See how others have designed their staircase balustrades, glass balustrades for patios and frameless balustrades for balconies. Find inspiration among modern, classic and discreet solutions – each with a personal touch.
Browse our frequently asked questions and answers, or contact one of our specialists, who are happy to help.
The cost of an aluminium wrought iron railing mainly depends on its length, height and design. As every project differs, a single price per metre would be misleading. Use our online configurator to see the price for your measurements. Longer balustrades need more sections, while corners and short sections require more posts and fixings.
Straight sections are generally less expensive than designs with many corners or changes in level. Aluminium offers the classic appearance of wrought iron without the need for regular repainting, which may reduce maintenance costs over time. Use your actual measurements for an accurate price estimate.
A aluminium wrought iron railing has the classic appearance of traditional wrought iron, but is lighter and typically needs less maintenance than iron or steel balustrades. The main differences are weight, corrosion resistance and upkeep: the styles can be similar, but the materials are different.
Powder-coated aluminium mainly needs cleaning as required, while iron and steel need suitable corrosion protection and may require repainting as the finish wears. Aluminium is lighter and easier to handle during installation. Traditional wrought iron can offer more scope for decorative details and craftsmanship. Your choice depends on the design, weight and maintenance involved.
Aluminium is a durable, low-maintenance material for outdoor balustrades. It resists corrosion well and performs in different weather conditions when the system and finish are appropriate for the location. A powder-coated balustrade does not normally need sanding or repainting.
For routine care, it is usually enough to clean the posts and profiles with water, a soft cloth and, if needed, a mild detergent. Near the sea, rinse away salt and dirt as required. Powder coating provides protection and colour, although weather and UV exposure can affect it over time. Aluminium being lightweight does not automatically make the balustrade less stable.
The main differences are appearance, sightlines and how easy the balustrade is to climb. Horizontal bars create long, contemporary lines, whereas vertical bars give a more traditional pattern without the same step-like arrangement. Horizontal bars can provide footholds and may be easier to climb.
Where young children may be present and the balustrade protects against falls, vertical bars are often the more suitable choice. On a ground-level patio, where the balustrade mainly defines the space, horizontal bars can be an attractive design option. Both aluminium and stainless steel balustrades are available with bar infill.
Available colours and finishes depend on the balustrade material and model. Aluminium can be powder-coated in a range of RAL colours, while stainless steel is often chosen with a brushed or polished finish. Glass options may include clear, opaque or tinted glass. You can coordinate the finish with other details on your home.
On some systems, posts, top rails and glass clamps are available in matching or contrasting finishes. This allows the balustrade to complement the façade, windows and doors – for example, black posts with a timber top rail. With Color, you can select a colour to suit your project. The available colours and combinations vary by model.
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The choice of fixing has a big effect on the overall appearance. There are four mounting methods to choose from when ordering a Retro balustrade:
Retro is an aluminium wrought iron railing that can be customised with different colours, top rails, fixings and ornaments – to suit both classic and modern settings.
Design variant 1
Design variant 2
Standard-height intermediate rail, without top rail
Standard-height intermediate rail, without top rail, with ornamentation
Standard-height intermediate rail, with top rail
High intermediate rail, without top rail
High intermediate rail, with top rail
Square aluminium, 50×50 mm
Profiled oak
Profiled jatobaIf “Custom RAL colour” is selected, “High intermediate rail” will be selected automatically.
Black textured powder-coated finish (RAL 9005)
White textured powder-coated finish (RAL 9010)
Grey with texture
Any RAL colourRetro is a wrought iron railing in powder-coated aluminium – perfect if you want the traditional feel of wrought iron but without rust, painting and heavy maintenance. The structure is light, weather-resistant and completely rust-free, which makes the balustrade particularly well suited to outdoor use in harsh weather.
The balustrade is always made to your measurements and delivered as a complete kit with pre-drilled parts, screws and fixings. The low weight of aluminium makes it easy to handle – even if you have never installed a balustrade before.
Whether you're building something new or replacing an old balustrade, Retro works in most settings. It's often used as:
The design is reminiscent of classic wrought iron, but with all the advantages of modern materials.
In our design tool, you can adapt the balustrade to your needs. You choose the colour (black, white or any shade from the RAL range), the fixing (top, side or plinth) and whether you want a top rail – in aluminium, timber or none at all.
Want to enhance the decorative, wrought-iron-inspired look of your balustrade? Add spherical or arrow-shaped ornaments. These can also be fitted later if you want to change the appearance.
Retro is designed for straightforward self-installation, without specialist tools or previous experience. Whether it is installed on decking, stairs, a balcony or as a freestanding fence, the process is clear and suitable for first-time installers.
Here's how it works:
You choose the fixing directly in the configurator, based on where the balustrade will be installed:
All options have been tested to ensure they meet safety requirements in various environments and on different surfaces.
Once you have placed your order, you get access to our installation videos. They show how to install the balustrade step by step – based on the choices you have made in the configurator.
Retro is manufactured at our production facility in Ängelholm. Through in-house design and manufacturing, we have full control over quality, strength and the safety requirements that apply to balustrades in exposed environments. Every order is tailored to your choices and supplied with a declaration of performance.
The manufacturing process is certified in accordance with EN 1090-1 and complies with the Eurocodes applicable to load-bearing aluminium building products. Production is continuously monitored by RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden), which is responsible for external verification of traceability and process compliance.
In addition, we carry out our own load and impact tests to ensure that every balustrade performs as it should – wherever it is installed. Retro is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, in both private and public settings.
Here you’ll find technical information about Retro – our powder-coated aluminium balustrade with a classic wrought iron style design. We have gathered data on dimensions, fixings and installation principles to make planning and comparison easier.
All files are available for download as PDFs and will help you prepare your order or complete a safe and proper installation.
Load-tested posts
The posts have been tested with top and side fixing on a timber substrate and can take a load of 0.5–1.0 kN/m.
Powder-coated
Retro is available powder-coated in three standard colours: textured grey, textured black and textured white. As well as these, you can choose to have your aluminium balustrade with bars powder-coated in any RAL colour.
Square 50×50 mm
Square posts and top rail made of aluminium, measuring 50×50 mm.
Surface coating: 20 µm
Our aluminium profiles are anodised. This is the same principle used on the mast of a sailboat, which is resistant to wind and weather.
Material thickness 2.5 mm
Square intermediate rail
Aluminium intermediate rail, square 25×25, powder-coated. Wall thickness 2 mm.
Rectangular bars
Aluminium bars, rectangular 15×25, powder-coated. Wall thickness 1.8 mm.
Standard intermediate rail
Standard intermediate rail, without top rail: the intermediate rail is positioned 75 mm (c/c) from the end of the bars (balustrade with top rail) or 120 mm (c/c) from the end of the bars (balustrade without top rail).
Higher intermediate rail
Higher intermediate rail, with top rail: the intermediate rail is positioned at the end of the bars. Both versions are designed to meet building regulation requirements.
Square 50×50 mm
Square posts and top rail made of aluminium, measuring 50×50 mm.
Surface coating: 20 µm
Our aluminium profiles are anodised. This is the same principle used on the mast of a sailboat, which is resistant to wind and weather.
Timber top rail
Profiled top rail in untreated light oak or jatoba (a hardwood with properties and an appearance similar to teak).
Angles
If the balustrade has corners, you mitre the timber top rail yourself. This ensures an exact fit. Both timber and aluminium can easily be cut with a standard mitre saw. If you choose an aluminium top rail and the corner is 90 degrees, no cutting is needed.
Symmetrical Sections
When you enter your measurements in our configurator, you always specify the edge dimensions at the location where you want the balustrade installed. Our configurator then makes the necessary adjustments. For your balustrade, we then adjust the section dimensions so that each section on either side is the same length. In other words, we customise the balustrade to fit your measurements – not the other way around.
Choice of balustrade height
In the configurator, choose a height from 800 to 1,100 mm, measured from the floor to the top of the balustrade. Check the appropriate height for your installation against the relevant local requirements, particularly where there is a fall risk.
Made to the millimetre
When you provide your measurements, please be as precise as possible – down to the millimetre. We’ll craft your balustrade to the millimetre so that it fits perfectly in the spot where you want to install it.
Top mounting
The base is secured to the floor with 4 screws.
Side mounting
The post is fixed with 2 screws on the side, directly against the mounting surface.
Selectable Mounting Heights
If you choose side mounting, you also have the option to select the mounting height. You can have the post extend downward by 350 mm, 250 mm, 195 mm, or 145 mm. If possible, a greater depth is preferable. The mounting height may affect the number of sections per side.
Screw for timber fixing
If you choose to fix into timber, screws are included for this purpose. The screw is made of hardened steel and, for outdoor use, is also surface-treated with Corrseal – Corrosion Class C4. The screw features a milled groove along the shank and one at the tip. This results in a very low screw-in torque in harder timber and minimises cracking.
Screw for concrete fixing
If you choose to fix into a concrete substrate, screws for this purpose are included. The screw is made of hardened steel and, for outdoor use, is also surface-treated with Corrseal – corrosivity class C4. Approved for cracked concrete, uncracked concrete and hollow-core slabs. Also suitable for solid brick, perforated brick, solid calcium silicate brick and natural stone. For fixing into materials other than timber or concrete, we recommend contacting your local builders’ merchant.
Top rail with or without wall fixing
If the balustrade meets a wall, you can also choose to fix the top rail to the wall. This can make the structure slightly more stable.
Everything is included with your order
Our delivery includes everything you need for installation. As well as posts and top rail, all screws, drill bits and any special tools are included. If you have a cordless drill, a spanner, a folding rule and a spirit level, you really don’t need anything else.
Assembly Videos and Instructions
The videos show various steps to help you with your assembly. Our assembly tips and videos are customised for each order. In other words, these are not general descriptions but are tailored specifically to your order.
Aluminium Parts
Posts or other aluminium parts require minimal maintenance. If stains appear, a mild detergent, water, and a soft cloth are usually sufficient. Do not use products with abrasive properties, acids, or alkaline agents.
Timber top rail
If the balustrade is to be installed outdoors, we recommend cleaning the top rail and then sanding it with fine-grit sandpaper. Treat the top rail with an impregnating product such as wood oil or similar, depending on the conditions. For indoor installation, only cleaning and light sanding are needed. You can treat it with wood oil or similar if you wish.
Our A+, A, B and C use classes provide guidance on where a particular balustrade configuration may be suitable. They draw on our product testing and take into account factors such as the chosen height, section width and components. These are our own product classifications, not UK building regulation categories. The installation must also meet the requirements that apply at its location.
Use class A+
Our A+ configuration is documented for a minimum horizontal line load of 1 kN/m. The suitability of a particular balustrade for a residential, commercial or public setting depends on the complete configuration and the requirements of the installation site. Where glass is included, the specified safety glazing should be assessed as part of the whole system.
Use class A
Our A configuration is documented for a minimum horizontal line load of 0.5 kN/m. Whether that configuration is suitable for a particular residential installation depends on the site and its applicable requirements. Where glass is included, the specified safety glazing forms part of the overall system.
Use class B
Our B configuration is documented for a minimum horizontal line load of 0.5 kN/m. Whether it suits a particular installation depends on the site, the difference in level and the applicable requirements. Where glass is included, safety glass is used to reduce the risk of injury on impact.
Use class C
Use class C is intended for ground-level settings. Where glass is included, safety glass is used to reduce the risk of injury on impact. A balustrade may also be classed as C if Balustradedesign, in consultation with you, makes a change that deviates from our standard. Class C then indicates that this specific configuration has not been tested.
