Services · Railings & stairs
Deck railings and stairs
Railings are the first thing people touch on a deck and one of the first things to wear out. Aluminum picket and glass railings dominate new Lower Mainland decks because they don't rot, and glass keeps the view open. Tell us what you need, from a new set of stairs to a full railing upgrade, and compare quotes from up to three installers.
- Aluminum picket about $60–140 per ft
- Glass about $100–275 per ft
- Guards needed above 600 mm
Options
Railing options
| Railing type | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum picket | Powder-coated posts and pickets | Low upkeep at a moderate price |
| Glass with aluminum frame | Tempered glass panels between aluminum posts | Views, with a sturdy frame |
| Frameless or semi-frameless glass | Thick glass with minimal hardware | The cleanest look, at the top of the price range |
| Wood | Treated or cedar posts, rails and balusters | Matching an existing wood deck on a budget |
Local conditions
Guard heights and the 600 mm rule
Under the BC Building Code, a walking surface more than 600 mm (about 2 ft) above the ground needs a guard. For a house, exterior guards can generally be 900 mm (36 in) high where the deck is up to 1.8 m above the ground, and 1,070 mm (42 in) above that, with no openings a 100 mm ball could pass through. Vancouver has its own building bylaw with the same 600 mm trigger.
Older decks often have railings that are too low or too open, or posts that have loosened over time. Upgrading to aluminum or glass fixes that, and the install usually takes a day or two once parts arrive.
What a good quote includes
- Railing system and colour
- Glass type and panel style
- Post mounting (top or fascia) and blocking
- Guard height and spacing to code
- Stair layout, treads and risers
- Handrails on stairs
- Gates if needed
- Removal of old railings
- Warranty on parts and install
Costs
Typical railings & stairs prices
| Job | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Wood railing | $35 – $75 / ft | Style, cedar or treated |
| Aluminum picket railing | $60 – $140 / ft | Corners, stairs, gates, fascia mounting |
| Glass railing, aluminum frame | $100 – $275 / ft | Panel style and glass thickness |
| Frameless glass | $300 – $400 / ft | Engineering, hardware |
| Short stairs (1–3 steps) | $500 – $2,000 | Width, materials, handrail |
| Full flight of stairs | $3,500 – $9,000 | Rise, landings, guards |
Budget ranges in CAD before GST. Your quotes are based on a site visit.
Questions
Railings & stairs questions
Aluminum or glass railing?
Aluminum picket costs less and is very low maintenance. Glass keeps the view open and costs more. Many decks use glass on the view side and pickets elsewhere.
Do glass railings need cleaning?
Yes, a few times a year, especially in rainy or salty locations. Tinted or frosted glass shows spots less.
When do deck stairs need a handrail?
Generally where a stair has more than a couple of risers, and guards where the stair is more than 600 mm above the ground. Your builder should follow current code.
Often done together
Guides
Railings & stairs by town
Metro Vancouver
- Surrey →
- Vancouver →
- Burnaby →
- Richmond →
- Delta →
- White Rock →
- Coquitlam →
- Port Coquitlam →
- Port Moody →
- New Westminster →
- North Vancouver →
- West Vancouver →
- Pitt Meadows →
Fraser Valley
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