Steel balustrades
Steel balustrades made to measure, and balustrade repairs.
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A balustrade spends most of its life being leaned on by people talking at a braai. It needs to look good doing it.
It also needs to hold on a dark stair, when someone with a drink leans harder than they meant to.
What is a balustrade?
A balustrade is the railing along the open side of a stair, balcony or landing, there to stop people falling. Steel balustrades are made to measure, in plain, modern or decorative designs, and finished to resist rust. In South Africa, the building regulations set a minimum height and a maximum gap between the bars.
We make, install and repair steel balustrades for stairs, balconies and landings. Each one is measured on site and made to suit the space and the look of the house. A good balustrade is the part of a stair you notice least, until you need it.
Made for your space
Each balustrade is measured on site and made to suit the stair or balcony, and the look of the house. A modern home might want clean, plain lines. An older home might want ironwork matching its gates.
Before we cut any steel, we measure the angle of the stair and the height of the landing. We plan the spacing of the uprights too.
The result should look like it was built with the house. A balustrade made to fit makes the stair look finished, while a poor fit makes it look like an afterthought.
Safe to lean on
A balustrade has two jobs: to stop a fall and to stay put while it does. The height, the spacing between uprights and the fixings all decide whether it does both.
Uprights set close together keep small children from slipping through. Strong fixings into the floor or the wall keep the whole thing from moving when someone leans on it.
We build for safety first, and for the look second.
Balustrade repairs
Steel outside meets rain, sun and the splash from the pool. Over the years, rust gets into the joints and the fixings work loose.
A loose balustrade gives no warning before it gives way. If yours moves when you lean on it, it needs looking at.
We repair balustrades as well as making new ones. We weld, fit new fixings and replace sections where the old steel is past saving. Send us a photo with your message, so we can see it before we visit.
We offer service level agreements and finance for your balustrades. Each one is a service contract with 24-hour support at night and on weekends.
Planning your security from the start? Read our home and business security guide, covering gates, access control, cameras, alarms and fencing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you repair an existing balustrade?
Yes. We repair steel balustrades as well as making new ones, for stairs, balconies and landings. Loose fixings, rusted joints, cracked welds and bent sections can often be welded, straightened and refixed, which costs less than a new balustrade. Send us a photo with your message, so we can see the problem before we visit. If your balustrade moves when you lean on it, don't wait. A balustrade gives little warning before it gives way, usually when someone leans on it hardest. Until it's fixed, keep children and guests away from it. Where the steel has rusted through, or the fixings are pulling out of crumbling concrete, a repair may not be safe, and we'll tell you plainly. The written quotation sets out whether to repair or replace.
Do you do inside and outside balustrades?
Yes. We make and fit steel balustrades for inside and outside: staircases, landings, balconies, patios, pool areas and mezzanines in homes and businesses. Send us a message with where it is and a photo, and we'll come and measure. We tell you what suits the space, the look of the house and how the balustrade will be used. Outside steel faces rain, sun and pool chemicals, so the finish counts for more there. We use finishes made to resist rust, and recommend how to look after them. Inside, the choice is more about style: plain, modern, ornate or laser-cut. Either way, the balustrade must meet the building regulations for height and gaps. The written quotation sets out the design, the finish and the fitting.
Can a balustrade match my gates?
Yes. Because we make steelwork to order, a balustrade can follow the pattern of your gates, burglar bars, security gates or other ironwork. Matching steel makes the house look like one design, inside and out, instead of a mix of styles bought over the years. We can copy a simple pattern, an ornate design or a laser-cut panel, and match the finish and colour too. If you're starting fresh, we can design the gates, burglar bars and balustrades together, so they share a look from the start. We measure on site and photograph the steel you want to match. Then we confirm the design with you before we start, and the written quotation sets out the design, the finish and the fitting.
How high should a balustrade be?
A balustrade must be high enough to stop someone falling from the stair, landing or balcony, and the South African building regulations set the minimum height. As a rough guide, balconies and landings need a higher balustrade than the side of a stair, and higher again where the drop is large. The spacing between uprights counts too. The gaps must be small enough to stop a small child slipping through, and the design shouldn't give children an easy foothold to climb. A balustrade must also be strong enough for an adult to lean on hard. We build to the regulations and check the height and spacing on site before we make anything. If your existing balustrade is too low or too open, we can raise it or add uprights.
Where we work
Our teams work from our Kya Sands workshop, for homes, estates and businesses in Randburg, Fourways, Sandton, Midrand, Waterfall, Centurion, Roodepoort, Krugersdorp, Bedfordview, Edenvale and the West Rand. See all the areas we serve.
Talk to us about your home and business security needs
You shouldn't have to sit at the bottom of your own driveway, wondering whether the gate will close. With Paul's Gates you won't. Send us a message or chat on WhatsApp, and we will come and look.