Aluminum & Glass Railings in New Westminster, BC

Supplied and installed by our own crew – for heritage homes, condos and houses across New West

Railing Experts installs maintenance-free aluminum railings, glass railings, privacy screens, gates and handrails for homeowners, strata buildings and builders throughout New Westminster. Since 2020 our crew has installed railings on 15+ New Westminster properties. We're based in nearby Surrey, and New West jobs are measured and installed by our own crew.

We work in Queen's Park and the surrounding character streets, downtown and the riverfront at the Quay, Sapperton, Moody Park, the West End, Brow of the Hill, Victoria Hill, Connaught Heights and the rest of the city. New Westminster's housing is a real mix: heritage and heritage-style houses with front porches and wood railings that have reached the end of their life, mid-century homes on the hills, and a large stock of condo towers and townhouses along the river and around downtown.

Railings we install in New Westminster

• Aluminum picket railings – black, white and custom colours that sit comfortably on a heritage-style porch or a newer townhouse patio. Powder-coated, so the finish holds up in the rain without restaining.
• Glass railings – tempered glass panels in aluminum frames, top-rail or frameless-look, for rear decks, river-facing patios and condo balconies where the view matters.
• Aluminum privacy screens – horizontal-slat panels for side yards and closer lots on the hillside streets.
• Stair railings and handrails – front-porch stairs on character homes, the steeper exterior stairs common on New West's hills, and interior staircases.
• Gates – porch and deck gates, side-yard gates and matching pool or patio gates.

Heritage homes and condo buildings

In Queen's Park and on other character streets, many houses still have original or later wood porch railings that no longer meet today's opening and height rules, or that have simply rotted at the posts. A slim black or custom-colour aluminum picket railing can replace that wood without making the house look like a new subdivision. Some properties in New Westminster are formally listed or sit in a heritage conservation area; exterior changes on those homes can need an extra heritage or planning review through the City of New Westminster. We don't treat every older house as listed, and we don't quote bylaw numbers. If your planner or building department asks for railing details, we'll provide heights, openings and product sheets that match what we plan to install.

Condos and townhouses along the Quay, downtown, Victoria Hill and Sapperton are a different job. Balcony and patio railings are almost always a strata decision, and many buildings already have a specified colour, glass type or mounting style so the elevation stays consistent. We install to those guidelines and to the BC Building Code, and we can work with a strata council or property manager on a single balcony or a larger common-area run when that is the scope.

On the hillside streets – Brow of the Hill, Connaught Heights, parts of Moody Park – decks and stairs often sit well above grade, so the 42-inch guard height in the BC Building Code is more likely to apply. Glass on the view side and pickets on the stair is a common combination.

Installed prices start at $55 per foot for aluminum picket railing and $65 per foot for glass railing with aluminum posts, as shown on our price calculator. Stair sections, side-mount posts and frameless glass cost more. Prices include supply and installation; GST is extra, and the minimum job is $550.

Permits, heritage review and strata

Replacing an existing railing on a house usually does not need a permit, but a new deck or a change to a listed or heritage-protected exterior often does, and it may also need heritage review. The City of New Westminster is the authority for both building permits and heritage processes; check with them for your address rather than relying on a general rule. For condos and townhouses, strata approval is separate from any city permit, and you generally need it before installation day. We're happy to help with the railing information those applications require.

Recent New Westminster projects

Why homeowners and builders use Railing Experts

• Our own installers. The crew that measures your job is the crew that installs it – no subcontractors.
• Railings built to BC Building Code. Our aluminum railing systems are tested by Intertek, and every railing is installed to the height and opening rules in the BC Building Code.
• Supply, fabrication and install from one company. We stock railings, glass and parts through our Surrey warehouse, so we're not waiting on another supplier to finish your job.
• Over 10 years in the Lower Mainland, working for homeowners, deck builders, general contractors and strata buildings.

New Westminster railing FAQs

How high does my deck railing need to be?
Under the BC Building Code, guards on a house generally need to be at least 36" (900 mm) high where the deck is 5'11" (1.8 m) or less above the ground, and 42" (1070 mm) when it's higher. Openings must be small enough that a 4" (100 mm) sphere can't pass through. We build to these rules and confirm any local requirements with the municipality for your property.

Do I need a permit to replace my railing in New Westminster?
Replacing an existing railing on a house usually doesn't need a permit, but a new deck, a structural change, or work on a heritage-listed property often does, and listed homes may also need heritage review. Check with the City of New Westminster for your address – we're happy to help with the railing details your application needs.

Can you put a modern aluminum railing on a heritage-style home?
Yes. A slim picket railing in black or a custom colour is a common replacement for a failed wood porch railing, and it can be built to current BC Building Code rules. If the home is formally listed or in a heritage conservation area, we'll work with the details your planner asks for.

Do condo balcony railings need strata approval?
Yes. Most balcony and patio railings in New Westminster condo and townhouse buildings need written strata approval, and many buildings specify colour, glass or mounting style. Share those guidelines and we'll quote to match.

How long does installation take?
Once materials are ready, most homes are installed in one or two days.