Railing Production Process

Decorative Railing Sizes

NatureRails™ are available in two standard sizes or any custom size. Click on these links to see design examples:

Designer Railing Panels – Six Foot

Designer Railing Panels – Eight Foot

Custom Railing Designed Just for You

Railing Building Code Requirement

Railings are now available in steel or aluminum! All railing products are designed to meet the residential building code requirement of four inches or less open space in the design.

Designing the Railing

After an order is placed, you will go through a proof cycle process of your design if it is a custom order and you may make alterations prior to manufacturing of the product. If your have chosen a standard design, the artwork will be as shown. You will work closely with the designer’s liaison to create a functional piece of art for your home or business. If your have chosen a standard design, the artwork will be as shown.

Water Jet Cutting of the Railing Design

Upon completion of the design process with the artist, your product will be cut out of steel or aluminum. Your NatureRails™ product starts with high quality pickled and oiled steel or aluminum materials. Standard materials are 10 gauge steel and 3/16″ aluminum. Residential railing standard is mild steel 10 gauge (1/8th”) thick & 30″ tall.

Commercial applications are designed per your specifications. We can discuss other materials such as stainless steel or copper depending on your needs.

Your NatureRails™ art is cut on a water jet machine which provides the most detailed and precise cut of our original designs by Rob Gerdin. The water jet cuts the steel with more than 50,000 PSI (pounds per square inch) of water and abrasive mix. This gives the product a finer cut and more detail instead of using a plasma jet. Occasionally, a laser jet is used for small items.

The water jet cutting process is essentially the same as water erosion found in nature but greatly accelerated and concentrated. It is the preferred method when the materials being cut are sensitive to the high temperatures generated by other methods. This eliminates the heating of the product and burrs associated with plasma cutting.

Welding can be done to your specifications, or we can work with your contractor to come up with a product that suits your needs and you can provide the finishing touches.

Close up of maintenance free style welded railing system that simply bolts into two side posts. Includes matching hardware.

Railing Acid Bath and Sand Blasting

Next, your product is quality checked for any defects in design, then prepared for powder coating by dipping it in an acid bath that includes a rust inhibitor and then sand blasted. Sand blasting allows removal of any surface contaminants so that the powder coat can adhere directly to the surface of the product. Sand blasting is the best way to clean the surface since it forcibly propels a stream of abrasive material against a surface under high pressure to remove any particles that may have accumulated on the product during the cutting process.

Powder Coating the Railing

NatureRails™ are coated with brand name powder coat products in an array of colors to suit any décor. Powder coating allows for maximum protection against rust, cracking and fading, and is suitable for use indoors or out.

Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured in a large oven and forms a protective “skin.” Powder coatings emit zero or near zero volatile organic compounds (VOC). Powder coatings can produce much thicker coatings than conventional liquid coatings without running or sagging.

When installing your railing outdoors, especially in high humidity or salt water areas, we add an additional powder coat application of primer prior to your color selection. To view a sample of some of the many colors available, please click on the following link and view page two of Cardinal Paint’s Powder Coat Brochure.

Packaging the Railing for Shipment

Your product is prepared for shipping by first wrapping it in cellophane to protect it from dust. Finally, your product is carefully packaged in a sturdy crate and banded. Larger orders are placed on pallets and banded for shipment. Delivery is made by UPS or the best available freight carrier and will arrive at your door in normally 4-7 days in the lower 48 states. Please allow additional time for shipping to Alaska, Hawaii and international shipping.