Hardwood or softwood exterior railings?
I live in a 105 year old house in Montreal. It is winter here about six months a year. I am restoring my front steps and need to replace the hand rails. Currently, they are pine sitting on cast iron supports. After 30 years of exposure, they must be replaced.
Trips to the different home centres indicates that wood hand rails are not “in” while aluminum and other metals are. I would like to stick with wood. The problem is that the pine rails on offer are not inspiring and are more flimsy than what I am replacing. Pressure treated wood rails are worse. The home centres offer oak rails (intended for interior use) with a nice profile and are more substantial. Using hardwood doubles the cost but over the long run – it doesn’t matter. Anyone have experience with this issue? My thinking, is that properly prepared and painted, a hardwood would serve me well.
Second question – the railing goes out about 5 feet and the declines following the inclination of the stairs. What is the best way to join the two sections?
Replies
You need to find a real lumber yard, not a home center. You should be able to find substantial softwood railings--cedar most likely, or hardwood railings from tropical hardwoods such as IPE.. Oak is only acceptable if it is white oak, red oak would rot in relatively short order. There are also plastic composite materials that while expensive, offer the promise of low maintenance. But home centers just don't carry such things being more focused on price than performance. If anything like in the US that means you will need to shop before noon on Saturday, or before 5 on weekdays.
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