I need to install a railing for my front portico...

[LaydeeBug]

The old one is iron, but not fancy, and so old, I doubt I'd be able to find a match, so it looks like it's going to be new.

What do you all recommend? The main thing is that I need it to be STURDY for my Dad.

It's only a three step walk up, but I'd like a rail and a handrail. I don't know who to call because this would be the type of thing he would build, so I feel out in the lurch.

[Warpy]

1. Pictures of the front of the house would be nice.

Not knowing the style and scale, I couldn't give any kind of recommendation that would make any sense at all.

[LaydeeBug]

2. One and a half story two dormer cape cod

I don't have any pics at the moment, but I cld private you my addy for google earth.

[Warpy]

3. OK, that works

You can get away with a wooden baluster and railing construction on both porch and down the steps. You can also use square balusters, cutting down the cost, and paint the whole business to match the trim on your house.

When you said "portico," I immediately thought of a Georgian monstrosity with two story fluted columns on either side of the steps.

[LaydeeBug]

4. It looks like this one, but the 'portico' covers the 'porch-ico'

Which isn't really a porch...more like a landing:


http://www.uwec.edu/geography/ivogeler/w367/styles/s12.htm

[X_Digger]

5. What kind of cost are you budgeting? And your skill level?

You can get railing kits that use aluminum tracks and posts, covered in plastic that looks like wood- the manufacturer recommends using a concrete fastener or expanding bolt into concrete, or lag screws into wood. They're like an erector set for big kids. Easy to put together and install, quite stable if you do it right, but rather pricey.

e.g.- http://www.pennfence.com/railing

Or there are plastic railing kits that are a bit less expensive - http://www.tamko.com/Decks-Docks-Railing/Tam-RailRailingSystem

Or you can roll your own wooden railing to match the color and style of your home.

For sturdiness, you'll want to use a system that anchors the posts well in any case.

[LaydeeBug]

6. It definitely needs to be sturdy...

You should see my poor potato plant he grabs climbing up the three steps.

Sturdy is the key.

[X_Digger]

7. The better railing systems..

.. have a bottom plate that accepts a large bolt that you have to use a hammer drill to put into concrete.

That's probably another consideration- there aren't many specialized tools you'd need to put a railing up on a concrete porch, but a hammer drill and a couple masonry bits are going to be 'must-have's (or must-borrow-from-a-friend / must-rent).

[LaydeeBug]

8. I spent the better part of last night looking at your links...

Thank you for them. There will need to a concrete install at the top of the stairs, but there's only dirt at the bottome (But I have some concrete in the shed).

I think that maybe because I really need it to be sturdy, and not just more decorative, I might have to hire this out.

[X_Digger]

9. There's no shame in knowing when you're in over your head.

That being said, you might want to check at your local home depot / lowe's / menard's / etc and see if they're hosting any classes on the subject.

[LaydeeBug]

10. That's a really good idea. nt