Friday, July 21, 2017

Feeney LED DesignRail® Lighting

Create the perfect ambiance to complete your modern outdoor deck or patio railing with Feeney's 24V L.E.D. Strip Lighting. Let our friendly experts at Cable Rail Direct assist you with your DesignRail Lighting Project.
The Feeney LED lighting kits are 24-volt systems that emit high color rendering index light and put out a truer color rendering which is perfect for outdoor living.
LED's are rated for up to 50,000 hours and are made with high quality waterproof materials. The 24V strip lighting integrates into the top or bottom rail for that perfect finishing touch. The lens diffuses the light evenly for a more balanced look and uses high CRI (80) LEDs for better color rendering.
 Quality outdoor driver kits are available in the following: 24 Volt DC Constant Voltage 35w, 60w, or 96w or 24 Volt DC Constant Voltage Dimmable Driver 40w, 60w, or 96w.



Tuesday, July 18, 2017

2 Areas Where You Can Inject Some Personality into Your Exterior Space

wire railing for decks
What is more emblematic of the American Dream than a barbecue? Gathering family and friends together in one's back yards for a day of games, grilled food, and good conversation is, for many, the quintessence of what it means to be an American. But when if comes to designing your home exterior, it can be hard to find a way to make the space unique and reflective of your design tastes and personality.

This blog post is designed to highlight some of the best places to focus your creative efforts, to get the maximum amount of personality with the least amount of effort.
  1. Lighting

    The lighting is one of the most neglected aspects of exterior design, but it is essential unless you want the party to die out at the first signs of dusk.
    When considering your lighting, it is important to consider how your lawn is laid out. The options available for a small yard with a large deck are much different than a heavily wooded lawn.
    The most important principle to remember is safety. Stairs, hills, even heavily rooted areas should be highlighted by your lighting design.
  2. Deck Design

    Desks are a prime spot for hosting more intimate get-togethers, whether you are having a quiet meal outdoors, or a game of cards with the neighbors on a lazy Sunday. They are also one of the most natural canvases for you to inject personality.
    Every detail of your deck is an opportunity to show off a bit of your personality What color are you painting the deck? And what should you have the railings made of? Take a risk with choices that reflect your taste: if you enjoy industrial design, consider stainless steel wire railing for decks. Stainless steel is a great option for design rail for decks because it contains a minimum of 12% of chromium. It forms an invisible protective film on the surface of the railing that prevents corrosion.
When designing your exterior space, it is important to know where you can inject a bit of personality, otherwise, you might end up with a lackluster entertaining space. By playing with your lighting options and exploring options like wire railing for decks, you can make your outdoors outshine the competition.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

3 Ways To Baby and Toddler Proof Your Home

cable design railHaving babies in your home can be an adorable sight, but it can also be quite terrifying if you're constantly worrying about their safety and well being. Rather than feeling overwhelmed with all the stress involved with watching children, you should spend some time baby and toddler proofing your home to ensure no accidents are ever had. 

Here are a few ways to baby and toddler proof your home. 

Use cable design rails to block stairways and decks

The easiest way for your children to harm themselves is by falling underneath railing while on the stairs. To avoid these dangerous and harmful falls, consider wire deck railing systems to keep your kids safe while they travel up and down your backyard deck stairs. Cable spacing is important for the minimization of cable deflection, too. Typically, the maximum space recommended for wire railing kits is no bigger than a three-inch opening between the cable design rail. You don't just have to worry about your outside deck, however. If your home has any amount of steps inside you should consider using cable design rails to prevent your children from slipping through the openings and causing serious harm to themselves. 

Place protective covers on everything dangerous

Babies are curious creatures. Especially when they begin to walk, they will walk around as recklessly as possible in order to discover new and interesting things about their world (your house). In order to ensure that your kids aren’t walking headfirst into any sharp corners, subsequently causing serious head damage and cuts, be sure to place protective covers on every corner of your home. This includes tables, chairs, kitchen appliances, walls, and anything else. In addition to covering sharp corners around your home, you should also place covers on any oven and stove knobs that are within reach of your children to avoid any emergencies. 

Keep every dangerous item well out of reach

Because your kids are so curious, they will stop at nothing to open drawers and thoroughly inspect its contents. If those cabinets and drawers contain dangerous items, however, like sharp knives, medicine, or alcohol, you could have a horrible issue on your hands. Don’t let your adorable children stumble into something they shouldn’t see until they’re older. Keep all those dangerous items hidden and well out of reach so they can never access them. 

If you have young children inside your home, it's your responsibility to do everything you can to protect them. Make sure any harmful items are out of reach, that there are protective covers on corners, and that your indoor and outdoor stairs are fall proof. 

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

5 Tips for Home Owners Updating Their Deck

cable deck railing


So, you've decided it's time to upgrade your deck -- perhaps because you've noticed there are structural weaknesses, or perhaps you are just ready to give your outdoor space a much-needed facelift. Either way, there are a number of important factors you have to juggle as you prepare for your renovation.

We've written this guide to give you a couple of handy tips that will hopefully help you make the most out of your deck.

Choose More Versatile Furniture

So-called sit and store seating makes a great addition to your deck by providing both comfortable chairs and storage space. These can be made of almost any material to match your style and can even be made waterproof!

Maximize Your Vista

Don't let your view be blocked by clunky wooden railings or gates. While safety is paramount, it should not be allowed to detract from the beauty of your home's exterior. Cable deck railing systems or steel wire railing for decks is a great way to offer protection for your home without obstructing your view.

Keep Cords Covered

Bold lighting fixtures are a great way to spruce up your exterior's design, or just a great way to illuminate an evening game of euchre with the family, but the cords providing them power are a serious tripping hazard. When updating your deck, you need to find a way to keep those cords from causing accidents. Try running them underneath the deck itself or safely securing them.

Consider Built-in Planters

Flowers and greenery offer a refreshing pop of color and provide a more whimsical and personal element to your deck. By building in a space on your deck for greenery, you are giving your space a softer, more natural appearance.

Be Unique

While we live in a world rampant with homeowners associations and regulating bodies, it is important to have a little fun while you're decorating. Opt for a flashy light feature or choose bold colors. About a third of the single-family homes sold in America in 2014 had both a patio and a porch. Don't be afraid to make yours stand out.

Summer is the perfect time to reinvent and upgrade your porch. Take the time to consider the little touches like built-in planters, cable deck railing, or light fixtures that will make your outdoor space more attractive and ultimately more reflective of who you are.

Curious about design rail for decks? Contact the Cable Rail Direct team today!

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Keeping Summer Fun: Common Signs Your Deck May Need an Upgrade

Out of all homeowners updating their favorite outdoor spaces, 29% of those spaces consisted of a complete upgrade in terms of landscape and 58% of changes were more simple, like paving. But it’s the backyard that won in terms of the percentage of homeowners making a change at an extraordinary 64%.

It makes sense. The backyard is the paradise of summer fun. Camping, BBQs, and block parties are just a few of those fun events to look forward to. And if your backyard isn’t looking the greatest, it can lead to a sense of great embarrassment. But it may not be your entire backyard that needs to be upgraded. It may just be your deck.

Signs your deck has seen better daysEven if your deck is stylistically sound, it may not be a good idea to have a deck that has signs of rot. Rot isn’t good anywhere, but if your deck is old and isn’t pressure treated, the posts holding your deck in the ground may absorb water and begin to rot which will eventually cause your deck to collapse if left untreated.

Additionally, if there’s no ledger flashing on your deck, that rot may very well be in your house rather than your deck. Ledger flashing is what keeps water from running from your deck to your house. If there’s no ledge flashing, rot can build up along your house’s siding, which may result in your deck’s eventual collapse.

Another sign your deck has seen better days is if the structure is weak. If your railing shakes, the floor boards creak and wiggle, and the ledger boards aren’t secure these can be safety hazards and may result in injury should any of these features come loose.

How to upgrade your deck
If you can, repair your deck or simply get a new one with a more updated style. Your focus should be on the functionality of your deck first and foremost. Make sure your new or repaired deck is stable, has ledger flashing, and is able to withstand pressure so water isn’t able to seep into the posts and create rot.

Consider upgrading your deck railing as well as the deck itself. Cable railing for decks such as steel wire railing allows your kids or your neighbors’ kids to stay safe on the deck when socializing has drifted closer to the house in the evening hours. The simple addition of a cable handrail or cable rail will prevent common safety hazards and injury. Furthermore, a steel wire railing has a sleek look to it and unlike a chunky wooden railing, a cable deck railing allows you and your guests to gaze out onto the landscaping of your backyard.

Outdoor decks can age over time along with your home. Be sure to perform routine maintenance to keep your deck up to date and safe for you and your family. Upgrade your deck periodically whether it’s adding steel wire railing or updating the post connections to stay in style and to keep your summer safe and fun.

Friday, June 2, 2017

3 Reasons Why You Should Consider Using Cable Railing for Your Home's Interior

Cable rail systems are a sleek, attractive way to set your outdoor space apart from the neighbors'. They are sturdy, versatile and very easy to maintain. But if you are only using cable handrail systems to accentuate the exterior of your house, then you are missing a great opportunity.

Versitility
Interior cable railing systems are every bit as durable and low-maintenance as their exterior equivalent, but they are extremely versatile, not only fitting with a wide range of interior styles but even enhancing them.

By choosing a dark metallic cable and contrasting it with a rich wood frame, you can bring out the duality between natural and man-made material inherent in industrial style. Or by choosing discrete wiring and an unfished wood frame, you can invoke the rusticness of western style.

You can even decide to have the wires run vertically, rather than horizontally, and invoke a more traditional banister.

Sustainability
Stainless steel cabling is the most environmentally friendly material available for your railing. That's right! It's even more friendly than wood is. That is because stainless steel is completely recyclable.

In fact, the primary source of raw material for stainless steel is recycled scrap metal with over 90% of the material new stainless being sourced from recycled material (In architecture and construction, that figure is even higher, at 92%)

Security
Have you or anyone you know ever had their head stuck in a railing as a child? Do you remember the liberal application of oil or butter needed to remedy the issue? Well, that doesn't need to be a worry with cabling. Although the cables need to be taut in order to offer protection, they do offer a little give.

But even those without children can benefit from the secure structure of interior cable railing systems, which need to be firm in order to stand up to the immense tension of the cables themselves.

While cable railing is an excellent option for the exterior of the home, it is also remarkably well suited for the inside.

Curious about how interior cable railing systems can redefine your home's interior? Contact the Cable Rail Direct team today!

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Backyard Tips For Keeping Your Children Safe This Summer

With summer fast approaching it’s time to give a little routine maintenance to your backyard. Over 50% of homeowners upgrading their outdoor space spend six or more hours relaxing, entertaining, and gardening there per week. Backyards are the epitome of summer fun for children especially and so it’s important to guarantee their safety.

The following tips will provide you with ways to keep your backyard kid-friendly while also guaranteeing you the aesthetic appeal you love about a summer yard.

Opt out of getting a trampoline

Trampolines take up a lot of room and can make your backyard look far smaller than it really is. They can also be incredibly dangerous. In a study, the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America found more than a million cases of emergency room visits were caused by injuries related to trampoline use.

Create a separate space for grilling
Grilling can be boring if you’re too separated from the social area, but it can also be dangerous for kids to be too close. Designate a specific part of your deck or outdoor space for grilling purposes so you’re not too far away from the fun, but also keeping the kids away from the heat by establishing a safe space.

Use a cable handrail systemIt’s essential for decks higher than a couple of inches off the ground to have some kind of railing system. The installation of a cable deck wire railing will protect children as well as adults from falling and causing potential injury. A cable rail is nearly invisible in contrast to a wooden rail and therefore keeps your kids safe without obstructing the view of your backyard to other neighbors and family members.

A cable handrail system also creates a more modern look to your back deck. You can also choose from a variety of frames for your cable deck railing depending on your aesthetic appeal including stainless steel, wood, or aluminum.

Supervise your kids
Regardless of the changes you make to create a more kid-friendly backyard, it’s important to supervise your children at all times. Supervising your kids will keep them safe from any potentially dangerous situations such as drowning or falling from trees or other backyard equipment.

Backyard fun is an essential part of summer. By using these tips to keep your backyard kid-friendly and by supervising your children, you can be sure to have a great time during the long summer months.