Video walkthrough

Project overview

A coastal rental property with heavy guest traffic needs simple upkeep, strong safety, and a consistent style, blending interior and exterior railing elements.

We designed railing for the entire property, including interior stair runs and landings, multiple exterior balconies, and a rooftop deck. The owner wanted a unified look inside and out. The railing choice needed to meet a wide variety of needs: an open feel inside, strong guardrails outside, and materials capable of withstanding harsh coastal salt air.

Goals and constraints

We aligned design intent with codes, corrosion resistance, and rental-ready maintenance.

• Use one rail and post profile to tie interior and exterior together.
• Meet coastal durability requirements with a corrosion-resistant finish package.
• Honor the owner’s preference for square balusters outside for safety and easier cleaning.
• Keep the interior light and modern with matte black cable and a secondary handrail.
• Engineer stair end and custom posts for the property’s unique slopes.

For exterior finishes near salt exposure, we specified a coastal upgrade powder coat that meets stringent performance standards. That finish selection, paired with aluminum construction, reduces long-term upkeep in harsh environments. For code and best practices, we ensured proper rail heights, post spacing, and infill spacing for both interior and exterior areas.

Design approach

To keep the design elements consistent, we opted for Keylink aluminum railing. Keylink’s system provided one platform with multiple infill options, ideal for blending interior and exterior design using matched profiles across every space.

We selected an aluminum railing system that supports multiple infills, post types, mounting methods, and finish options. This allowed us to use the same top rail and post design throughout the project while tailoring the infill and mounting method to each area:

• Interior: smooth matte black horizontal cable for a clean, modern feel.
• Rooftop: fascia-mounted square baluster railing with a coastal finish.
• Balconies: surface-mounted square baluster railing in the same profile and color family.

This flexibility is a core reason we often recommend aluminum systems with broad infill and finish libraries. It also makes future service and part replacement straightforward.

Explore related systems: Cable rail systems and Aluminum railing options.

Interior rail: matte black cable + secondary handrail

Open sightlines, safe foot traffic, and a compliant, graspable handhold.

Inside, we used a matte black railing with stainless steel horizontal cable infill to keep the space light, paired with the same post and rail profile as outside. A secondary handrail provides a comfortable grasp and clean transitions at landings. Hardware locations, cable counts, and bracket choices were laid out to meet code while maintaining a tidy rhythm on the wall.

Exterior rail: fascia mount rooftop + surface mount balconies

Outside, the owner preferred square baluster infill for two reasons: less seasonal cleaning than cable and a strong visual cue for guest safety. We specified a coastal finish package for aluminum components exposed to salt air. On the rooftop, we used custom-height fascia-mounted railing attached to the interior face of the roof’s parapet wall. On the balconies, we used a surface-mounted option, which allowed us to reduce the number of posts by attaching the railing to existing structure.

One benefit of working with Keylink is their ability to meet the needs of nearly any project. Keylink’s coastal upgrade finish coats the system inside and out with an epoxy primer and features an AAMA 2605 finish designed to handle the harsh demands of saltwater environments. We used the American Series square baluster system to match the interior railing’s top rail profile and meet the owner’s low-maintenance and safety goals.

For technical readers, learn more about coastal finish performance (AAMA 2605 class) and powder-coat process standards from Linetec and High Performance Coatings.

Engineering custom stair posts

Custom stair end and transition posts were engineered to match the property’s slope.

Our team partnered with Keylink’s engineers to produce custom stair end and corner posts that align with the site’s exact angles. That collaboration kept the rail profile continuous, maintained infill spacing, and respected bracket geometry on the slope. Emzy led the markups and measurement set, then coordinated review and shop drawings to keep the schedule on track.

Outcomes

Blended interior and exterior styling across the whole property—built for salt, guests, and easy upkeep.

• Unified style inside and out using one rail and post family.
• Coastal finish on exterior components for long service life.
• Square baluster exterior for safety and quick cleaning.
• Cable interior for a modern look with a supportive secondary handrail.
• Engineered stair posts matched site conditions and met code.

Planning a coastal project or a complex set of stairs? We can help with design, takeoffs, and specifications.