When I was a teenager I actually walked right off a retaining wall. Distracted by the starry sky above, I took a step and soon found myself falling somewhere between 7 and 10 feet onto the sandy beach below. Amazingly, I walked away completely unscathed, but not everyone has that kind of luck! Retaining walls in high-traffic areas--whether the boardwalk or a back garden--require some kind of barrier to keep people from doing exactly what I did. These terraced spaces can also serve as platforms for appreciating beautiful views and can also function as gathering areas. Having a sturdy and stylish railing can help give these spaces a sense of place.

Why Are Railings for Retaining Walls Necessary?

In my mind, the reasons for adding a railing to a retaining wall are fairly self-evident. However, in case you are on the fence (pun intended), I’ll share some of my personal experiences of their usefulness.

• Safety Considerations: Even an accidental fall off of a 3-5 foot retaining wall can do some damage to the human body. I’ve seen plenty of knee, ankle, and back injuries brought about by these sorts of falls. With some lower rises, a reasonably dense planting of shrubs can be enough to prevent falls, but it really depends on the topography and the normal pattern of foot traffic. In our litigious age, taking steps to avoid potential lawsuits is generally prudent.
• Building Codes: Depending on the particular state, retaining walls will begin to require guardrails at 3, 4, or 5 feet. While I certainly know many people who attempt to avoid the added expense and the red tape, for those going the legal route, it certainly becomes a non-decision.
• Aesthetics: Sometimes a retaining wall can look a little bare, both from above and below the wall. A railing provides a visual frame, which produces a sense of place and a space for activities, and often creates a comfortable platform from which to enjoy beautiful views.

A World of Options: Pros and Cons of Railing Materials

Since most retaining walls will require some kind of railing, the real decision is which material to choose. That determination usually boils down to questions of durability, strength, and aesthetic appeal. These are the railing materials that make the most sense as choices for a retaining wall, due to availability or sturdiness.

• Wood: Wood is easy to use and reasonably inexpensive on the whole. At the top of a retaining wall, a wood rail and picket fence is often a great look, as is a cedar split rail fence in a more natural or rustic setting. While wood has a beautiful, organic feel and isn’t particularly costly, it does require regular maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape. If you’re looking for a railing you can install and forget, wood isn’t the best solution.
• Steel: Steel railings come in myriad shapes and sizes. The material is obviously strong, and can produce a range of looks from industrial to classical (it even makes a good wrought iron railing alternative). A simple rail and picket style railing is usually my preferred look, as it can fit a variety of situations. The big drawback of steel has always been its tendency to rust. While that is the case with many steel products, there are a handful of commercially produced railings that have multiple coatings designed to resist moisture, essentially creating a steel railing that doesn’t rust. This is good news, as few things spoil the look of an otherwise beautiful material like streams of rust cascading down a railing.
• Aluminum: Aluminum ranges from flimsy to hi-tech, so with this material, it’s wise to invest in the best that can be afforded. Well-engineered aluminum begins to approach the durability of steel with much less weight. Aluminum is typically more corrosion resistant than steel, but it still pays to invest in aluminum railing with better coatings. For both steel and aluminum railing, protection that combines a powder coating with a pre-treatment will perform much better than metal that only comes with a powder coating.

As an extra tip: if you’re aware that a railing will be needed on a retaining wall, it’s wise to make a plan for the wall that includes concrete or stone at the top that allows the railing to be bolted directly into that surface. This saves a lot of time and extra concrete, no matter what material you choose in the end.

So what’s the best choice a railing material? When I compare the three materials listed above, the main difference between them really comes down to maintenance load. While woods like cedar can look beautiful in a gray, weathered state, they very often still require cleaning and resealing to keep them from breaking down too quickly. It used to be that steel and aluminum rail systems also required some maintenance, but newer railing types that are better-protected decrease the maintenance load to a light pressure washing every now and then.

I still use all of the materials listed above, depending on the needs of the site and the wishes of the client. When low maintenance and long-term strength are desired, I almost always suggest using a high-quality steel or aluminum railing protected by a premium powder coat. When using steel, I look for a railing system that uses more than one type of coating, such as a zinc coat, an e-coat, and a powder coat. The only company I know of that makes products this tough is Fortress Building Products. With their attention to detail and multiple coating system, they’ve been able to create railing that looks good, has tight welds, and is built to last. They also produce an array of other railings for different needs and a whole catalog of hardware, decking, fencing, and other building materials to help fill out a project.