Based in Saskatchewan, Canada, SK Rails manufactures long-lasting outdoor railings for business and residential use. Committed to conducting rigorous quality testing on all its railing products, SK Rails also applies an advanced anti-corrosive coating to its iron and cable railings to ensure durability.
Cable railings offer distinct benefits compared with wood railings or glass panels. For instance, cable railings offer you flexibility in design because they can be attached to a range of different posts, including wood, vinyl, or stainless steel. Cables don’t require the same upkeep as wood, and they are generally less expensive and easier to clean than glass. Since cable rails are made of stainless steel, they last a long time with little maintenance. Occasionally, you may need to adjust the cable tension to keep them tight, but even inexperienced property owners can learn to undertake this task themselves. In terms of aesthetics, cable railings can help you to achieve a minimalist, contemporary-looking style.
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Saskatchewan, Canada-based SK Rails has established a solid reputation for high quality, customizable rail systems. Serving residential and commercial markets, SK Rails crafts deck railing systems that are virtually maintenance free and incorporate wood, iron, and cable designs.
With regulations varying depending on country and municipality, a general rule is that decks elevated more than 30 inches above grade require a guardrail. With a focus on single-family detached homes and their attached decks, the International Residential Code requires that the distance from a deck surface to the top of a guardrail be at least 36 inches. By contrast, the International Building Code mandates a minimum height of 42 inches for commercial guardrails such as those found on decks in apartment buildings and multifamily dwellings. In either residential or commercial situations, taller guardrails are also permissible. In either situation, the spacing between rail balusters cannot exceed 4 inches. For safety, legal, and resale value reasons, it makes sense to install only those rail systems that ensure complete regulatory compliance and are guaranteed as durable and long lasting. With a company motto of, “Inspiring Railing Products, Liberating Designs,” SK Rails is a Saskatchewan, Canada-based manufacturer of high-quality railing products. Offering a large range of iron, wood, and cable railings to suit any outdoor space, SK Rails prides itself on providing customers with long-lasting products that require minimal maintenance.
Taking a few steps to care for your wood railings can help extend their life and keep them looking beautiful for many years to come. First, remember to clean the railings whenever you clean the floor of the deck. Washing both the deck and railings at the same time ensures that the overall color stays even and dirt doesn’t build up on the railings. When washing railings, experts often recommend starting at the bottom and working your way up. This method helps you avoid dripping the cleaning solution on dry areas of wood, which may cause discoloration. Achieve the best results by using a cleaner made especially for wood decks, and follow all the product directions. For areas with heavy soil, use a scrub brush to remove the dirt. While you are cleaning, look for areas that need repair. Replace any rusted nails, tighten loose boards, and fill any cracks in the wood with exterior-grade wood filler to keep your railings looking their best. SK Rails, based in Saskatchewan, Canada, adheres to five main standards in the creation of its railing products: versatility, strength, innovation, ease of installation, and quality. Beyond this, SK Rails is also committed to following building codes relating to railings and always designs its products to meet or exceed code requirements.
To ensure that building codes remain relatively uniform in both the United States and Canada, the International Code Council (ICC) was created in 1999. I-Codes have a minimum safety standard for construction, but not every province in Canada is required to follow these codes. Canadian provinces can opt to use the National Building Code (NBC) system instead of I-Codes. According to the Canadian building codes, guardrails are required whenever a deck sits more than 24 inches above the ground. This is stricter than in the United States, which requires a guardrail only when decks are at least 30 inches above ground. In Canada, the required height of the guardrail depends on how high the deck is. When decks are between 24 inches and 70 inches above ground, they must be outfitted with a guardrail of a height at least 36 inches above the deck surface. Decks 70 inches above ground need a guardrail 42 inches or taller. A premier provider of code-tested railings, SK Rails serves both residential and commercial applications. In an effort to offer customers a virtually limitless range of products, SK Rails sells products made from iron, cable, and wood.
Staircases and handrails can utilize a range of wood options to provide the look and durability homeowners want for their space. Following are some of the most popular species of wood used in staircase projects: - Oak: In the United States, red oak is the most common species used for staircases. The reason this particular wood is so popular is that it is the easiest to sand, stain, and finish. White oak is another popular choice, thanks to its superior resistance to water. Typically, the appearance of white oak is grayer. - Mahogany: This durable wood provides homes with a high-end look that is often unmatched by other wood species. African mahogany is noted for being extremely tough despite its light weight, and a fine grain that adds sophistication to a home. Because of this superior appearance and durability, many homeowners feel mahogany is worth its extra cost. - Cherry: Homeowners seeking a long-lasting wood often set their sights on cherry. Featuring a unique warmth, American Cherry is a softer wood ranging from auburn to strawberry blond in color. The rich, reddish-brown color of American Cherry is also seen in Brazilian cherry, though the latter species is much more long-lasting. A custom railing company located in Saskatchewan, Canada, SK Rails installs a wide variety of wood, cable, and wrought iron railings. With a reputation for durability, all SK Rails products undergo rigorous testing to ensure strength and quality. If you spend a little time on upkeep, iron railings will retain their elegant beauty for many years. To care for your ironwork, wash the railings regularly with soapy water to keep them clean and free of debris. As you clean the iron, inspect it for any damage, loose hardware, or rust, and promptly repair the affected areas. Uneven color, oily residue, or a bumpy surface are signs that the metal or paint has deteriorated and needs your attention. When you notice rusted areas on the iron, use a toothbrush or other small cleaning brush to scrub away the rust to stop it from penetrating the surface and spreading. If a regular toothbrush doesn’t work, try sandpaper or a fine wire brush to remove the rust, then treat the area with wax, paint, or a protective spray to defend it from further weathering. Canada-based railing company SK Rails provides virtually maintenance-free cable, wood, and iron railings to customer in the commercial and residential sectors. SK Rails workers belong to Canada’s Professional Iron Workers, a union that ensures ironworkers are well-trained and fairly paid for their work. According to this union, there are four common types of ironworkers:
Structural Capable of reading engineering blueprints, structural ironworkers are responsible for positioning steel girders and beams and securing them in place by hand. They usually undergo specialized training in preparation for their work and often operate at high elevation. Reinforcing Often referred to as rodbusters, reinforcing ironworkers are responsible for cutting, tying, and reinforcing the bars that create the skeleton of concrete structures. These ironworkers often use cutting torches and hand tools to complete their tasks. Ornamental After a structure is completed, ornamental ironworkers add the additional architectural details that make buildings attractive and safe to use. These details include such things as staircases, curtain walls, and railings. Welding is primarily used by ornamental ironworkers, but such professionals may use multiple types of tools. Structural steel fabricator Before anything can be built, structural steel fabricators create the steel components that are put together to become the frame for bridges and buildings. Also known as shop ironworkers, these professionals are among the most versatile and are capable of working with brass, steel, and copper Reputable railing-company SK Rails provides wood, iron, and cable railings to commercial and residential clients from its headquarters in Saskatchewan, Canada. All of these products are known for their superior strength and quality, along with their easy installation process made possible thanks to SK Rails’ proprietary pre-welded system and modular caps.
Many people use the terms handrail and guardrail interchangeably, but the two things are actually quite different. A type of guard, guardrails are designed to decrease the possibility of falling from a walking surface to a lower level of a building. They typically run along a flat area that has a drop on at least one side and must be durable enough that they do not break when a person pushes or stumbles on the railing. Further, guardrails must be tall enough that people cannot fall over the top of them. In public and commercial buildings, the minimum height of guardrails is 42 inches above the stairs. This is reduced to about 36 inches tall in residential buildings. Meanwhile, handrails go up and down a set of stairs or other incline. They improve the stability of people and prevent falls by guiding pedestrians up and down an incline so that they do not slip or misplace their footing. Since handrails are made to be gripped, they must be at least one and a half inches away from the wall so that they can be easily grasped by all of a person’s fingers. Handrails must be secure enough to provide stability and a continuous guide to walkers, but they do not have to be strong enough to resist breaking if someone slips on them. Also, handrails, when required, are usually only needed on one side of an incline, regardless of whether both sides are open to a fall. Guards, by contrast, are sometimes necessary on both sides of an open platform. Committed to customer satisfaction, quality, and the core company value of family, SK Rails designs and manufactures railing solutions from its headquarters in Saskatchewan, Canada. Among other innovative railing products, SK Rails offers pre-welded parts for ease of installation and anti-corrosion technology that helps the company’s products last for years to come. In addition to cable and wood railings, the company’s catalog includes a wide array of metal railings.
Railing installation begins with the choice of material. A wide range of material options for railings exist, including wood, cable, glass, and vinyl. Metal is an extremely popular choice, and for good reason. Here are three advantages to metal railings: Durability: Metal railings are the most durable, making them a cost-effective choice. Additionally, choosing a lightweight material such as aluminum or stainless steel offers the same durability without the heaviness many associate with metal. Ease of Maintenance: As opposed to material like wood, which requires sealants and can be prone to rot, metal railings rarely require more than being wiped with a cloth. Some companies, like SK Rails, coat their metal railings with anti-corrosive technology, making maintenance even easier. Customization: Metal railings provide a wide range of customization options. From the airiness of aluminum to the elegance of wrought iron, metal railings can be tailored to the home or business owner at a relatively low cost as compared to glass or wood. |