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Choosing the Perfect Roof Terrace Railings for Your Bethesda, MD Home

Date: October 4, 2024 Category: Tips, Uncategorized

 A white townhome with stairs with a glass railing.

Bethesda, Maryland, is a fantastic location for a great roof terrace. With four distinct seasons, Bethesda residents can enjoy many beautiful days out on the terrace, relaxing and hosting. However, to fully enjoy the terrace, a terrace railing is critical. 

Terrace railings provide safety to homeowners and their guests. In fact, if the terrace is 30” off of the ground (like a roof terrace), Bethesda’s building codes require the installation of terrace railings. 

Not only do they provide an enhanced safety level, but modern roof terrace railings also offer an additional aesthetic boost that homeowners can utilize to complement their home’s exterior.

Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Rooftop Terrace Railing

When shopping for a rooftop terrace railing that complements the Bethesda region, consider a few factors, including aesthetic appeal, views, weather conditions and local building codes.

Aesthetics

Modern railing systems are designed to fit on any terrace, so aesthetics are the primary consideration. From aluminum, vinyl, glass and even classic wood, selecting the right railing to match your exterior aesthetic is important for your satisfaction and property value.

Cityscape and Nature Views

Another important consideration for a rooftop terrace railing system in Bethesda is the nature present off the terrace and how a homeowner would like to view it. 

For example, if a rooftop terrace overlooks forests and fields, it might benefit from an all-glass railing system for maximum visuals. At the same time, a suburban or cityscape terrace might utilize a more traditional railing system of upright balusters.

Weather Conditions

Bethesda offers a four-season climate with warm to hot summers, cold winters, and beautiful springs and summers. While you may not enjoy your roof terrace at the height of winter and summer, a substantial portion of the year offers wonderful opportunities to be on the terrace. 

Bethesda’s humid climate isn’t so much of a concern with railing choices other than wood. The material is more prone to wear and tear because of high humidity during hot and cold spells throughout the year. That said, selecting the right wood species and a bit of maintenance can quell this particular concern.

Local Building Codes for Railings

With all decks and terraces, local building codes apply to ensure they appropriately meet their primary function: safety. Railings are required for decks or terraces 30” off of the ground or more. They must be 36” tall, and the baluster spacing must be such that a 4” sphere cannot pass between them.

Most modern railing system manufacturers understand and incorporate local building codes, and any custom work will likewise adhere to these codes to make the terrace safe.

Types of Roof Terrace Railings for Bethesda, MD

Various modern roof terrace railing systems are available to meet your aesthetic choice. Russin is a prominent purveyor of the best systems tailored for the Northeast climate, ranging from metal and glass to classic wood, utilizing the best wood species. 

Metal Roof Terrace Railings

A light gray deck with a comfortable seating area has various green plants.

Metal railings provide a fantastic modern look that can complement many architectural styles. They are also significantly durable and low-maintenance. 

Dekorators ALX aluminum railing systems, in particular, offer a lightweight product thanks to aluminum, with all of the strength and durability that comes from utilizing metal. Choose from classic vertical balusters or horizontal cable railing for a rustic yet modern look. 

In terms of maintenance, aluminum is a great choice because it is not affected by changing weather conditions and humidity. It only needs cleaning once a season to maintain itself in the long run. Depending on the finish, aluminum railing tends to be slightly higher in cost than vinyl or wood.

Glass Roof Terrace Railings

 A wood deck with a clear railing. The deck has a long table with eight chairs around it.

Glass roof terrace railing systems are great for those who want to embrace their views, ideally ones with groves or forests of the beautiful fall colors Bethesda is known for. 

The Invisirail SLX glass railing system is a perfect choice. It is manufactured to prioritize the safety and function of any railing system while maximizing visibility. Stainless steel railings support tempered glass panels as large as 70” across. The Invisirail SLX system can also be implemented without a handrail, offering a unique, almost invisible look.

Thanks to tempered glass, glass railing systems are durable but can break with enough pressure. While this scenario is unlikely, it is something to consider. 

Also, to maintain visibility through the glass, regular cleaning will need to be performed to ensure optimal translucence. A bit more expensive than other railing types, glass is a unique choice that should be selected if visibility is prioritized.

Wood Roof Terrace Railings

A wood deck railing overlooking a large backyard with a river.

Wood is a classic choice that connects us to nature. The major downside to wood is that, unlike the other options, it is affected by climate. In particular, the humidity of Bethesda, paired with hot summers and cold winters, causes the wood to expand and contract, inevitably leading to cracking, warping and rot.

That said, this is only a problem for some wood species. Western Red Cedar is a wood species from the Pacific Northwest whose oils protect it from environmental damage. Not only naturally rot-resistant, but the wood itself is a beautiful reddish-brown hue with a unique grain pattern. 

Western Red Cedar railing systems offer strength and beauty and can be customized to any roof terrace. It’s hard to say no to wood, especially when looking to feature a more rustic aesthetic.

While Western Red Cedar is rot-resistant, it requires more maintenance than other railing systems. If properly sealed and cleaned adequately, it will hold up for years. When the seal starts to wear off, the wood can easily be resealed and even refinished to bring it back to life.

Vinyl Roof Terrace Railings

A wood deck with a white vinyl railing.

Modern vinyl is a strong material, and vinyl-sheathed roof terrace railings are a great economical option. 

Admiral Railing Systems, in particular, offer a modern vinyl railing system that offers strength and customizable looks. Available in white, tan and khaki, Admiral vinyl systems can be customized with matching gates and stairs, providing a solid railing system to let your roof terrace and exterior aesthetic shine.

4 Rooftop Terrace Railing Designs and Trends

Nailing down a final design can be challenging with so many options available. Here are four design ideas incorporating these roof terrace railing systems to give you some inspiration.

Contemporary Minimalism

A beach-side deck with light-colored wooden floors, white railings, some potted plants and 2 lounge chairs

This example combined vinyl-sheathed handrails and posts with cable railing to evoke a minimalist feel. The cable railing — an increasingly popular railing choice — is expertly chosen as the horizontal lines match the horizon, creating a visual parallel. 

Lightly colored deck boards complement the white railing, planters and chairs, creating a simple yet uplifting aesthetic.

Cityscape Elegance

A gray wooden deck with glass railings and city views. In the middle is a large hot tub and off to the side are some potted plants.

In addition to maximizing visibility, glass railings evoke an elegance that works wonderfully when looking over Bethesda from above. This rooftop terrace also features light-colored decking boards to create a luxurious look, perfect for relaxing in a hot tub after a long day.

Rustic Charm With Wood Accents

A wood deck attached to a house in a heavily-wooded area.

In this terrace deck, the classic rustic look of wood is pronounced with dark deck boards and a color-matched aluminum railing system. 

Remember, your roof terrace doesn’t have to be all wood or all metal; mixing and matching can lead to wonderful results. Here, the dark deck and railing contrast with the lighter tones of the board-and-batten siding and wood-framed windows, providing a sleek yet rustic outdoor experience from which to gaze into the sea of green.

Seamless Integration With Surrounding Landscape

A wood deck overlooking a lake at sunset.

Another great opportunity with modern deck railing systems is to incorporate lighting. In this example, a multi-story deck terrace is railed with a minimalist system with lights on the post caps. 

After all, using a terrace doesn’t have to be limited by daylight! The lights and minimalist railing expertly contain the deck and offer a homey space for a dinner party outside.

Purchase Your Perfect Roof Terrace Railing From Russin

The benefits of modern materials abound, providing homeowners with a variety of roof terrace railing options to complement their specific aesthetic. In Bethesda and the Northeast, establishing a terrace from which to enjoy the beautiful weather and views is a huge benefit to everyday life.

At Russin, we aim to provide the Northeast with the most luxurious and elegant building materials to make your architectural aesthetic come alive. Reach out to us today to learn more about our roof terrace railing systems and which might be the perfect fit for your home.

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