Railings
Bespoke metal railings, made in Cornwall
Railings for garden walls, boundaries, balconies, terraces, churchyards and town centres, each made to measure and shaped to fit the site. Made in our workshop near Wadebridge.
Railings that follow the ground, not the catalogue
Straight, level runs of railings are the easy part. Cornwall doesn’t offer many of those. Walls step down hills, terraces curve around bay windows, and granite copings rise and fall along the road.
We make railings to follow whatever is there. That means sloping panels that stay parallel to the ground, curves formed to match a wall, and posts set out so every section fits. It’s the part of the job that separates made-to-measure railings from the rest.
Types of railings we make
Garden & boundary railings
Wall-top and freestanding railings for front gardens, boundaries, steps and patios.
Balcony & terrace railings
Railings for balconies, decks, raised terraces and roof terraces, straight or curved.
Traditional & heritage railings
Period-style railings for older houses, churchyards, public gardens and town centres.
Designs and details
Railings can be as plain or as decorative as the setting calls for. Common details include:
- Spear-top, fleur-de-lys and urn finials
- Bow-top hoops for a softer, safer top
- Twisted, basket-twist and belly (bulged) bars
- Rings or scrolls between the rails
- Forged scroll panels to finish the ends of a run
Whatever the design, we can make gates to match so the whole boundary works together.
Fixed into Cornish stone
Much of our railing work is fixed onto granite copings, slate-hung walls, rubble stone or the top of a Cornish hedge. Each needs a different approach. We choose fixings to suit the wall, and set posts so they don’t crack the coping or let water in.
We finish railings to suit where they’ll live. Hot-dip galvanising gives the longest-lasting protection against rust. A painted finish over galvanising gives you the colour you want with the same protection underneath, and it is the best choice near the sea.
Railings we’ve made
Questions about railings
Do I need planning permission for railings?
Usually not, if they stay within permitted development limits: up to 1 metre high next to a road used by vehicles (or its footpath) and up to 2 metres elsewhere, including any wall they sit on. Listed buildings and their grounds need listed building consent, and conservation areas can bring extra rules. We can advise at the site visit.
Can railings be curved to follow my wall?
Yes. Curved and sloping runs are a large part of what we do. We take the shape from the wall on site and form the railings to match.
How long will metal railings last near the sea?
Properly galvanised steel lasts for decades, even in coastal air. The Galvanizers Association puts the life of a typical hot-dip galvanised coating in the UK at 34 to 174 years, depending on the environment. Adding paint on top gives a second layer of protection and the colour you want.