Best Outdoor Railing Brands for Decks and Porches: A Complete Comparison Guide

If you're planning to add a deck or porch to your home, you'll also need to install a railing system. Railings are essential for both safety and style. They make your outdoor space safer for gatherings, parties, and everyday use, giving you peace of mind. Additionally, the right railing enhances the overall appearance and curb appeal of your home.

When preparing to invest in railing, you'll need to decide which brand best fits your style, budget, and needs. At Home Improvement Supply, we carry outdoor railing from:

• DecKorators
• Fypon
• RDI
• Superior Aluminum
• TimberTech
• Westbury

Each brand offers different styles, materials, and customization options. This guide will help you choose the best railing system for your home.

One way to help narrow your search is to decide what material you want for your railing. The main materials for railing are vinyl (PVC), composite, steel, polyurethane, and aluminum.

Vinyl Railing: Affordable and Low-Maintenance

Vinyl offers a smooth, plastic-like finish. It resists insects and moisture. Maintenance-wise, it can be easily cleaned with soap and water and does not require painting or staining. Vinyl railing is typically one of the more affordable options. One downside of vinyl is that it can become brittle in extremely cold temperatures and warp in extremely hot temperatures. The brands that offer vinyl options are TimberTech, RDI, and Fypon.

Composite Railing: Wood Look with Durable Performance

Composite blends plastic and wood fibers, which closely mimic the texture and look of wood. It is very durable and resistant to rot, insects, and splintering. Because of its durability, composite is low-maintenance. It does not need to be sealed, painted, or stained, and only requires occasional washing. While more stable and rigid than vinyl, it costs more upfront but is cheaper than steel. RDI and TimberTech are the two brands that offer composite railing.

Steel Railing: Strongest Option for Harsh Weather

Steel railing offers a classic look with thinner profiles. It is the strongest and most durable option we have. Steel can withstand heavy loads and harsh weather. To prevent rust, steel requires a protective coating, particularly in coastal or humid areas. The railing may also need to be repainted. While steel offers a quality product, you can expect to pay a high price for it. RDI is the only brand that offers steel railing kits.

Aluminum Railing: Lightweight, Rust-Free, and Stylish

Aluminum railing offers a sleek profile and the widest range of colors. While not as strong as steel, it will not rust because it is typically powder-coated. It is a low-maintenance option and only requires occasional cleaning. Aluminum is typically more expensive than vinyl or composite but more affordable than steel. Superior Aluminum, RDI, Westbury, and TimberTech offer aluminum railing.

Different brands offer a variety of colors, materials, and styles. Below is a quick overview of what each brand offers.

RDI Railing Systems: Most Versatile Options

RDI offers the most options with railing in materials of aluminum, steel, composite, and vinyl. They offer extensive customization with different top rail and infill options like cable, glass slats, and decorative screen panels across their material lines. They offer outdoor lighting accessories along with a gate kit, as well as pots and all the needed accessories like caps and trim rings. RDI also offers all the necessary hardware for installation. Different materials will come with different color options.

Deckorators Railing: Sleek Aluminum and Cable Systems

On our site, Deckorators railing panels are only available in contemporary aluminum styles. We also offer all the materials for a cable railing system. Deckorators also offers posts, corresponding accessories, and balusters. Many different posts and post cap styles are available.

Fypon QuickRail: Easy-to-Install Vinyl Kits

For railing, Fypon offers the QuickRail Railing Kit. This is a vinyl railing kit that can be customized easily and connected to multiple rail kits or other accessory items, such as the Fypon Post Kits, Porch Posts, or Gate Kits, to create your own system. While only available in white, their kits, posts, and accessories are paintable.

Superior Aluminum: Durable, Colorful Aluminum Kits

As the name suggests, Superior Aluminum only offers aluminum railing. They provide multiple railing kits in a variety of colors. To attach the railing kits to the wall, Superior Aluminum offers wall plates along with posts, caps, and brackets to complete the installation.

TimberTech Railing: Composite, Vinyl, and Aluminum Choices

TimberTech offers railing kits in composite, aluminum, and vinyl. For each material, they all come with the necessary accessories, including top rails, brackets, and post kits. The variety of colors and materials allows for customization.

Westbury Tuscany Railing: Premium Powder-Coated Aluminum

On our site, Westbury offers the Tuscany aluminum kits, which feature a 10-step powder coating process that can withstand various elements. They offer accessories for installation along with touch-up spray for maintenance. Their railing system is engineered for strength, code compliance, and long-term durability.

Different brands offer different types of installation.

• Deckorators – The ALX Contemporary railing kits feature pre-welded panels for quick setup; the cable railing requires assembly.
• Fypon – Each kit includes a deluxe top rail, a flat bottom rail, spindles, a crush block, brackets, bracket covers, and the necessary screws for fast installation.
• RDI – Some of the kits are preassembled panels. The rest have premade holes on the top and bottom and easy-to-follow installation instructions.
• Superior Aluminum – Both kits come with a top and bottom rail, pickets, picket hardware, appropriate brackets, binding bolts, post bracket screws, and assembly instructions.
• TimberTech – The aluminum kit comes in pre-assembled panels, while the vinyl and composite kits come with a top rail, bottom rail, hardware, footblocks, and installation instructions.
• Westbury – Railing kits come with a top rail, bottom rail, square balusters, mounting hardware kit, and assembly instructions.

Before investing in a railing kit, make sure the warranty is suitable for you.

• Deckorators – Lifetime Limited Warranty
• Fypon – Limited Lifetime Warranty
• RDI – Limited Lifetime Warranty or 15-Year Residential Limited Warranty, depending on the kit
• Superior Aluminum – The paint finish is unconditionally guaranteed for two years against cracking, peeling, chipping, or crazing
• TimberTech – Comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty and a 25-Year Limited Fade & Stain Warranty
• Westbury – Backed by a Lifetime Limited Manufacturer Warranty

Each brand offers its own selection of materials, styles, and colors. They also offer their own accessories and customization options. All railing kits are designed to be easy to install, but some offer pre-assembled panels. Warranty policies vary between brands, so make sure the one you choose has a warranty that works for you.