Railing Repair

A damaged railing is easy to put off, but it is often the one thing standing between someone and a fall. The good news is that many problems can be repaired without replacing the whole railing. The key is figuring out what actually failed.

Diagnosis Comes First

A railing that moves, leans or rattles can have several causes, and the fix depends on which one it is. When we look at a damaged railing, we check the posts, the anchors and the surface they attach to, the welds and joints, the condition of the metal, and the handrail itself. Photos sent with your repair request help us prepare before the visit.

Common Railing Problems

Loose posts

The most common complaint. A post that moves can make the whole railing feel unsafe. The cause may be the anchor, the base plate, the material around the post, or a broken weld at the base.

Failed anchors

Anchors in concrete, brick or stone can loosen as the masonry cracks, water gets in or freeze-thaw cycles work on it over time. On wood structures, fasteners can loosen as the wood ages. Re-anchoring in sound material is often part of the repair.

Broken welds

Welded joints can crack from repeated stress, impact or corrosion. Rewelding can restore the connection when the surrounding metal is still sound. This is closely related to our welding and repair service.

Rust and corrosion

Rust usually starts where the finish has chipped or where water collects, such as post bases and joints. Light surface rust can be cleaned and refinished. Heavy corrosion that has thinned or holed the metal may require replacing parts.

Bent sections

Railings get hit by cars, snow blowers, furniture and falling branches. Bent pickets or rails can sometimes be straightened or replaced individually.

Damaged handrails

A handrail that is loose, cracked or rough to hold should be fixed promptly, since it is the part people rely on most.

Repair or Replace?

We will tell you which we think makes more sense. Factors include:

• How much of the railing is affected
• Whether the metal is still sound away from the damaged area
• The condition of the steps, deck or wall the railing attaches to
• Whether the existing design still meets your needs
• The cost of repair compared with a new railing

If replacement is the better option, we can build a new railing to match the original or design something new. See our iron railings page for replacement options.

While You Wait

If a railing is loose or broken, avoid leaning on it or relying on it for support, and let household members and visitors know. Consider limiting use of the area if practical. These are common-sense precautions only; they do not make a damaged railing safe, and a professional should look at it.

Fences and Other Metalwork

The same problems, loose posts, broken welds and rust, affect fences and gates too. If your fence needs attention, our iron fences page covers that work.

Residential and Commercial Repairs

At homes, we often repair front step railings, porch rails and interior stair railings. At commercial and multi-unit properties, repairs typically involve entrance railings, stair rails and balcony guards that see heavy daily use. In both cases we focus on making the railing secure again.

See finished work on our projects page.

We repair railings across Bergen County, Passaic County, Essex County, Morris County, Hudson County and Union County.

Local railing pages are available for Paterson, Paramus, Passaic, Clifton and Teaneck.