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2025 Deck Railing Choices

New Year, New Deck Railings Choosing the best deck railing for your home involves considering several factors including aesthetics, durability, maintenance, and cost. Here’s a rundown of the most popular options for deck railings in 2025 based on current trends and insights from our pro’s at SDCR: CLASSIC WOOD RAILINGS OR MODERN STYLE? Wood Railing: Pros: Offers a classic, warm, and natural look. It can be customized in terms of stain or paint color to match any home style. Cons: Requires regular maintenance like staining or painting to resist rot, insects, and weather damage. Best For: Traditional or rustic designs where the natural look of wood is desired. Aluminum and Steel Railing Types Aluminum Railing: Pros: Lightweight, durable, and resistant to rust and corrosion. Aluminum railings come in various styles and can be powder-coated for color options, providing a modern look with minimal maintenance. They’re also eco-friendly as they can be recycled. Cons: Can be more expensive initially than other materials, but low maintenance over time can offset this cost. They might get hot in direct sunlight. Best For: Modern or contemporary designs, especially where a sleek, clean look is desired. Cable Railing: Pros: Provides an airy, modern look with minimal visual obstruction, perfect for showcasing views. Cable systems are also quite strong when installed correctly. Cons: Can require periodic tensioning and inspection. It’s less private and can be more expensive due to the hardware. Best For: Decks overlooking water or landscapes where you want to maintain the view Glass Railing: Pros: Offers unobstructed views, making it excellent for decks with beautiful surroundings. It’s also elegant and modern, enhancing the openness of your outdoor space. Cons: Can be more expensive and requires regular cleaning to keep it clear. Ideal in areas with wind or where privacy is not a concern. Best For: Decks with a view, where you want to maintain visibility SAFETY, LONGEVITY, AND ASSOCIATED COSTS: When deciding on the best deck railing for your project, consider your local building codes, the overall aesthetic you’re aiming for, your budget, and how much maintenance you’re willing to commit to. Each material has its niche where it shines, so your choice should reflect both your practical needs and design preferences. Don’t sacrifice safety or quality for the sake of cost savings. High quality materials like stainless steel will offer long term savings when it comes to maintenance and longevity. Deck Railing Replacement Costs for 2025 Costs can fluctuate based on regional pricing, the specific design of your deck, and whether you choose to DIY or hire a professional. Professional installation typically includes labor, which can be significant for more complex or premium materials. If you’re considering a DIY approach, you’ll save on labor but need to account for the cost of tools if you don’t already own them. Assume $60-$250 per lineal foot for exterior deck railing replacement. Wooden railings and DIY products will fall into the lower part of the range while cable and glass railings will land at the higher end. For a free estimate please visit our QUOTE REQUEST FORM. Hiring a Deck Builder Simple repairs like a plank replacement or swapping out some deck screws are do-able for DIY enthusiasts. Full deck railing replacement can be more suited for hiring a pro. Our preferred contractors at San Diego Cable Railings have installed hundreds of decks, fences, and modern railing systems. Ask our sales associate about installation pricing. If you have questions about repairs prior to installing new railings, feel free to give us a call or visit the QUOTE REQUEST form for a free estimate on our popular railing and glass railing systems. Our sales pro’s and preferred contractors build decks and railings for customers all over California. CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A QUOTE FROM OUR SALES TEAM! Deck Safety 2025 Deck Railing Choices MavenDecember 17, 2024 ADU Railings Best Rated Deck Railings MavenDecember 17, 2024 Deck Safety Deck Safety Checklist MavenNovember 25, 2024 Modern Deck Railings, Stainless Steel vs. Aluminum Modern Deck Railing Ideas MavenOctober 21, 2024 100% American made Steel, Stainless Steel vs. Aluminum Aluminum vs. Stainless Steel Railing Comparison MavenSeptember 30, 2024 Browse More Posts Add Your Heading Text Here

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Los Angeles Cable Railing Installation – Project Showcase

Nationwide Shipping and Preferred Cable Railing Installation Powder coated stainless steel posts, Ipe’ hardwood and 1/8″ stainless steel cable infill combined for stunning results at one of our recent installations in Sherman Oaks, CA. The elevated location with mountain views and a gorgeous pool called for something elegant and transparent to blend into the existing landscape. Charcoal colored railing posts were selected for transparency and nighttime use; Ipe’ top rails were used to match the existing deck. This was a challenging installation due to the unique mounting situation, angles, and of course the remote setting for the project. The railing system was 100% pre-fabricated at our production facility in San Diego, CA. High quality installation and minor modifications were performed on site by the guys at SD Independent Construction. The project took a total 4 days on site to complete. Attachment Details- Welded mounting plates and concrete anchors were used for the masonry post attachment; creating a formidable barrier with the rigidity of a solid wall. Lag bolts were used for attaching posts to wooden framing.  For top railings 2″x4″ Ipe’ hardwood timbers were chosen for their durability and beauty that will definitely stand the test of time. Type 316 Stainless Steel Cables for Transparency and Durability The beauty of stainless steel cable is that it often reflects its surroundings. We find this to be true in natural and water front settings. Cable railings provide a high end look that can be designed to look natural in landscape settings. Using a product like T316 stainless cable is a good idea on poolside decks with so many traditional pool builds now converting to saline (salt water) . San Diego Cable Railings offers Nationwide shipping and installation services for cable and glass railings up and down the California coast. Our production team and preferred installers have produced high quality fences and railings for customers in San Diego, Orange County, LA, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and San Fransisco. In addition to our in house cable railing products we also offer glass railing systems and products by Feeney. If you would like to learn more about Los Angeles cable railing installation or if you have questions about our cable railing products ; visit the quote request form or give us a call at 844-277-7327 today.

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Landscape Lighting for Decks and Railings

San Diego Cable Railings and Highpoint Offer Landscape Lighting for Decks, Railings and Fencing Energy efficient and attractive, todays landscape lighting options can take your outdoor living experience  to the next level. When dealing with the elements and exterior construction projects, quality is of the utmost importance. For this reason we’ve teamed up with Highpoint Deck Lighting in order to offer sleek and attractive lighting options that are built to last. Much like the product line at SDCR, Highpoint lighting has been designed with the installer in mind. With LED options for both wooden and steel post systems, we can customize your railing posts or top railing selections for awesome outdoor lighting. Deck lighting can be installed by pros, or DIY installers. Whether your project calls for a sleek downlight for a vertical post installation, hidden keyhole light, or a strip for backlighting your top rails, we have what you need. Landscape lighting for decks and railings can add a finishing touch to any outdoor living project. A multitude of lighting options as well as the number of lights selected will determine the ambiance. Fewer lights will offer accents and maintain an intimate feel. Larger lights and a greater number of lights will provide illumination for entertaining and group settings. Outdoor lights can be mixed and matched as well as adjusted via the use of a dimmer to increase or decrease brightness. At SDCR we have post lighting options for both steel posts and wooden railing posts. Steel post lights are sleek and smaller in size; while wood post options will typically be larger. A variety of color options make customization simple. Additionally, we can make your installation a breeze with pre-drilled, accurate hole locations for easy mounting. Lighting packages contain all of the necessary parts required for a complete installation (transformer, wire, lighting, and exterior wire nuts). If you have questions about landscape lighting for decks and cable railings, contact our pros at 844-277-7327.  

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Cool Curves and Radius Railings

Installing Radius Railings and Curves Using    Stainless Steel Cables If you ask an experienced craftsman about creating curves with straight materials like lumber and steel; they will likely tell you it is a labor of love. Radius Railings take time and a good bit of patience, but the finished results can be spectacular and unique. Curves can be achieved on cable railings and cable fencing projects; here are some expert tips on how: Preparation- A scaled drawing is a great way to get an accurate vision of the curve you are creating. Softer curves will almost always be less difficult than tight curves. For example; many deck builders will encourage a minimum of 12′-16′ for a radius application. A scaled radius can be created on simple graph paper with the help of a protractor. Post Spacing- In order to maintain a curve, the distance in between railing posts must be shortened. As the cables exit the railing posts they will create their own angle towards the next railing post. Typically a 4′ post spacing call out will be shortened to 30″-36″. The tighter spacing will help create the illusion of curved cables. Skill Level- Radius Railings as well as curved decks can often require the skills of a professional. Bending pipes, bars, and/or creating curved wooden members can sometimes mean special equipment. Sometimes curved steel railing sections will be fabricated in one single piece to be attached in place at the job site. Do it yourselfers may consider having a curved top railing member professionally fabricated. A single piece of pre made top rail could then be attached to the DIY post and cable system. Safety- An important structural note about Radius Cable Railing applications is that every post included in a radius is under a tension load. On curved railings the cables are contacting every post perforation as well. Mixing dissimilar metals is not advised for curves. A stainless steel cable on stainless steel post contact is the best choice for radius railings.  Additionally, the use of engineered railing posts that are designed to sustain cable tension loads is an important consideration for curved cable railings. Questions about curves??? Talk to one of our pros at 844-277-7327 or use the quote request page!!

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exterior wood types

Exterior Wood Types and Uses

Popular Wood Types and Top Choices for Outdoor Living Spaces IPE’ – Pronounced (ee-pay) is a Brazilian hardwood species from the ironwood family. Ipe is typically sourced in South America and Central America. Timbers milled from Ipe trees are extremely dense and resistant to rot, insects and decay. Coastal decks and railings are great applications for using hardwoods like Ipe, and the planks are commonly used on docks and marinas. Due to the popularity and import cost of this material the price point is one of the highest among exterior building material types. The structural integrity and lifespan of this product make it well worth the premium for most builders. Western Red Cedar- Commonly used for posts decking and shingles, WRC is a solid choice for exterior projects. Cedar trees are most commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, and lumber is easily sourced in Washington, California, and Oregon. Cedar timbers have attractive grain patterns and colors ranging from light tan to reddish brown. Western red cedar timbers are naturally resistant to insects and decay making them popular choices for fencing, garden boxes, decks and railings. The price point for high quality cedar is much less than hardwoods and some composite products making it an attractive option. Western Red Cedar can be stained or painted quite easily. Redwood- Well known and widely used, Redwood has been one of the most popular exterior building materials for decades. The tannin acids found in redwood make it naturally resistant to insects, and the red and white marbled color make it an attractive timber. Redwood trees are commonly found in Northern California and historical old growth trees are no longer harvested by the lumber industry. Due to the farming and harvesting of younger trees, the quality of the timbers has suffered in recent years. A noticeable increase in whitewood boards is a result of harvesting these young trees . Heartwood (harder to find) is the highest quality and grade with a deep pinkish red color. Redwood is generally soft and needs to be maintained in order to preserve its longevity. Fencing decking and siding are popular exterior applications for the use of Redwood. The price point for Redwood is generally low for construction grade lumber. If you have questions about exterior wood types for a deck, railing or fencing project contact one of our sales professionals at 844-277-7327.      

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Intermediate Spreader Posts

Intermediate Spreader Posts are used to maintain cable spacing and reduce cable “spread” by decreasing the distance in between larger vertical railing posts. These are non structural posts typically made of a light gauge material and display a visibly leaner profile in order to minimize obstruction. The use of intermediate spreader posts allows a greater distance in between the structural posts, creating larger daylight openings on cable deck railings. Also commonly referred to as  “spreaders” or “intermediate pickets”, these posts are compatible with wooden or stainless steel cable railing posts. Combining different sizes and materials can be a great way to create an interesting look as well as value engineer a railing package. San Diego Cable Railings now proudly offers “Ultra Slim” spreader posts at our online store. We combined the durability of welded connections and stainless steel with the sleek aesthetics of a slim flat bar profile. Much like our other railing post products, our spreader posts are made locally with domestic stainless steel. By utilizing welded connections and solid stainless steel members, we are able to offer an intermediate spreader post unlike anything available at retail locations or big box stores. SDCR spreader posts are available in both T304 and T316 grade stainless steel, and can be used in combination with our pre made wooden and stainless steel railing posts. “Ultra Slim” spreader posts do not require multiple parts and pieces or assembly and they are furnished with all necessary mounting hardware. The sales/production staff and preferred installation contractors at SDCR are constantly performing trials and field tests in order to continually improve our product line. Our cable railing products are designed to be safe and easy to install by professional or DIY customers. Our railing posts and packages offer minimalist aesthetics and minimal components which results in beautiful railings and less time on the job. If you have questions about our intermediate spreader posts, please visit the online store or contact our sales staff at 844-277-7327.          

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Safe Deck Railings

Safe deck railings and the question of safety on raised decks has become increasingly popular on discussion boards throughout the building community. When it comes to cable railings, manufacturers are encouraged to follow even tighter guidelines than some traditional deck railings. The recent growth in popularity of cable railings has expedited the need for proper standards and testing.  San Diego Cable Railings prides itself on the structural integrity of our railing systems. We are continually performing in house tests, as well as field testing on our railing systems. The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) is dedicated to safe building practices and the promotion of deck safety. The (NADRA) website is a great resource for deck builders, homeowners, manufacturers and design professionals. Additionally, you can locate inspectors by geo location and read articles pertaining to deck safety on this comprehensive web resource. Anything and everything related to deck construction and safety can be found at (NADRA).  They provide photos and workshops, articles, and links to material suppliers and deck builders. Safe deck railings require structural considerations, proper backing, and high quality materials to secure raised deck barriers. As proud members of NADRA, San Diego Cable Railings is dedicated to quality construction and high quality cable deck railings. We encourage safe building practices as well as the promotion of licensed contractors that specialize in deck and railing construction. Our preferred installers have spent years constructing decks, fences and cable railings exclusively with our product line. We continually conduct safety meetings, testing, and trade consultations in order to provide our customers safe and attractive railing systems. We encourage our customers to visit our profile at the North American Deck and Railing Association by clicking the on the link to the (NADRA) website. If you have questions about safe deck railings, code compliance, or about any of our railing products give us a call at 844-277-7327.  

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Five Star Cable Railing Reviews

Cable railing reviews from websites like houzz.com and Yelp are an excellent way for potential customers to review product and customer service standards provided by San Diego Cable Railings. Houzz.com is a home remodeling platform that showcases images and construction companies dedicated to residential remodeling and home improvement. Customer reviews are a great way for potential customers to read about actual customer experiences which answer many common questions in detail and showcase the high quality railing products and customer service standards supplied by our staff. Our featured image for this weeks blog is a stellar review from an east coast cable railing customer. She was thrilled with both her experience and products. We prepared a job specific cable railing package containing all necessary stainless cables, fittings, cable railing posts, and hardware; shipped to the state of Maryland in less than 3 weeks! Our turn around times for cable railing packages are some of the fastest in the industry. Even custom cable railing packages can be prepared and delivered in 2-4 weeks. Some of our most popular railing packages include cable deck railings, interior cable railings, and cable fences. San Diego Cable Railings has received service awards from Houzz.com year after year and provided countless homeowners just like Mary with cable railing parts and accessories. We encourage our potential customers to do their homework and to explore the various platforms offering cable railing reviews and product descriptions. Home improvement projects are a large investment that should be enjoyable and produce outstanding results. Our sales and production staff go to great lengths in order to provide only the highest level of customer service and product quality. If you would like to view more cable railing reviews please click on the Houzz icon or visit our testimonials page to read about actual customer experiences with our products and services.  

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DIY Deck Railings vs. Hiring a Pro

DIY deck railings can offer significant cost savings for do it yourselfers, but how do you know when it’s time to hire a pro? San Diego Cable Railings has you covered! Our professional sales and production staff combines expert product knowledge and preferred contractor referrals to deck railing specialists. This weeks blog post contains a few examples of common building conditions for both DIY and professional installation. -Ground level decks and straight line scenarios are great candidates for DIY deck railings. Cable fencing projects can also be a common DIY scenario because few specialty tools are required. Many homeowners have built a fence or two; and with a few tricks cable fencing can be done easily and effectively. Lower elevations mean safer working conditions and working on flat ground is less intimidating to novice installers. Wooden posts and rails are less expensive and typically more forgiving than steel.  Raised decks, balconies, and structural retrofit projects are more commonly installed by professionals. Skilled deck builders and cable railing installers understand the framing components and loads associated with these types of structures. Construction performed at 10-20 feet off the ground requires a certain skill set, and can be dangerous without proper tooling and fall protection. San Diego Cable Railings preferred contractors have constructed hundreds of decks and railings all over California.  It is important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” scenario when it comes to cable railings and deck construction projects. Homeowners and contractors must evaluate the challenges and practicality of each individual project, as well as the skill level of the installer. Our pre made cable railing kits provide detailed instructions and swage less cable fittings for DIY install with minimal tools. For more complex installations we offer accurate installation estimates and referrals to trained professionals. We recommend using licensed contractors that have specific experience with our products to ensure safety and success. If you have questions about DIY deck railings or cable railing installers, give us a call or visit the quote request page today! 844-277-7327   

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Top Railings For Cable Rail Systems

San Diego Cable Railings offers complete cable rail systems and a variety of material combinations to create our railing packages. In this article we touch on basic railing components and top railing options, as well as the importance of material selection and maintenance when it comes to top railings. The Basics: Our customers frequently desire minimalistic railings and unobstructed views. We achieve this look by minimizing the amount of components and hardware needed to construct the railing. Sturdy posts and top railings are necessary structural elements for a successful railing project. Below is a list of typical cable rail components and a couple of our favorite top railing choices for your cable railing: -Railing Posts: Vertical uprights that attach to a deck surface or floor -Cable Assemblies: Railing infill to provide the barrier and prevent pass through -Hardware: Fasteners for attaching posts and top railings -Top Railings: The horizontal railing cap member that connects to the railing posts providing lateral stability When it comes to exterior railings, the top railing member will receive the highest amount of  UV and moisture exposure of all the railing components. Much like a deck surface, the top railings on any cable rail systems will see more direct sun, standing moisture, and physical contact than the vertical railing components. (posts) At SDCR the materials of choice when it comes to top railing selection are Ipe hardwood and Stainless Steel. Our preferred installers have performed 100s of installations utilizing MANY different top railing options and have selected Ipe and Stainless for the following reasons: Cable Tension- Cable railings sustain a tremendous amount of tension in order to keep the cables taught and prevent sagging or pass through. Ipe hardwood behaves like steel and belongs to the “Ironwood” family. It is 30 times harder than teak and 300 times harder than typical framing lumber. Our stainless steel post systems combined with hardwood top railings sustain and maintain tension with minimal or no need for future cable adjustments. Durability- Ipe hardwood and stainless steel can last 30-50 years even when exposed to exterior conditions. Ipe hardwood and stainless steel are not subject to dry rot or termite damage. They do not oxidize or cause electrolysis when combined, nor to they leech acids released by other material types. ALL types of wooden or steel top railings will require a minimal amount of maintenance. A simple wipe down or occasional pressure wash will add years to the lifespan and beauty of any exterior railing. Re application of sealer or paint to wood members will greatly improve the lifespan and look.  Even composite and synthetic products boasting “no maintenance” need to be cleaned and maintained in order to function for the life of the product. SAN DIEGO CABLE RAILINGS/CABLE RAIL SYSTEMS – 800-844-277-7327

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About SDCR

San Diego Cable Railings provides high quality cable railing systems to contractors and DIY installers nationwide. Our products are made in house based in San Diego, CA. – built to withstand harsh conditions and coastal environments.

What We Do

Cable Railing
Glass Railing
Gates and Fencing
Hardware Products
Installation Services

Contact Info

1365 N JOHNSON AVE #117 EL CAJON, CA 92020 (Visits by appointment only)

Shop@sandiegocablerailings.com

(888) 389-0003

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