FAQs

Since we offer a wide range of designs, providing blanket pricing information without understanding your project in advance is difficult. The best way to get accurate pricing for your project is to submit a pricing request, here. Don’t worry, we don’t bite, don’t track you in any way, or pester you with follow up emails.

How do I get an estimate?

The easiest way to get an estimate is to pick your design and request a quote, by clicking Quick Quote at the top of the page.If you’re desired design isn’t one that’s covered by the options available, you can Submit a Custom Design here by just sending us a picture of what you’d like, and we’ll prepare a design proposal and quote.You can also email us directly at support@agilerailing.com. If you choose this option, try to cover the same information in your email/attachments that we request on our request a quote page, namely:

Sketches, plans, drawings. These can be as simple as a photo of a plan with approximate dimensions drawn on a napkin, but the more detail the better.
Photos of the area where you want to install railings
Your choice of style for:
- Level Sections (Horizontal, Vertical, Vertical with top panel, or other)
- Sloped or Stair sections (if applicable, Horizontal, Vertical, Vertical with top panel, or other)
- How you want to attach them (Deck mount, Fascia mount, or other)
- Post (Flat bar, Square tube, Rectangular tube, or Round tube), and desired dimensions
- Infill (Flat bar, Square tube, Rectangular tube, or Round tube), and desired dimensions
- Toprail (Wood, Stainless, Aluminum, or Source your own) and desired dimensions of the toprail.
What material you’d like your railings to made from (Galvanized Steel, Cold Galvanized Steel, Stainless for exterior applications, Stainless for interior applications, or Steel).
What sort of finish you’d like (PVDF, Powder coat, Unfinished stainless, or Unfinished galvanized)

Or of course you can just call us and we can walk through the entire process over the phone.

Do your railings satisfy building codes?

Our standard railing designs meet or exceed code requirements in nearly every US jurisdiction, and since they’re custom, can easily be modified to satisfy any idiosyncratic requirements in your local code. Our railings are designed in accordance with the requirements set forth in the latest adopted editions of the IRC (International Residential Code) or IBC (International Building Code).

That said, local codes may vary and you should always check to ensure that the railings we design and produce for you will comply with local codes. Responsibility for ensuring that the railing design you approve and we produce satisfies code rests with you.

If you have questions, feel free to call or email, we’re here to help.

How do I measure?

Check out our measuring instructions here.

Will I be able to install these myself?

If you mean myself, as in without help from a professional installer: Most people who would describe themselves as handy and have access to a basic set of tools will be able to install our railing systems.
If you mean myself, as in one person working alone: In nearly all circumstances, one person can definitely install our railings, but it’s a heck of a lot easier if you have two, at least for a few parts of the process. If you can enlist a helper for only part of the time, ask that they help with 1) unpacking and moving the panels into position for mounting, and 2) when holding them in place while you’re marking hole positions.If you’re flying solo, expect to use clamps extensively to hold panels and handrails in position, and let us know; we’ve done this a few times and have seen all kinds of creative solutions that may be helpful.

Check out our Installation Overview to see what’s involved in more detail or a sample of the Custom Installation Instructions we provide with each order

Can you produce gates?

We certainly can – Let us know you’re interested in a gate when you request a quote, and tell us what you can about its height and width, as well as the solidity of the structure on each side (e.g., will the post to which the door attaches be connected to concrete / wood framing / etc.) – having the right support is critical to a solid, long lasting, and well aligned gate.We generally supply hinges, latches, etc. , or if you prefer, you can source your own if you have a style that’s used elsewhere in your design that you’d like to match.

How do I include my contractor / designer / architect?

It’s simple – the process is largely the same. Either a) have your contractor / designer / architect complete a Quote Request, and we’ll work with him/her directly, or b) complete the request for a quote yourself, and include your contractor / designer / architect’s email in the comments field, and we’ll cc: them on any future correspondence.

What if my deck / stairs / structure isn’t built yet?

We’ve built many railings for structures that are not yet constructed, and have had very few problems, but we should be clear that if your design changes, or your structure isn’t built in accordance with your plans, there can be issues. When we design your railings, we submit detailed drawings of each panel in your railing system for your approval, and we commit to build the railings consistent with this agreed upon design.There are certain instances where building railings before the surface is complete is particularly inadvisable, and we’ll say so if that’s the case (e.g. concrete stairs, where tolerances are very tight and the finished result often varies at least slightly from plan). Many of the concerns about building railings in advance of having a completed structure can be ameliorated with flexible design, the incorporation of spacer plates, appropriate spacing between panels, etc. Let us know if your structure is not yet complete, and we’ll provide guidance as whether it makes sense to wait and ways to make the system adaptable to minor changes / variations between plan and as-built dimensions.

Where am I required to have railings?

In most municipalities in the US, all decks higher than 30″ above grade (at any point within 36″ of the edge of the open surface) must have a guardrail. If you choose to install a guardrail on a deck lower than 30″, you must still meet code requirements.

What height railings do I need?

TL;DR General rules of thumb:
Residential guardrail: >=36″ except CA, which requires >=42″
Commercial guardrail: >=42″
Stair Guardrail: >=34-38″ above the noseline

Residential Projects
Railing height requirements for residential projects differ from state to state, and municipality to municipality, so the only way to know for sure is to check with your local building department. That said, most municipalities adopt some form of the International Residential Code (IRC) which requires guardrails for residential projects to be at least 36″ in height, measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. A notable exception is California, which generally requires a guardrail height of at least 42″ for residential projects.For stairs, most municipalities require a guardrail that is at least 34″ high measured from the line that connects the nose of each stair, and a handrail at a height between 34 and 38″ above the noseline. Note that handrail requirements may vary depending on the design of the stairs.

Commercial projects
Commercial projects (which are often governed by the International Building Code (IBC) rather than the IRC), almost universally require a height of at least 42″.

For stairs, required guardrail height is generally 36″ measured from the line that connects the nose of each stair, and a handrail at a height between 34 and 38″ above the noseline. Note that handrail requirements may vary depending on the design of the stairs.

Have Questions? Don’t be afraid to ask us. We’ll do everything possible to help you understand what your code requires, and ensure that your railings will meet or exceed code and pass inspection, but keep in mind that responsibility for ensuring that your railing design is compliant with applicable code rests with you.

Not finding the answer to your question here?

Get in touch! We’re here to help.

Email: support@agilearchitectural.com

Phone: 415.827.8200
(call or text)

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