One of the most annoying things in the world is a railing that you're scared to grab onto because it would require you to remember when you last had a tetanus shot. Having spent a lot of time remodeling and taking care of beach houses on the coast, I've seen and removed my fair share of rusty deck railings--some of them on new houses and condos only a couple years old.

The extra hours I've spent grinding railings with metal files and recoating them with protectant chemicals has motivated me to recommend rust-resistant materials to all of my clients and colleagues. Depending on the extent of the corrosion, rusty metal railings can be structurally unsound, and they're not great to look at either. Thankfully, if you're looking for railings that don't rust, there are a variety of excellent rust-resistant material options able to stand up to even the wettest and saltiest of climates.

Metal Railing Materials That Don’t Rust

Metal may seem like the worst material to choose if you’re looking to avoid rust on your railings, but some metals are very resistant to corrosion (like aluminum), while others, if coated properly, will hold up excellently despite the metal’s tendency to rust if left untreated (like steel).

Aluminum: Aluminum is a lightweight, naturally rust-resistant material, though without a coating it will corrode in its own way. When shopping for an aluminum railing, one of the main things I look for is the quality of its protective coating. Aluminum that has only been spray painted or lightly coated will have a tendency to scratch easily, and those scratches can often be the points at which it begins to wear away or pit. Obtaining an aluminum railing with one or more premium coatings--like a pre-coat and a premium powder coat--is an excellent option.

Galvanized Steel: Galvanized steel provides strength, durability, and a certain classic appeal. It can look sleek and modern, with simple lines in black or white, or it can incorporate details and a finish that make it look like wrought iron. Steel has often had a bad reputation due to its tendency to rust, particularly at the welds. These problems are due to the lack of quality coating. Most manufacturers take galvanized steel and then add some kind of paint or powder coating on top. Unfortunately, powder coats by themselves still allow a small amount of moisture to pass through due to their relatively porous surface--which gives rust all the room it needs to develop. By taking galvanized steel, adding a zinc phosphate coating, a moisture-resistant e-coating, and a high-quality UV-resistant powder coating, some manufacturers are able to produce galvanized steel railings that keep rust at bay for years and years.

Stainless Steel: If you’re purchasing a stainless steel railing system for its rust resistance, look for marine grade stainless steel (other grades won’t resist moisture quite as well). Since stainless steel is relatively expensive, you may not want to have the entire railing made of it. A number of my clients have installed railings which run stainless cables between powder-coated steel rails. These save on cost while getting the job done, and they also soften the look of stainless. The somewhat industrial aesthetic of stainless steel isn’t for everyone, and combining stainless cables with powder-coated galvanized rails produces a railing system that is versatile and easily suits most homes.

Non-Metal Railing Material Options

Vinyl: The strengths of vinyl are that it is lightweight and immune to rust, and for those reasons it can be appealing for coastal areas. The great weakness of vinyl is that it isn’t the strongest material in the world, and due to this relative weakness, posts and balusters must be more massive in order to stand up to the force of a body leaning against them. This can be undesirable when you’re looking to maintain an uncluttered view. Cheaper types of vinyl are also sensitive to temperature swings, expanding and contracting when the temperature drops or rises. There is certainly a time and place for vinyl, but I often prefer a more durable material (like galvanized steel) that provides more strength while using less material.

Glass: Personally, I love railings that use glass. If you have a house by the beach, or a place with a view, or anywhere that more light is desirable, it’s a wonderful choice. On the coastal properties I’ve taken care of, it not only opens up the views, but it is very easy to maintain--it just needs a good rinsing every now and then to get the salt off. Keep an eye out for easy-to-install systems that only require you to drop the glass into premade slots in the rails, as they free up more time to enjoy the view (glass railings usually require a pro to install). And since your posts and rails will likely be made of metal, make sure they have high-quality coatings, otherwise, your glass may be rust-free, but your rails and posts won’t.

On almost all of my projects, I have been able to say goodbye to the days of wire brushes and cans of  spray paint because I’ve learned to select durable railing materials that are protected by the best possible coating process. Because I have a thing for the look of metal, I usually go with that, and when I do, I choose a product with a high-quality weld that’s protected by an innovative and formidable coating process. The only manufacturer I know that provides this level of protection to their products is Fortress Building Products, which has very much become a go-to company for my projects. Their steel products are galvanized steel coated with zinc phosphate, e-coat, and a powder coating, because they know that just one coating won’t do it when you want a metal railing that will last. In addition to railing products, Fortress Building Products offers a full line of decking, fencing, and building products that allow me to creatively mix and match styles and materials while taking care of the whole job in one place. And that’s almost as good as being rust-free.