Pro Tips to Cut Your Hardware Cost and Save Money on Cable Railings
If you’re looking to lower your cost on a deck railing this summer, check out the tips from our cable railing pros. Cable rail construction doesn’t have do be expensive nor do you need to sacrifice professional results to lower your cost. Anybody can save money on cable railings with a little pre-planning, proper layout and the right material choices:
Use wooden posts and railing members- Wood timbers will almost always be less expensive than aluminum, steel and stainless steel. Exotic hardwoods can be an exception in certain cases however using cable railing frames made from Cedar, Fir or Redwood can cut the cost of your cable railing considerably. Pre-made wooden cable railing posts can be up to 50% less expensive than steel post alternatives.
Maximize the useable spans of the hardware- Read up on the manufacturers recommendations for post spans and cable hardware. Extra fittings can greatly increase your cable cost so keep the hardware counts down whenever possible. Certain types of fittings like turnbuckles can increase your cable cost. Let the functionality of the project dictate the hardware application vs. focusing on the look of individual fittings.
Use a wood top rail with steel posts- Even an exotic hardwood top rail will come at a lower premium than many steel top rail options. Additionally, the combination of steel posts and wood top rail can be made to conform to several different design styles. For example, a weathered wood top rail on steel posts can give rustic appeal with clean lines. Wooden top rails are versatile and readily available as well as DIY friendly.
Consider a 2 post corner design- Using double posts at a 90 degree corner can cut your cable cost considerably. Cable cost is primarily in the fittings so running your cable the maximum recommended distance is a must. Turning the corner allows you to maximize the distance of the cable run and minimize the amount of necessary fittings.
If you’re looking to save time and money on a cable railing project, visit the quote request or give our pros a call @ 844-277-7327
