Custom Railing Solutions for Your Home or Business
How We Can Bring Your Vision to Life
We design and build interior, exterior, and commercial iron railings available in wrought iron, modern, ornate, powder-coated, galvanized, and scrollwork styles
SERVICING ALL OF
CONNECTICUT!
Custom Porch & Front Step Railings in Connecticut
The railing on your front steps is the one people grab on the way in, and the first piece of metal a guest notices. The Iron Shop designs, fabricates and installs custom porch and front step railings, made to fit your steps and your house in steel, wrought iron, stainless steel or aluminum.
Serving West Hartford, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury and the rest of central Connecticut. Have photos of your steps? Email them to us.
Recent railing projects
Swipe or scroll sideways. The full set is in the portfolio.
What you get when The Iron Shop builds your railing
A custom railing is a bigger decision than a kit, so here is how we work.
Measured at your house
We visit, measure, and take photos and video before anything is built. Nothing starts from a standard length.
Made in our shop
Your railing is cut, welded and finished in our West Hartford shop, then installed by the same team that measured.
One point of contact
Steve Berner, our design consultant, takes your first call, works out the design with you and oversees fabrication and installation.
A written proposal
You get a detailed proposal with images, usually within two to three days of the field measurement. There is no pressure to decide before you have it.
Porch railing styles, and which houses they suit
Ornamental does not have to mean ornate. The same steps can take an elaborate scroll railing or a plain picket one. This is how the common directions compare. The post on ornamental versus modern railing styles goes further.
Ornamental scrollwork
Curls, vines and forged detail. The railing people picture when they search for wrought iron porch railings.
- Suits
- Brick and stone fronts, traditional and formal entrances.
- Keep in mind
- More detail means more shop time. Many homeowners put the scrolls in one panel or at the ends and keep the rest plain.
Traditional pickets
Vertical bars, a top rail and posts, with a small accent if you want one. It looks right on more houses than any other style.
- Suits
- Capes, Colonials, farmhouses and any entrance that should stay quiet.
- Keep in mind
- Picket spacing is set by code, which we build in from the start.
Flat bar, horizontal bar and cable
Clean lines and few parts. Good when you want the railing to stay out of the way of the architecture.
- Suits
- Newer builds, ranches and remodeled fronts.
- Keep in mind
- Cable needs stiff end posts, and the posts sit closer together. We size both for the load.
Curved and shaped railings
Rails bent to follow flared steps, round stoops and curved walkways.
- Suits
- Any entrance where the steps are not a straight run.
- Keep in mind
- The curve is bent to your measured layout, so an accurate field measurement matters more here than anywhere else.
Not sure which style fits your house?
Send a few photos of your front steps and we will tell you what we would build.
Metals and finishes for a Connecticut porch
Customers often ask for wrought iron porch railings. We are precise about the metal and happy to use the term you know.
Metals
- SteelThe usual choice for scroll and picket railings. Needs a good finish outdoors.
- Wrought ironTrue wrought iron is a low carbon iron rarely used for new work. We use it for matching older railings.
- Stainless steelCable and modern railings. Resists corrosion and usually costs more than painted steel.
- AluminumDoes not rust the way steel does. Fewer design options.
Finishes
- Powder coatingA baked on finish that resists chipping, scratching and fading better than ordinary paint. Not permanent.
- GalvanizingA zinc coating for steel that can sit under a powder coat for added rust protection.
- Hand paintedBrush applied for custom colors and restoration work.
- PatinaA chemical finish that colors the metal itself, often for a deliberately aged look.
What a Connecticut winter does
Road salt, freeze and thaw cycles and standing water are what wear out an outdoor railing. Water that sits at the base of a post is where rust usually starts, and edges and welds see wear first.
That is why finish and post base details matter more than the brand name of the coating. Tell us how exposed your steps are and we will recommend a metal and finish to match.
What a custom porch railing costs, and what changes the price
We do not quote from a phone call, because step layout and mounting surfaces change the number. These are the things that move the price, so a proposal makes sense when you get one.
Length and posts
A longer run needs more metal, more posts and more labor.
The metal
Steel, wrought iron, stainless steel and aluminum are priced differently. Stainless usually costs more than painted steel.
Amount of detail
A plain picket railing costs far less than a hand worked scroll design.
The finish
Powder coating, galvanizing, hand painting and patina are each a different amount of work.
What it fastens to
Wood, brick, stone and concrete are mounted in different ways, and weak spots get fixed first.
Curves and custom shapes
A rail bent to follow flared or round steps is built to your exact measured layout.
Want a number for your steps?
The written proposal comes after the field measurement. Send photos first and tell us roughly how long the run is, and we can talk through what to expect.
Custom fabricated or off the shelf
A prefabricated porch railing kit can work for a short, straight set of steps on a tight budget. It comes in standard lengths and angles, so it gets cut and adjusted on site.
Custom makes sense when the steps turn or curve, when they are stone or brick, when the house has character to match, or when you want the railing to last. Ours is laid out from your measurements, then cut, welded and finished in our West Hartford shop and installed by the same team that measured.
Visitors are welcome at the shop Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. Call ahead and we will set time aside.
The railing is only as good as what it fastens to
Custom railings for stone, brick, concrete and wood steps are mounted in different ways. Pick the material your steps are made of to see how we approach it.
How we mount it
Posts fasten to the framing underneath, through the stringer or the porch deck framing, not only into the surface boards.
What we check
Rot around old post locations, the condition of the framing, and whether the stair layout allows a handrail at the right height.
Watch for
Soft wood at the old post holes. Fixing the framing first keeps a new railing from loosening within a year or two.
How we mount it
Typically a drilled pocket with the post anchored in place, or a base plate bolted into solid masonry or a cap.
What we check
Mortar condition, whether the brick is structural or a veneer, and how far each post sits from an edge.
Watch for
Crumbling mortar or a loose cap. Anchors need solid material to hold, so weak spots get addressed first.
How we mount it
Core drilled holes with the posts set and anchored, or surface plates, depending on slab thickness and how the stone is supported.
What we check
Tread thickness, what sits under the stone, and the distance from each post to the edge.
Watch for
Thin or cracked treads. If the stone needs attention before we mount to it, we say so on the visit.
How we mount it
Surface mounted base plates with anchor bolts, or posts set in drilled holes and grouted, depending on edge distance.
What we check
Age and condition of the concrete, hairline cracks, edge distance and how water drains off the steps.
Watch for
Chipped or flaking concrete near the edges, which is common where de icing salt has worked in over the years.
Steps that are not solid enough to take a post get a different footing. We explain the options when we measure.
Replacing an old or rusting porch railing
Not every rusty railing has to come out. Here is how we usually sort them. A few photos get us most of the way, and the visit settles it.
Often repairable
When the structure is still sound
- Surface rust or flaking finish with no pitting in the metal
- A loose rail with posts that are still solid in the steps
- A few failed welds or a bent picket
- A color you are tired of
Usually time to replace
When the metal or the footing has given up
- Rust through at posts or base plates
- Posts that move in the masonry or concrete
- Heavy flaking with rust underneath along the whole length
- A railing that is too low or has wide gaps, if you are changing the steps anyway
If you are replacing, we can match the look of the old railing or draw something new. Our posts on the signs it is time to replace a rusted exterior railing and replacing an old stair railing cover the detail.
From first call to installed railing
Four steps, with no pressure to decide anything until you have the proposal.
Request a railing consultation
The contact page takes about a minute.
- Your name, email and project descriptionRequired
- What you need railedPorch, steps, both
- Photos of the areaEmail them to us
Prefer to talk? Call (860) 323-4430.
Have photos ready? Email them to steveb@ironshopct.com.
- 1
You get in touch
Call, email or send a note through the contact page. Tell us what needs a railing and where you are.
- 2
You send photos
We ask for photos of the porch and steps so we know what we are walking into before we visit. Email them to steveb@ironshopct.com or send them after your first call.
- 3
We measure on site
We visit, measure, and take photos and video. We check what the posts will fasten to and talk through style, metal and finish.
- 4
You get a written proposal
Within two to three days you receive a detailed proposal with images. When you approve it, we fabricate, finish and install.
Proposal
Usually two to three days after the field measurement.
Build and install
Depends on the design, the finish and the current shop schedule, so timing goes in your proposal.
Porch railing or step railing? Most entrances need both
A guard runs along the open edge of a porch or landing so nobody steps off. A handrail runs along the steps so you have something to hold. We usually build the two as one matched railing, so the line flows from the porch edge down to the walkway.
- 1Guard. The railing along the porch or landing edge.
- 2Newel post. The heavier post that anchors a run and carries the load.
- 3Base plate. The foot that ties each post to wood, masonry or concrete.
- 4Handrail. The graspable rail that follows the slope of the steps.
- 5Pickets. The vertical bars, also called balusters, spaced to code.
Porch and step railing code, in plain terms
Entrance railings are safety equipment, so they fall under the Connecticut State Building Code.
These are common residential values, not a promise about your house. Your town's building department decides what applies, and codes get updated. We design to the rules that apply to your project and flag anything unusual when we measure.
- Handrail on steps
- Commonly required on at least one side of a flight with four or more risers.
- Guard at a drop
- Commonly required where a porch or landing is more than 30 inches above the ground below.
- Guard height
- Commonly 36 inches minimum, measured from the walking surface.
- Handrail height
- Commonly 34 to 38 inches above the stair nosings.
- Openings
- Commonly small enough that a 4 inch sphere cannot pass through.
- Handrail grip
- Commonly a profile you can wrap your hand around, such as a round rail about 1.25 to 2 inches across.
Questions about porch and front step railings
Cost, code, materials and timing, answered plainly. If yours is missing, call and ask.
How much do custom porch railings cost?
The price depends on the length of the railing, the number of posts, the metal, how much scrollwork or other detail is in the design, the finish, and what the posts fasten to. A plain picket railing costs far less than a hand worked scroll design. We do not quote from a phone call because step layout and mounting surfaces change the number. After the field measurement you get a detailed written proposal, usually within two to three days.
Do front steps need a railing?
Building codes commonly require a handrail on at least one side of a flight with four or more risers, and a guard where a porch or landing is more than 30 inches above the ground. Your town's building department decides what applies to your house. Even where a railing is not required, many people add one for safety, especially for older family members and in winter.
How high should a porch railing be?
Common residential figures are a guard at least 36 inches high on the porch, a stair handrail between 34 and 38 inches above the stair nosings, and openings small enough that a 4 inch sphere cannot pass. Those are typical values, not a promise about your house. The Connecticut State Building Code and your local building official set the rules for your project.
Can you install a railing on brick, stone or concrete steps?
Yes. We mount railings into wood, brick, bluestone, granite and poured concrete. The method depends on the material, so we check what the posts will fasten to during the measurement visit and design the base plates or set posts to suit. If the steps are not solid enough to hold a post, we tell you before any metal is built.
Is a wrought iron porch railing the same as a steel one?
Not strictly. True wrought iron is a low carbon iron that is rarely used for new railings today. Most railings sold as wrought iron are fabricated from steel in a traditional style, with scrolls, pickets and a black finish. We work in wrought iron, steel, stainless steel and aluminum, and we name the exact metal in every proposal.
Will a powder coated porch railing rust?
Powder coating slows rust and resists chipping, scratching and fading better than ordinary paint, but no coating is permanent. A chip or scratch that exposes bare steel can rust, and water that sits at a post base is a common starting point. Galvanizing under the powder coat adds protection for steel, and stainless steel and aluminum behave differently. We can explain the options for your exposure.
Can you replace my old porch railing and match it?
Yes. We can take out a rusted or loose railing and build a new one to fit the same steps, or design something different. If the old railing has detail you want to keep, we can photograph and measure it so the new one matches. Whether repair or replacement makes more sense depends on the condition of the metal and the footing, and we tell you which on the visit.
How long does it take to get a custom porch railing?
Expect a written proposal two to three days after the field measurement. Fabrication, finishing and installation time depends on the design, the finish and the current shop schedule, so we put timing in the proposal rather than guess before we have seen the job.
Where do you install porch and front step railings?
Most of our projects are within about ten miles of our West Hartford shop, including Farmington, Avon, Simsbury and Bloomfield. We also take projects across central Connecticut depending on scope. Send photos and we can tell you quickly whether your location works.
Tell us about your front steps
Send photos of the porch and steps, or call and describe them. We will set up a field measurement and follow with a written proposal.
Or email photos of your steps to steveb@ironshopct.com.
2575 Albany Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm