We design, fabricate and install bespoke steel balustrades and handrails to order, from glass balustrades with a steel frame to full stainless and mild steel systems, all built in our own Banbury workshop and fitted by our own team. Because we handle the work from drawing to final bolt, you deal with one fabricator the whole way through, and the balustrade arrives sized to your staircase, balcony or landing rather than cut from a stock kit. Request a free quote with your drawings or measurements and we will scope it for you.
Balustrade and handrail types we fabricate
Every project is different, so we build to the design rather than to a catalogue. Common configurations include:
- Glass balustrade with steel frame - toughened or laminated glass set into welded steel posts and rails, for an open, modern look with a structural steel backbone. Ideal for staircases, balconies and mezzanine edges.
- Full steel balustrade - vertical bars, flat bar infill or bespoke panel designs in mild steel, powder coated or painted to your chosen colour.
- Stainless steel - brushed or polished stainless for handrails and balustrades where corrosion resistance and a clean finish matter, including external and high-traffic locations.
- Mild steel - cost-effective, strong, and finished with paint or powder coat for internal or sheltered settings.
On the handrail side we make staircase handrails and metal banisters, balcony and landing rails, external metal handrails for steps and ramps, garden and boundary railings, and commercial handrails for stairwells and access routes. Whether you call it a handrail, a banister or metal railings, and whether it is a single domestic flight or a fit-out with repeated bays, it is fabricated to the run and the fixings detailed for your wall or structure.
Finishes and materials
The finish does the heavy lifting on both looks and longevity. We commonly supply:
- Powder coating in a wide range of RAL colours, durable and low-maintenance.
- Hot-dip galvanising for external balustrades and handrails that need long-term corrosion protection.
- Brushed or polished stainless steel where the metal itself is the finish.
- Wet paint systems for specified colours or where a particular paint spec is called for.
We will recommend a finish based on where the balustrade lives, internal, external or coastal-exposed, and match any specification your architect or main contractor provides. We work to BS EN 1090 execution standards and our welds are completed by qualified, coded welders, so the structure under the finish is as sound as the surface.
Heights and gaps follow Building Regulations
This is the part we never improvise. Balustrade and handrail heights, and the maximum permitted gaps between balusters, are governed by Building Regulations (Approved Document Part K) and depend on the setting, for example stairs, landings or balconies, and on whether the building is domestic or commercial. We fabricate to the dimensions on your approved drawings or specification and defer to your designer or Building Control on the exact figures. If you are not sure what your project needs, your architect or Building Control officer will confirm, and we will build to whatever they sign off. We will never invent a height or a gap to fill a blank on a drawing.
Our design-to-install process
Because we are a single fabricator from drawing to final bolt, the journey is simple and there is one point of accountability throughout:
- Enquiry and survey. You send drawings or we visit to measure on site. For balustrades the site survey matters, because real-world stairs and openings rarely match the drawing exactly.
- Design and detailing. We produce fabrication drawings, confirm the material, glass and finish, and check the design against the heights and gaps your specification requires.
- Fabrication in Banbury. Our workshop cuts, welds and finishes the balustrade and handrails. Material traceability is available on request.
- Installation. Our own erection team fits the balustrade and handrails on site, level, secure and to spec, with no third-party fitter in the chain.
This is the same in-house route we use for our custom steel staircases and balconies, and balustrades are very often specified alongside a new staircase or an internal steel staircase, so the two can be designed and fitted together as one package.
Who we work with
We supply homeowners wanting a feature staircase balustrade, architects who need a fabricator that will hit a detailed spec, commercial fit-out contractors balustrading stairwells and walkways, and builders who want one trade to design, make and fit. We are CE approved, fully insured and family-run, and we cover Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, with larger projects taken on UK-wide. Get in touch with your project details for a free, no-obligation quote.
Frequently asked questions
What balustrade and handrail heights do Building Regulations require?
Balustrade and handrail heights, plus the maximum gaps between balusters, are set by Building Regulations (Approved Document Part K) and vary by location, such as stairs, landings or balconies, and whether the building is domestic or commercial. We work to the figures on your approved drawings or specification and defer to your designer or Building Control on the exact dimensions for your project. We never guess heights or gaps.
Can you make a glass balustrade with a steel frame?
Yes. A glass balustrade with a steel frame is one of our most requested systems. We fabricate the steel posts, base channels and top rails, then glaze with toughened or laminated glass to suit the location. It pairs an open, modern look with the strength of a welded steel structure. We will confirm the glass specification and fixing detail with you before fabrication.
Do you make metal handrails and banisters for stairs?
Yes. We fabricate metal handrails, banisters and stair railings to measure, for internal flights and external steps, in mild or stainless steel and finished to suit. Indoor or outdoor, a metal banister or handrail is made to the run of your stairs rather than cut from a stock kit. It is often specified alongside a new staircase or balustrade so the whole flight is made and fitted as one package.
Do you fit the balustrades and handrails as well as make them?
Yes. We are a single fabricator from drawing to final bolt. The same team that designs and welds your balustrade in our Banbury workshop also installs it on site with our own erection crew. There is no third-party fitter in the chain, which keeps the quality, fit and accountability with one company.
What areas do you cover for steel handrail installation?
We install steel handrails and balustrades across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, and we take on larger projects UK-wide. We are based in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Contact us with your location and we will confirm we can cover your site.