The Essentials Of Decking Balustrades & Handrails

When building an outdoor barrier to your space, look no further than NeoTimber’s range of decking handrails and balustrades. Adaptable and modular, and able to be fitted on both straight and stair applications, as well as onto concrete and decking boards, our balustrades and handrails are the smart choice when compared to traditional balustrade materials, such as natural timber. However, as a relatively new product, you may be somewhat in the dark about all the advantages, features and benefits of the material. In this article, we will outline all the essentials you need to know about our decking handrails and balustrades, so you can make an informed decision before purchasing your perfect outdoor balustrades and handrails.

One thing every balustrade and railing project will need is strength. Wood balustrades and handrails should act as a support to any steps, balconies, or outdoor pathways, and it’s no good specifying a material unable to handle that kind of long-term pressure. Timber, unfortunately, will gradually weaken over time. In comparison, all of NeoTimber’s decking handrails and balustrades are supported by an internal metal structure, that keeps it firmly in position. Our balustrade and railing posts are bolted in place, either onto a concrete base or onto decking boards, meaning they will not move when exposed to extreme weather.

This structural strength makes NeoTimber’s decking handrails and balustrades perfect for straight outdoor railing, external stair projects, or raised pathway borders. Check out our installation resources to see how you can modify your balustrades and handrails to fit different applications. Please note: our decking handrails and balustrades are not designed for high-rise or rooftop balconies. Please talk to one of our sales team for more information and advice.

One of the key advantages of specifying composite handrails and balustrades over more traditional materials is the lack of maintenance needed to ensure the material’s longevity. Timber balustrades can last for a long time, but have to be treated with preservatives annually, to lock out the damaging effects of moisture. In contrast, all of NeoTimber’s handrails and balustrades are covered by capped composite material, which will only need occasional cleaning. Capped composite also keeps its colour far better, as your chosen tone is dyed into the material itself, rather than reapplied painstakingly every year with a paintbrush as the paint layer fades.

Untreated timber balustrades are prone to long-term damage from weathering and can rot, warp, splinter, and even break apart entirely if too much moisture is absorbed. This could lead to your wood balustrades and handrails project needing to be replaced entirely, at some expense. In contrast, because our composite handrails and balustrades are made from a mixture of capped composite and metal, we are confident that they are built to last. We are so sure of this long-term strength, that we’ve backed up our claim with a 25-year warranty for garden residential builds, and a 10-year warranty for commercial projects. Click here to explore the terms and exclusions of the warranty.

You can purchase our outdoor balustrades and handrails in a variety of rich, premium colours. Because the colour is dyed into the material itself, it allows you to enjoy the high-quality colour straight from installation, as opposed to painting the surface of your posts and railing once it is erected. You can choose from our natural-toned teak and chocolate, our stone-inspired antique, or our dark, modern grey and charcoal. These balustrade colours have been designed to match the tones of our existing NeoTimber® composite ranges, such as our decking, cladding, and fencing products.

If you want to see what each of these composite balustrade colours looks like in context, you can mix and match the different tones with our handy digital visualiser, which creates a render of what the composite garden balustrades and handrails could look like in conjunction with our decking. Alternatively, you can read through our case studies pages, and see how other customers have implemented our decking handrails and balustrades into their own projects. They say seeing is believing, and sometimes the only way to know for sure is if the product is right in front of you. You can visit our showroom in Coalville, Leicestershire by appointment, or have free balustrade samples delivered straight to your door.