interior railing aluminum or steel?

5 years ago

We are building a custom home. We are needing to sort out interior railings and are unsure what to do. Is aluminum interior railings a bad idea? It would be a channel holding glass with a top, hand rail separate due to need for continuous rail. The other option is a more modern glass with the rail attached to the glass and a significantly more modern profile overall. My gut is telling me steel is the way to go and more modern but my bank account disagrees. The approved drawings for the staircase design were amended by the structural engineer so the drawing we have from the designer is no longer correct.

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Anglophilia

5 years ago

There are the stairs in a London Mews House in S Kensington, I rented a year ago. I think the metal is brushed aluminum. They were stunning and let so much light into what could have been a very dark house due to it being very narrow and on a corner.

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Comments (30)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
5 years ago
Never trust stair drawings by engineers, architects, or designers. These people will draw anything. Talk to your stair builder, please.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
As I said the drawings aren’t valid. We are talking to the stairway guy. He’s the one who is giving the options of aluminum and glass in budget or steel and glass for $$$ but more in line with style of house. He’s accounting for code etc.
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Be sure to sell or give away that beautiful old railing and not throw it on a heap. I happen to like it. But indeed, it might look better in black. The railing you have posted instead gave me some shudders. Quite a contrary style and not one I'd welcome in my home. Way too modern for a ranch home, is what comes to my mind. If you are really going to get a new railing, I like the one Judy proposed, although I wouldn't want it in white at your place. Perhaps in black and the railing that matches the wood of the stairs? Or maybe something like this?
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User
Original Author
5 years ago
Anyone have thoughts on aluminum railings for interior?
bossyvossy
5 years ago
I’ve seen exterior aluminum fencing and railings. From an appearance standpoint, they look as pretty as iron but the dont last nearly as long. In an interior setting weather would not be an issue so I would consider aluminum.
just_janni
5 years ago
Anodized aluminum is a great look / option. Raw aluminum might not look very finished. I'd try to see samples.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
These are the stairs in question.
nanj
5 years ago
We did powder-coated aluminum railings for our deck that is 8+ feet off the ground. I can't see any reason why aluminum wouldn't work on your stairs....have you read something to put doubt in your mind? Are you worried about stability/safety? Or is it aesthetics?
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Worried only about how it will look. I think it will be stable but I’m concerned about the look
User
Original Author
5 years ago
The two options in terms of what it could look like are below.
Suki Mom
5 years ago
Are you sure about the glass? You will stay very busy cleaning the glass.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Yes. My kids are not toddlers anymore. :)
nanj
5 years ago
Ohhh...I see now. Aluminum is silver and the steel is black. Does either color tie into other metals you are using? I think either one has the modern vibe. The black is visually heavier while the aluminum is sleeker.

I know that in our custom build it has been a constant balance of “want” versus the costs. And throw in the “we may as well do it now” costs such as painting the garage floor. So think big picture when you are trying to decide. Oh, and the great budget-buster - “we are going to live with this for a long time”. :-)
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Actually I’m pretty sure the black is aluminum powder coated in this photo and the steel is the grey colour. We have both colours throughout so it is style and cost.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Or should we just do spindles? Or even a wrought iron rail? Argh
robin0919
5 years ago
Aluminum can be painted.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=painting+aluminum+railing&qs=AS&pq=painting+aluminum+ra&sk=AS2&sc=5-20&cvid=ED2A0592059448E0A5C7BF83A495FEA5&FORM=QBLH&sp=3
just_janni
5 years ago
It's hard to tell the overall style of your house - but my gut is telling me that right now, the whole system is too modern / contemporary for your build.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Actually it’s a modern house. Here is our kitchen. The main floor is open concept.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
How would we know that without seeing the actual house.I see no reason to spend the extra money on steel if you are powder caoting the alum. it will be exactly the same look and spend the money on something else.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Patricia. My query was less design related and more is aluminum acceptable as an interior option? Design questions then came up as the discussion unfolded. And once design was brought in I clarified the style of the home.
just_janni
5 years ago
Then I like the black version - I prefer the more substantial look to the true framing.
strategery
5 years ago
Your kitchen photo is not modern. The first stair photo would not pass inspection where I live due to lower gap.

if you like glass, how about wood top, bottom, and posts?
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Strategy thanks for your feedback on what you think modern in. Our interior designer and kitchen designer would disagree but in the end somewhat irrelevant since I love the space as is regardless of what design box it may or may not tick off. Our builder met with the city last week and clarified code. The railing must be a minimum height of 37 ½” off the top of the stair nosing. The hand rail will need to be 36” off the top of the stair nosing.
strategery
5 years ago
Sorry Alison, I was referring to first of the 2 glass photos, the black one. The gap between steps and bottom rail is a hazard. No matter, your stairs are not like that.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Yes agreed that would be a no go here too. Will wait and see what the railing fabricators send and ideas. I think the powder coated aluminum is sounding viable though
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Lovely!!!! So pretty
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
Have you compared actual costs of the various options?
User
Original Author
5 years ago
We have two quotes so far. Two are frameless to ceiling glass options with one continuous rail on one side only, rail in steel. Prices came in at $9,200 and 10,500. We are still waiting in a quote for a framed in glass option with powder coated aluminum. Not that it matters as it’s just a line item for now but $6700 has been budgeted for it. So far builder is bang on with his railing quotes as the exterior railings came in at slightly under budget. So we know the high end but not the lower for sure yet. Should get the concrete numbers early this week.
PRO
FenceTown.com
5 years ago
As long as either material is powder coated - it should look fine. I am not sure about the glass though as you will be cleaning the panels often. The only thing I can suggest is maybe consider aluminum railing with a breadloaf or rounded toprail. It might be more comfortable than the squared rail.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Just a quick update. We've settled on aluminum powder coated in a light grey colour for the interior. The design and price point came in reasonable and actually under what is budgeted. This left us room to upgrade the exterior railings to glass for the back deck and stairs which will look great! Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

interior railing aluminum or steel?

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Joseph Corlett, LLC

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