How to Choose the Best Deck Railing for Your Beach House

Is the ocean or a coastal waterway essentially at your front or backyard? Breathing in that luscious salt air can feel invigorating for some and relaxing for others. But as much as salt air can be good for the soul, it's hard on your home's materials, especially outdoor features like decks and railings.

If you're replacing or installing a new deck railing on your beach property, you want to choose a material that will provide safety, stand up to salt air, and enhance rather than detract from your beautiful seascape. Saltwater exposure, high winds, and harsh UV rays are some of the unique challenges beach homeowners need to consider when choosing building materials. 

Cable Bullet covers all you need to know about selecting the best beach house railing materials for coastal environments. You'll learn how marine conditions affect various railing materials, the specific upkeep requirements of those materials, and maintenance tips to keep your railing safe and looking beautiful.

Why Beach House Railing Requires Special Consideration

Knowing how saltwater, humidity, wind, and sun exposure affect the materials of your coastal home will ensure you select railing that is safe, long-lasting, and beautiful.

Exposure to Saltwater and Humidity

Corrosion and wear are accelerated when exposed to saltwater, salt air, and humidity. This is why it's critical to choose corrosion-resistant deck railing materials. Corrosion-resistant deck railing will last much longer and be easier to maintain. Stainless steel is one of the best railing materials a homeowner can choose for a beach home.

High Winds and Weather Resistance

The stability and durability of deck railing can be affected by the continual buffeting of coastal breezes and strong winds. You want to ensure your deck railing posts are well-anchored so that they can provide support to the cables, panels, or balusters between posts. When properly tensioned, stainless steel cables are highly tolerant to high winds and weather.

Sun and UV Exposure

Constant exposure to sunlight and intense UV rays can cause some materials to weaken and fade. UV-resistant materials and finishes will prolong the life of the railings, ensuring they remain strong and safe. Effective products such as Boeshield T-9 go a long way to preventing rust and corrosion on metal railing.   

Best Materials for Beach House Deck Railings

The following beach house deck railing materials will provide prolonged life, durability, beauty, and minimal maintenance:

Stainless Steel

Particularly resistant to corrosion, stainless steel is one of the best deck railing materials for beach houses. Stainless steel is produced in various grades. Marine-grade T-316 stainless is manufactured to withstand coastal environments. 

Whether your beach house is a small shingled cottage or a dramatic contemporary villa, stainless steel offers a sleek, modern look that complements all types of beach house aesthetics. 

Cable Railing

Sleek, beautiful, strong, safe, and easy to maintain, cable railing is a perfect choice for coastal homes. The stainless steel cables become almost invisible, allowing your water view to dominate. Manufactured with high-quality corrosion-resistant materials, Cable Bullet's cable railing products are designed to withstand harsh coastal conditions. 

Glass Railing

Glass is a popular beach house railing material because, like cable, glass railing doesn't restrict a view. Sparkling glass panels are a great choice for windy decks but require more maintenance than cable railing. 

When salt air and saltwater condense on glass, the remaining residue clouds the glass. Glass railing needs to be cleaned regularly and often, otherwise salt residue will eventually stain the panels and detract from your view.

Composite Materials

Wood fibers, such as recycled sawdust and woodchips, are combined with plastic to create composite deck railing material. Resistant to insects, rot, UV rays, warping, and fading, composite deck railing is durable and easy to maintain. Composite deck railing is a popular and reliable option for beach homes. 

How Marine Conditions Affect Different Railing Materials

Find out how various deck railing materials are affected by marine conditions:

Wood Railing

Notice that wood wasn't listed in the above section, "best materials for beach house deck railings". Wonder why? Wood, especially soft wood, is highly vulnerable to swelling, warping, insects, and rot when exposed to saltwater and high humidity. 

Frequent sanding, sealing, and staining or painting are required to keep wood protected and in good condition, especially in coastal environments. Even treated wood can still deteriorate over time in harsh marine conditions. Wood is high-maintenance and upkeep is costly when installed as beach house railing. If you love the look of wood, combining wood posts with stainless steel cable railing might be a better option for your beach house.

Stainless Steel Railing

Although stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, salt deposits can still cause surface pitting. However, pitting doesn't become a problem if the surfaces are cleaned regularly to prevent salt buildup. Because maintenance is minimal and regular wipe-downs are easy, marine-grade stainless steel is a preferred option for deck railing in coastal environments. 

Glass Railing

Glass railing is view-friendly, blocks wind, and can trap heat – real benefits, especially for east and north-facing decks, or if you want to enjoy your deck in the cooler months. Glass railing looks great as long as it’s cleaned frequently. 

A regular cleaning protocol must be maintained for glass panels. When left uncleaned, mineral and salt deposits cause stains on the glass. To avoid corrosion, the metal components or frames that support the glass panels must be kept clean as well.

Use a mild household cleaner on the glass and buff it completely dry. Clean and protect metal components and frames with a treatment such as Boeshield T-9 Rust and Corrosion Protection.

Cable Railing

Corrosion-resistant stainless steel cables are one of the best railing choices for marine conditions. The sleek, minimalist look allows for unobstructed views, making it a number one choice of coastal homeowners. 

Cable railing posts, cables, and components must be periodically cleaned to keep them free from salt deposits, but usually, a simple wipe-down with a mild, soapy solution is all that's required. Cables should be inspected several times a year to make sure they're properly tensioned, but with Cable Bullet cable railing, tensioning is a quick and easy job.

Masonry Railing

Stone, brick, or cement is strong and hefty, but in a coastal environment, saltwater can penetrate porous masonry materials, leading to weakening and erosion over time. Sealants and protective treatments must be applied to safeguard masonry railing in coastal environments. Masonry columns can also be combined with cable railing to achieve a low-profile look allowing you to enjoy the coastal scenery more. For cable installations in masonry columns, hardware and components must be corrosion-resistant.

Maintenance Tips for Beach House Deck Railings

Whichever material you choose, follow these basic maintenance tips for beach house deck railings: 

Regular Cleaning

Salt, grime, and deposits should be regularly removed from any railing material. Don't forget the undersides of the railing and small components where salt buildup and grime can hide. Dilute mild soap in a bucket of water, wipe down the railing material, rinse well, and then dry completely. Once you get the routine down, it's an easy home maintenance job you can do while enjoying your sea view!

Inspections for Corrosion and Wear

Keep your railing safe and looking great by addressing minor problems before they become a bigger issue. Depending on your railing material: 

• Check for loose fittings and screws. Pay special attention to metal components, making sure they haven't started to rust or corrode. Cable Bullet highly recommends cleaning rust, stains, and corrosion with Boeshield Rust Free® Rust and Corrosion Cleaner.
• Check all posts, balusters, and handrails to ensure they're strong and stable. 
• Inspect for rot and insect damage. Treat as necessary.
• Check frames around glass panels for corrosion and proper fit.
• Tension cables if necessary.

Inspect your deck railing at least twice a year:

• After winter – check for damage from wind and storms. 
• End of summer – check for fading, drying, and loose fittings caused by long days of UV exposure.

Protective Coatings and Treatments

UV-resistant and anti-corrosion treatments that are specially formulated for coastal environments can extend the life of your beach house railing. 

• For metals such as stainless steel, cable, and aluminum: Boeshield T-9® Rust and Corrosion Protection is a waterproof lubricant that creates a barrier between metal and salt air, preventing rust and corrosion buildup. 
• For glass panel railing: Diamon-Fusion® provides a protective UV-resistant coating on glass panels that bonds with the silicone in the glass.
• For masonry columns, use a sealer to prevent salt air from eroding and weakening the masonry.

Beach House Railing Ideas

Residential Beach Houses

Inland Coastal Designs

Legacy Diego Island, a charming coastal home, flexing the natural beauty of wood, and the modern design of cable. The wood tensioners, combined with beautiful wood balusters and handrail, create an inviting and warm aesthetic that complements the natural surroundings. Our tensioners for wood posts offer a low-maintenance, durable solution, designed to withstand the elements of the salty environment. This thoughtful design balances function and form, maintaining a clear view of the water while enhancing the architectural appeal of this dune home.

Protect Your Beach House with Cable Bullet Deck Railing

Stainless steel Cable Bullet deck railing is one of the most stunning and long-lasting beach house railing options available. The minimalist design is clean, sleek, and modern, allowing your ocean view to take center stage. 

But beauty isn't Cable Bullet's only attribute! Marine-grade stainless steel cable railing will withstand harsh marine environments with minimal upkeep. Now there's a wise investment!