosing;
• staircase;
• wall mounts.

Railings for the porch are made from the following types of raw materials:

• tree;
• stainless steel;
• forged metal products;
• vinyl railings;
• designs from a natural or artificial stone;
• concrete railings;
• glass products;
• combined products.

Wooden railing is the most popular type of construction., in particular, it concerns the arrangement of private cottages.The material has an acceptable cost, the original texture, and also it is much easier to assemble a handrail from it. Skilled craftsmen create real works in the form of balusters. The most beautiful are carved products. WPC fences are widely used. But having the above advantages, wood products are very susceptible to moisture, which is important for the street porch. To extend the operational life of the wooden railing, they are covered with flame retardant and bioprotective compounds, as well as vapor-proof ground.

It is worth noting the main advantages of the railing of this material, namely:

• visual appeal and originality of handicrafts;
• easy installation;
• good strength indicators;
• environmental friendliness of raw materials;
• safety during operation.

The disadvantages of wood constructions are the following:

• some resistance of breeds to rotting, so the products need to be further processed;
• To obtain a smooth and smooth surface, the railing needs professional treatment.

Stainless steel products are increasingly found in buildings made in a modern style. Raw materials have high reliability rates in combination with the brilliance of metal, which gives weightlessness to the structure. In addition to traditional glossy surfaces, stainless steel railings with a matte base are very beautiful. On the market there is a huge selection of finished designs, presented in a variety of options. The disadvantages of railings from this raw material include the fact that the metal is very hot from the sun's rays, and it cools quickly in the cold, so it can be very unpleasant to take on them. The way out of the situation will be the installation of a wooden railing with metal balusters.

Forged construction is a luxury that has always been popular, and today this trend has continued. A positive feature of such products is their harmony in combination with any style of the exterior of the building. Forging hardens the iron elements, due to which they acquire special strength, however, such railings neatly and presentably look on the porch of concrete, brick, wood or stone. Products can be sold in a ready-made form or, having a favorite drawing, blacksmiths will make a design in a single copy.It is worth noting that this opportunity is far from cheap.

The advantages of wrought iron railings are the following:

• big operational term;
• strength;
• ease of assembly;
• attractiveness of installed products.

But this option also has its drawbacks, namely:

• like wood, metal products need treatment with protective agents;
• high cost of wrought iron railings;
• the metal heats up in summer, and in winter it is always cold.

PVC vinyl designs are most often already available. Products are complemented by a variety of decorative parts, columns, caps. Plastic railings are easy to install. To increase the rigidity of the structure, the handrails with the posts are arranged on a metal frame from a profile. Raw materials are resistant to rotting and corrosion, in addition, the material does not burn.

The disadvantages of such designs sometimes include simplicity of designs, they are presented without chic and grace.

The popularity of plastic railing is based on the following material advantages:

• wear resistance;
• variety of types and forms;
• quick and easy installation.

Ladder fences from natural and artificial stone are usually made of the same types of material as the porch - it is granite, marble, sandstone.This material is very difficult in terms of installation and processing, however, beauty fully justifies the money and effort spent. To save money, you can order concrete products, experts will make the railing similar in color to natural stone. Concrete handrails are the most reliable option and have a long service life. The cost of installation and most products is very high.

Glass is popular due to the originality of the entire product. Material for fences and railings is called triplex.

It has the following advantages:

• exquisite and concise appearance;
• environmental friendliness of raw materials;
• heat resistance and strength of the material;
• operational safety.

Based on the norms of SNiP, residential buildings are equipped with railings, the height of which will be at least 90 cm. You can find a railing of 70 or 110 cm. For buildings that children will visit, the railing should be about 120 cm high.

Metal handrails are most often painted white, black or brown.It all depends on the overall style and color scale of the staircase design. Plastic products are made in tone steps or baseboards. Using PVC products, the base can be given any texture, including imitation of wood or stone. Modern technologies of dyeing will provide a stable and saturated color, resistant to fading from ultraviolet. Due to the tinted glass railing, they are given any selected color or shade.

The whole constructive ladder plays an important role in the arrangement of the building.

Therefore, when choosing models of railing for the porch, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

• avoid the presence of sharp corners in the products;
• should be pre-determined with the necessary height of the railing, as well as take care of an additional option for kids, including anti-slip casing for the steps;
• decorative details, if any, should be located in one plane;
• There is a huge selection of accessories that can diversify the design, they are best purchased along with the railing.

The most suitable material for self-manufacturing productsis wood. In addition, it is perfectly combined with any other materials present on the porch. The first measurements are carried out, on the basis of which the required amount of material is purchased. If the length of the stairs is about 1.5 meters, one board will be needed for the manufacture of the handrail. For a larger construction, the product will consist of several elements. Based on the section of balusters, you should choose the size of the cross section of the handrail.

The product can be of any shape, as long as the upper part has rounded ends. Grinding of the board is performed on a lathe. For the manufacture of balusters necessary drawing products and their exact number. The board is sawn into parts of a given size, the workpieces are machined, and with the help of cutters, the external appearance is set. For the fastener, a hole is drilled at the top, and the products are then ground. To do this, you can use sandpaper or grinding machines. Next, comes the turn of installation design.

Installation procedure is as follows:

• preparation of materials and tools. It is necessary to have a tree, a saw, a plumbing tool and reduced, level, impregnation for the base and, if necessary, coloring compositions;
• first of all, the main parts are prepared on the machine - balusters. They must be cut at the appropriate angle of the ladder;
• holes are made in the support posts and steps for the dowels;
• set shkant connect with baluster;
• installation of the handrail. It is attached to the screws;
• the whole structure is treated with special compositions.

Forged railings have always attracted the attention of beauty and elegance. Thanks to the round air curls of the construction, the entrance to the house is transformed and complemented by a detail that will become the highlight of the whole arrangement.

Wooden carved balusters will decorate the porch of the house, decorated with wood. Different species and shades of wood will harmonize perfectly with each other, forming a luxurious composition not only for a residential house, but also for the entire backyard.

How to make a railing for the porch with your own hands, you will learn in the next video.