Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We have collected a few of the questions that we hear most often from our new clients. These frequently asked questions (FAQ) are intended to give you the information you are looking for to take that next step, and contact us. You also may want to take the time to browse the photo galleries on the project page that most closely matches the project you desire.

1I want iron railings for my staircase. Where do I start?
You came to the right place. Here are some things to ask yourself:
  • What design style is your home (contemporary, traditional, classic, beach, etc.)?
  • How much room does the stair take? Design considerations are impacted heavily by this. For example, a smaller room lends better to iron railings designed with straight lines whereas a large room allows for more elaborate design such as scroll work and a lot of movement in the rail.
  • What is my budget? A simple iron rail will be less money, scroll work/more movement will be more money.
  • Where can I find examples examples of possible designs? As you are searching Classic Iron Decor’s website, don’t limit yourself to a specific application. There may be designs in another application that appeal to you (i.e. you are looking for an interior rail – you find something in trellises and arbors that you think would look great in your home). We can easily capture a design and apply it to your rail. If you can’t find a design you are crazy about, search home design magazines, and the internet. Classic Iron Decor is happy to assist you in your search and selection process for “just the right design”.

Once you have an idea, Classic Iron Decor will come out and measure your rail, staircase, and see the job. After evaluating the scope of the work, we will give you an estimate. Once approved, the your project will be designed by our specialists using our Computer Aided Design (CAD) system.
2What is the Standard Florida Building Code as it relates to railings?
There are many codes that ensure manufacturers are providing their customers with rails that are safe. The most FAQ is about the height of the rails.
  • Residential railing, exterior and interior… 36″ tall;
  • Commercial railing, exterior and interior… 42″ tall;
  • Interior stair railing for residential dwelling… 34″-38″ off the nose of the tread.

Interior stair railing for commercial space… 42″ off the nose of the tread and the rail must have a handicap grab-bar at the 36″ point off the nose of the tread.
3Does it cost me more to install railing into tile?
The simple answer is yes, especially porcelain tile. Each hole that is drilled into tile for the railing takes 10 minutes as opposed to softer flooring which takes seconds.
4As a finish should I powder coat or use a wet paint?
It depends. Powder coating is a finish in which a powder is applied to the rail and then heated until the powder becomes hard. Although the finish is durable, it will fail especially in a salt air (coastal) environment such as North Florida. At that point, it will be difficult to touch up the rail while installed. It would require removal of your railing, sandblasting and re-powdercoating which can be expensive. Wet paint, such as a Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams paint products allows for easy touch-up during installation and holds up well due to adequate UV protection. Repainting can be done, when necessary, while in place.
5Does Classic Iron Decor, Inc use stainless hardware?
Absolutely, in every custom metal application unless specifications require different material. When using stainless hardware with aluminum products, you will get a bi-metal corrosion which can cause damage to a powder-coated rail. That being said, the bi-metal corrosion causes less degradation than using carbon steel connectors.
6What color should I use?
Frequently, customers like to have the rail “disappear”. The best way to accomplish this with exterior railing and stairs, is to match your color to the house trim adjacent to where the rails will be installed. If you are more interested in contrast (more visibility) you may wish to match the color to the light fixtures. For interior rails, most often people use black and/or bronze. A black rail against a wood floor can be stark, whereas an oil rubbed bronze blends in better.