Metal and Iron Railing Types We Weld in Toronto
Every railing below is hand fabircated: cut, bent, TIG or MIG welded and powder-coated in our Etobicoke shop, where all our stair railings in Toronto are built, then bolted into your home. We don’t weld inside finished houses.
Wrought Iron Interior
Solid iron balusters set between your treads and handrail at 100mm maximum spacing. This is the classic upgrade for 1990s oak-spindle stairs in Erin Mills, Sandalwood and Pringle Creek. Choose plain, single-knuckle, double-knuckle, twist or basket balusters, $95-$185 per lin ft.
Exterior Scrollwork
Porch and front-step railings with forged scrolls and collars, built heavier than interior work and powder-coated for road salt. $145-$225 per lin ft. Posts are core-drilled or base-plated into concrete.
Straight-Bar
Clean flat or square bar, often in a vertical pattern for modern and mid-century homes in Don Mills, Islington and Thornhill. Horizontal looks are designed to stay non-climbable where OBC requires it.
Custom Forged
Hand-forged knuckles, twists, leaves and heritage patterns. We template an existing railing or work from a sketch, then forge each piece in the shop.
Powder-Coated Matte Black
Our most requested finish. RAL 9005 matte black TGIC polyester powder coat, oven-cured so it doesn’t scuff like paint.
Antique Bronze
A warm, dark bronze finish that suits heritage homes and oak stairs. Also oven-cured, and available with a hand-rubbed highlight.
A Recent Build: Scrolls Forged From Memory in Woodbridge
Giulia’s parents had an iron railing in their first house in Woodbridge that the family always talked about. The house was long sold, but she had two photos and her dad’s sketch. We scaled the scrolls from the photos, forged a test scroll in the shop, and she came in to check it against the sketch before we made the rest. The finished curved railing went in over two days, and at $9,500 CAD it came in under what she’d been quoted for a kit with stock scrolls. Nine times out of ten, a railing that feels generic is one where nobody took the time to template it.
When Does an Iron Railing Make Sense?
- Your spindles are dated. 1990s oak spindles are the most common thing we replace in GTA homes.
- Your gaps are too wide. Older Toronto homes often have 120-150mm between balusters. Iron brings it to 100mm without a full stair rebuild.
- You want character. Scrollwork, twists and forged details suit heritage and Italian-style homes where glass would look out of place.
- You need durability outside. Solid, powder-coated steel holds up on porches and front steps far better than wood.
For lighter, lower-maintenance outdoor railings, aluminum railings start at $75 per lin ft.
Solid Iron vs Hollow Kit Pickets
| What you compare | Hollow kit pickets | Our solid iron railings |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Thin-wall hollow tube | Solid Canadian-milled bar |
| Joints | Snap-in shoes, screws | TIG or MIG welded in shop |
| Finish | Factory paint | Oven-cured powder coat |
| Feel | Rattles, dents | Heavy, quiet, rigid |
| Lifespan outdoors | Rusts from inside out | Years of service with basic care |
What Moves a Metal Railing Price
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Location | Interior lowest; exterior needs heavier steel and more coating |
| Baluster style | Plain lowest; forged knuckles, twists and baskets higher |
| Stair rakes and curves | More cutting, bending and fitting time |
| Finish | Standard black included; custom RAL and bronze highlights extra |
| Anchoring | Concrete core-drilling and base plates add labour |
Code and Detail Notes
Guards are drawn to OBC 9.8: handrails at 900-965mm, 100mm maximum baluster spacing, 42-inch guards on drops over 600mm and the non-climbable rule in OBC 9.8.8.5. We use Hilti anchors and base plates on concrete, forged knuckles and scrollwork from the shop, and hot-dip galvanizing under powder coat where road salt is heavy.
Pairing iron with a new stair? See our custom wood staircases or deck and outdoor railings. Old treads looking tired next to new iron? Our staircase refinishing crew can refinish them the same week.
