Tuesday, April 25, 2017

4 Excellent Reasons to Install Cable Railings Around Your Home

indoor cable railing
According to data from 2014, approximately one-third of single family homes sold in that year came with a patio and porch. But if you're looking at a home or even thinking about improving yours, safety is something you need to keep in mind.

But who says safety and style don't mesh? Whether you need indoor railings or new design rail for your deck, here's why you should be using steel wire railing in and around your home.

High Durability, Low Maintenance
Indoor cable railing might not need to be super durable and low-maintenance, but outdoor cable railings make these two features an absolute necessity. Stainless steel cable railings might not immediately come to mind when you're looking for deck railings, but their ability to withstand any kind of weather without excess wear and tear is an extremely valuable trait. Not only that, but you won't have to stain and seal them every year like you would for traditional wooden deck railings.

Flexible Aesthetic
Aesthetically, cable rail systems can blend seamlessly into any home. For a sleek, minimalist vibe, try pairing an indoor cable railing with stainless steel posts. If you're going for a more natural feel in your home, furnish your staircase with gorgeous wooden posts and steel wire railing. The idea is that these wire railings provide durability without sacrificing your personal style.

No Bird Accidents
Glass barriers within a deck railing can look beautiful, but they pose a unique danger to birds and other animals because they're transparent. Wire railings, on the other hand, are clearly visible to birds and other animals, which means you won't have any injured birds on your hands and the local wildlife population isn't put at risk.

Unobstructed Views
Even though glass provides a unique look, cable railings offer an even better view. And what's more, smudges and dirt won't obstruct your view or mandate cleaning like they do on glass panes.

Whether you want a new railing for your indoor staircase or for your outdoor patio, cable rail systems are an excellent choice for all of the reasons listed above and many more. Have more questions? Don't hesitate to contact the Cable Rail Direct team.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

A Few Excellent Ways to Make the Most of Your Outdoor Seating

cable railing posts
If you run a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, or similar type of establishment, then the addition of an outdoor deck or patio can actually increase revenue by up to 30%. In fact, according to further research from the Simons Advisory Group, a $200,000 investment in outdoor space can increase overall sales by up to $500,000. Of course, you don't have to spend $200,000 to create a worthy outdoor patio.

Wire railing kits make it simple to design a functional outdoor area for your business. But when you need to design rail for decks, you need to think about aesthetic appeal in addition to functionality. An outdoor patio can be a wonderful addition, but it's important that people actually feel comfortable spending time there.

If you're looking for design inspiration for your wire railing installation and the overall feel of your deck or patio, here are a few excellent ways to make the most of the space.

Sidewalk Seating
Adding a simple sidewalk dining area roped off by some cable design rail is an excellent and simple way to invite customers to an outdoor setting. If you have approval for outdoor seating, this simple addition can provide a classic, European cafe-style decor. Pick simple yet comfortable furniture for your seating area here, and then add a few patio umbrellas for a shady area. This can provide a casual dining experience that customers will see the second they walk by your business, and it's one that will attract additional customers if they see people already enjoying the space.

Rooftop Seating
If you don't have the space available to expand your seating outward, why not go upward? There's a certain aesthetic appeal to being above the rest of the surrounding buildings and having a casual drink with dinner. But there's more to a rooftop dining experience than just being above it all. Many rooftop dining areas come equipped with beautifully manicured gardens and lighting systems. Not to mention cable handrail systems and beautifully decorated cable railing posts that can enclose the area in style. Make sure you're thinking about the atmosphere you want to provide before you take on this venture!

Garden Dining
The farm-to-table movement is going strong, and it's something that more and more diners are interested in. So why not go the extra mile and grow your herbs and vegetables where your diners sit to eat? A few raised garden beds enclosed by cable railing posts can create a truly organic dining experience for your customers.

These are just a few ways to really up the ante on your outdoor seating using wire railing kits. Make sure you consider these things before you invest in an outdoor space!

Friday, April 14, 2017

Feeney DesignRail® Mounting Options - The Fascia Bracket Mounted Post

The Fascia Fascia Bracket Mounted Post is a popular method of attaching the DesignRail®
post to the Deck. This is a great option for a narrow deck, so the Railing doesn't take up any deck space. This is also a great option if you have decking that overhangs the deck. The Fascia Bracket Offsets the post by an 1-1/4, so you don't have to notch the decking, unless it overhangs more than 1-1/4". The Posts are 2-3/8" aluminum extrusions and there are three cross sectional profiles.  The Standard Post is used on Residential Projects and the Commercial Post is used on Commercial Projects. The Heavy Duty Post is used on all projects for the terminating and corner posts, when using Horizontal Cable Infill. The Posts will come pre-cut and pre-drilled for 36", 38" and 42" Railings. Maximum post spacing for a residential project is 6'-0" on center and 5'-0" on center for commercial projects. Fascia Brackets are 6" wide and come in 5" & 7" heights. Fascia Brackets for corners are available for single and double corner posts at 90 degree angles. Be sure to check the blocking requirements with your Cable Rail Direct Detailer. The finishing height will be slightly higher and will depend on the Top Rail selected. Stair Posts are usually sent blank and drilled in the field, but they are available pre-drilled in the following three standard angle ranges, 23 -28 degrees, 29 - 34 degrees and 35-39 degrees. Be sure to let your Cable Rail Direct Detailer know your stair angle before requesting the pre-drilled stair post.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Feeney DesignRail® Mounting Options - The Fascia Mounted Post

The Fascia Mounted Post is a popular method of attaching the DesignRail®
post to the Deck. This is a great option for a narrow deck, so the Railing doesn't take up any deck space. The Posts are 2-3/8" aluminum extrusions and there are three cross sectional profiles.  The Standard Post is used on Residential Projects and the Commercial Post is used on Commercial Projects. The Heavy Duty Post is used on all projects for the terminating and corner posts, when using Horizontal Cable Infill. The Posts will come pre-cut and pre-drilled for 36", 38" and 42" Railings. Maximum post spacing for a residential project is 6'-0" on center and 4'-0" on center for commercial projects. Fascia Brackets may be used on commercial projects to increase the post spacing to 5'-0" on center.The post will be longer on the bottom and will be cut and drilled for a 2x8 or 2x10 Fascia. There is also a standard option for a 2x12 fascia, but the mounting holes are drilled in the field. These three options allow for thru-bolting or lag screws, except for the 42" no bottom rail system. This system requires a welded flange and thru-bolting the end and corner posts. A 2x6 Fascia is not recommended for attachment with lag screws, but thru-bolts are an option. Be sure to check the blocking requirements with your Cable Rail Direct Detailer. A 7.5" concrete slab is the minimum thickness for mounting to concrete. The finishing height will be slightly higher and will depend on the Top Rail selected. Stair Posts are usually sent blank and drilled in the field, but they are available pre-drilled in the following three standard angle ranges, 23 -28 degrees, 29 - 34 degrees and 35-39 degrees. Be sure to let your Cable Rail Direct Detailer know your stair angle before requesting the pre-drilled stair post.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Feeney DesignRail® Mounting Options - The Surface or Base Mounted Post

The Surface or Base Mounted Post is the most common method of attaching the DesignRail®
post to the Deck. The Posts are 2-3/8" aluminum extrusions and there are three cross sectional profiles.  The Standard Post is used on Residential Projects and the Commercial Post is used on Commercial Projects. The Heavy Duty Post is used on all projects for the terminating and corner posts, when using Horizontal Cable Infill. The base plate is attached to the post with either 4 screws (Standard Post) or 6 screws (Commercial & Heavy Duty Post). This attachment is stronger than welding and will allow you to remove the base plate if the post needs to be trimmed, for a Deck that may have a high spot. Always trim from the bottom of the post, so the cables will remain straight.
The Posts will come pre-cut and pre-drilled for 36", 38" and 42" Railings. The finishing height will be slightly higher and will depend on the Top Rail selected. Stair Posts are usually sent blank and drilled in the field, but they are available pre-drilled in the following three standard angle ranges, 23 -28 degrees, 29 - 34 degrees and 35-39 degrees. Be sure to let your Cable Rail Direct Detailer know your stair angle before requesting the pre-drilled stair post.