Railings are essential around a pool or a balcony, they are installed for safety. However, this is not the only place you can place railings. They can be used alongside steps in your garden to improve safety and they can even be used as a purely decorative feature, helping to create a stunning and stylish outdoor area.
Of course, installing railings requires several things:
Choose Your Balustrade
The first step is to choose your supplier. You need a local and reputable business, such as balustrades Sydney. This will ensure you’re getting a premium product for an attractive price. It will also allow you to look at a wide array of railing options and choose the one that really suits you.
Don’t forget, there are hundreds of different styles of railings available, you need to choose the one that you like the most and that fits your intentions.
Sizing Up
The next step is to measure up the area you want to put balustrades on. Make sure you allow for every curve or angel, it can make a difference to the overall dimensions.
You’ll need to know these when ordering your railings, you don’t want to go to all this effort and find you’re half a foot short!
Fastenings
In the past, the only option was to create a large hole in the floor and fix your metal supporting poles into the ground. They could be hammered in or even cemented into place. Of course, if your floor is full of rocks this is even harder work.
However, newer technologies make this part of the job easier, especially if you’re dealing with a concrete base.
The best option is known as a wedge anchor and it’s actually been in existence for over 100 years. The wedge anchors available today are simply bolts that are wider at the tips. You’ll also see a clip that surrounds the bolt on the narrower part. As the bolt is tightened, the clips slide over the wider part of the bolt, effectively expanding the bolt and locking it into the ground.
It’s that simple.
You’ll need to drill a hole in your concrete, be sure to measure the distances between posts accurately. The drill bit will need to be the same size as the anchor and deep enough to accommodate all of the anchor. Ideally, you’ll go a little deeper than the anchor to allow for dust accumulation.
Putting The Post In
Once your homes are ready you need to stand the post in position and align the post hoes with the ones you’ve drilled. Then slide the wedge anchor through the post and into the ground. As you tighten it the bolt will get wider, holding the post firmly in position.
Don’t be surprised if you need to tap the wedge anchor to get it in the ground properly before you can start tightening, this is a good sign as it should be a snug fit.
Once you’ve got all the posts up you can bolt your railings to the posts, then relax and enjoy your hard work.
