Metal Stair Railings in Wichita, KS
A custom metal stair railing can give an outdated commercial space or home a fresh look without requiring a full renovation. While railings are a necessary part of any multi-level property, thoughtful design can turn them into a standout architectural feature that complements a room like a well-placed piece of art. When we're fabricating the railing ourselves, we can account for all details such as placement of posts and rail transitions from stairs to landings instead of trying to make a stock railing work after the stairs are already in place.
Wichita Metal Stairs and Fabrication builds custom steel stair railings and handrails for commercial buildings, multifamily properties, offices, restaurants, apartments, hotels, industrial facilities, and select residential projects throughout Wichita and the surrounding area. In a commercial space, a well-designed railing can help define an entrance, stairwell, lobby, or other highly visible area. The same idea applies to an older home, replacing a dated wood rail with a custom aluminum railing can give the staircase and surrounding room an entirely different appearance.
We fabricate our railings to the actual dimensions and conditions of the project. That means measuring the staircase, looking at the mounting surfaces, determining how the posts and handrails will be configured, and then cutting and welding the components to fit. For contractors and builders, that also means we can coordinate the railing with the stairs and other metalwork being fabricated for the same project.
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Interior Metal Stair Railings
Interior stair railings can range from a straightforward steel handrail to a much more involved architectural railing system. We fabricate both.
A basic set of stairs might call for a round or square steel handrail with simple vertical pickets. A modern commercial lobby could require a custom railing with horizontal rails, cable, glass, or another type of infill. We can fabricate the system around the design rather than limiting the project to a predetermined railing kit.
We also build railings that pair with our steel stair systems and floating stairs. When the stairs and railing are being fabricated by the same shop, it is easier to coordinate the stringer, landing, railing posts, tread layout, and attachment points before anything arrives at the jobsite.
For existing buildings, we can fabricate replacement railings around the staircase that's already there. Older stairs are not always perfectly square or level, and field conditions can be different from the original plans. We take those conditions into account when we're measuring and fitting any replacement railings.
Exterior Steel Stair Railings
Exterior stairs bring another set of considerations to the fabrication process. A metal handrail mounted outdoors has to deal with Kansas weather, temperature swings, moisture, and the conditions and reactions of the substrate it is being attached to.
We're constantly fabricating exterior stair railings in Wichita for building entrances, decks, elevated walkways, porches, commercial stairs, apartment buildings, and other outdoor applications. Depending on the project, posts may be welded to structural steel, mounted to concrete with base plates and anchors, or attached to another structural surface.
The attachment method is something we consider before fabrication. A railing post mounted to a steel stringer is handled differently than one being anchored into a concrete landing. If the railing is being installed alongside one of our steel stair systems, we can plan those connection points into the fabrication rather than figuring them out after the stairs are installed.
Exterior railings can also be finished to suit the project. Depending on the location and specifications, we can work with painted steel, powder-coated finishes, galvanized components, and other appropriate finish systems.
Steel, Pipe & Metal Railing Options
The shape of the material is one of the first things that affects the appearance of a railing. Round tube gives a different look and feel than square tube, while flat bar, angle, pipe, and rectangular tubing can each be used for different designs and applications.
We primarily fabricate with steel and aluminum, but the right material and profile depend on what our railing installers need to accomplish. A simple commercial handrail may only require a clean tubular profile. A larger guardrail system may require heavier posts, top rails, intermediate members, and properly designed connections. Some clients know exactly what they want and others need to see style suggestions that we commonly build and install.
We can also build railings with different types of infill, including:
- Vertical steel pickets
- Horizontal steel rails
- Cable railing
- Metal panels
- Custom welded infill
The railing can be fabricated as a straightforward functional system or designed to become part of the architectural appearance of the building.
How We Fabricate Stair Railings
This is where custom fabrication makes a difference.
Before we cut steel, we look at the staircase itself. We need to know the stair dimensions, landing configuration, railing height, post locations, mounting surfaces, and where the handrail begins and ends. We also look at transitions between sloped stair runs and level landings because those areas can create problems if they aren't considered ahead of time.
Depending on the project, a railing may include wall returns, end returns, welded brackets, base plates, intermediate posts, or transitions between different railing sections. Those details are worked into the fabrication rather than treated as an afterthought.
Much of the work can be completed by our railing contractors in our Wichita shop before reaching the work site. Components can be cut, fitted, welded, cleaned up, and prepared for the specified finish before installation. For larger projects, fabricating repeated sections to consistent dimensions can also make installation more efficient.
When we get to the site, we still verify the actual conditions. Concrete can vary, existing walls may not be perfectly straight, and a staircase that looks straightforward on paper can have field conditions that require an adjustment. We would rather catch those issues before installation than force a railing to fit something it wasn't fabricated for.
Stair Railing Height & Building Code Considerations
Guardrails are not something we fabricate based solely on appearance. Depending on the building, occupancy, stair configuration, and intended use, there are requirements governing things such as railing height, handrail configuration, openings, extensions, and the way the system is attached.
We account for applicable Wichita and Kansas building requirements when fabricating railing systems. For commercial and multifamily projects in particular, those requirements need to be considered before the steel is cut and welded.
That does not mean every railing has to look like a generic commercial handrail. There is usually plenty of room to customize the profile, infill, finish, and overall appearance while still building the system around the applicable requirements.
Commercial Stair Railings & Large Railing Projects
A large commercial project can involve considerably more railing than a single staircase. Apartment buildings, hotels, offices, retail centers, industrial facilities, and other developments may require railing systems across multiple stairwells, landings, balconies, exterior stairs, ramps, and walkways.
Wichita Metal Stairs and Fabrication works with contractors, builders, property owners, and other construction professionals on these larger fabrication projects. We can produce individual railing sections or multiple matching assemblies when a project requires the same design throughout a building.
Our commercial railing work can include:
- Stairwell handrails
- Steel guardrailsa
- Exterior stair railings
- Balcony and landing railings
- ADA handrails
- Ramp handrails
- Walkway railings
- Cable and glass railing systems
- Custom architectural railings
- Railing fabrication to coordinate with steel stair systems
Because we also fabricate stairs, we can coordinate the railing with the stair construction itself. That can simplify the project when stringers, landings, railing posts, and other components all need to work together.
If you're a contractor or property owner planning a commercial project in Wichita, send us the plans or give us the basic project details. We'll take a look at what needs to be fabricated and determine the best way to approach the railing system.
Custom Metal Railings in Wichita
From a simple steel handrail to a complete railing package for a multifamily or commercial development, we fabricate each system around the project rather than trying to force the job into a prefabricated product.
Wichita Metal Stairs and Fabrication handles the measuring, cutting, welding, fabrication, and installation of custom metal railing systems. If you already have drawings, plans, dimensions, or even just an idea of what you want the finished railing to look like, we can help turn that into a beautiful finished product.
Call Wichita Metal Stairs and Fabrication at
316-364-7573 or contact us to discuss your project and request a quote.
