The Best Railings for Rooftop Terraces

Webmaster October 31, 2019

If you’ve got a house with a rooftop terrace, you surely want to outfit it with things that will allow you to enjoy it to the fullest. One thing that can easily ruin the experience of a rooftop terrace is a badly chosen railing. Check out how Pro Weld can make your rooftop terrace the place to be!

What’s the View?

The first thing you need to take into consideration when picking a railing for a rooftop terrace is what kind of view you’re dealing with. Surprisingly, the view from your roof has a huge impact on the best railing choice.

A city view or something coastal does best with better visibility. You can achieve the maximum visibility with a glass railing. This type of railing makes use of glass panels. You can get these with metal framework or without. The glass allows you to see your surroundings even while lounging. No need to let metal bars get in the way of you enjoying your surroundings.
A nature view, especially when living somewhere with a lot of trees, needs less visibility. Your railing won’t be covering anything you couldn’t see above the bars anyway. Not to mention, getting glass railings for an area filled with trees could pose a problem. That’s because this could lead to leaves sticking to the glass and the glass railings are more likely to get dirty and need regular cleaning. Iron railings will look fantastic in this environment, however. The dark of the iron railings will fit in well with the rich and earthy tones of nature.

Picking Glass

If you decide to opt for a glass railing, you should know what your options are. Not all glass railings are created equal. Here are some different types:

There are full-framed glass railings. These railings are made up of a full metal frame with glass panels fitted into each section. These are great for areas with a lot of traffic like stairways, but may not be suitable for a terrace. It’s also a matter of visual preference.
Some glass railings have metal dividing posts. These posts are where the glass panels are secured. While these involved more metal, these actually involve less separate anchors than a frameless railing.
Frameless glass railings are secured with anchoring points. These usually have small pieces of metal holding each glass panel together at the top and some kind of anchoring point at the base. While these minimize the bulk of the metal used, they also aren’t necessarily as sleek looking as glass railings with the dividing posts.

Picking Metal

Metal railings come in all kinds of designs. Plus, you can choose which kind of metal suits you. We’ve got our black wrought and cast-iron as well as stainless steel. Check out our gallery to see the variety we have. You won’t be disappointed.

Give us a call at Pro Weld if you have questions about our products or would like to discuss a potential order.

Make Your Pool Family Friendly with Glass Railings

Webmaster October 31, 2019

Make Your Pool Family Friendly with a Glass Enclosure

If you’ve got children and are looking into having a pool installed – or vice versa – you might want some tips on safety. Pro Weld is a company of the leading experts on railings in Toronto. That means we know a thing or two about safety. We’re here today to tell you how you can benefit from glass railings around your pool. Let’s see how you can make your pool family friendly with glass railings.

Safety First

The first benefit to surrounding your pool area with glass railings is, of course, safety. Glass railings are a great way to keep smaller children out of the pool area without obstructing their view. This allows them to watch over older siblings or parents without getting close enough to fall in.

Splash Guard

If your kids are old enough to play in the pool with some supervision, this next perk is for you. Adults who want to lounge nearby at a table or in a lounge chair can keep dry with glass railings. Because these railings are made of glass panels, water splashing out of the pool is no longer a threat to your dry clothes or sun-warmed skin.

Not only do these glass panels keep you dry, they also keep your things dry. If you want to bring electronics, books, or snacks out by the pool with you, you don’t want them to get wet. Glass railings will protect your belongings from pool water and still allow you to enjoy the view.

Regular Railings

Glass railings aren’t just good for enclosing the pool and blocking out water. If you have a porch or terrace on a higher level of ground, you can use glass railings as regular railings. Keep people safe from getting hurt by lining the edge of your higher lounge area with glass railings. Glass railings will allow you to see down to the pool, even from up in the lounge. Lining the stairs with these rails will also minimize the risk of someone slipping while they’re wet with pool water.

Durability

Aren’t glass railings dangerous to have around a pool in case someone slips and falls into them? The short answer is no. Our glass railings are durable and built to withstand impact from this sort of thing. Glass railings wouldn’t do anymore harm to your child than a regular railing or fence would, should they fall into them.

Appearance

Outside of all of the safety and convenience features of glass railings, they also just look fantastic. Your pool area is going to look great with some of these sleek railings lining it. Not to mention, you can pick exactly what kind of glass railings you want. These aren’t just one-size-fits-all. You can get your glass railings with full framing, partial framing, or none at all.

If you have any questions about our products here at Pro Weld, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

The Best Railings for a Minimalist Interior

Webmaster September 30, 2019

Having a minimalist home means dedicating yourself to a certain interior aesthetic. That can be easy to maintain once you’ve got a routine in place for picking up and keeping things where they belong. However, when it comes to making changes in design or designing a new home altogether, it takes a bit more thought. That’s why Pro Weld is here to help you pick out railings that fit your interior design dreams. Let’s see which railings fit best with a minimalist interior.

Glass Railings

Glass railings are a fantastic choice for minimalist interiors due to their simplicity. They’re such an unobtrusive addition to any interior that they fit right in. These railings are made up of strong, sturdy, glass panels held in place with iron posts. Their features include:

The ability to see clearly through the glass, not obstructing your view like other railings do.
A lack of color, making them great for minimalist environments. Unlike wooden railings which may add too much of a warm tone to the interior, these are completely neutral.
A sleek and contemporary vibe, making them great for up-to-date designs. This sleekness also gives your interior a high-class look, raising your property’s resale value.

Stainless Steel Railings

Stainless steel railings are also great for minimalist interiors. These railings have the benefit of coming in more varied designs than glass railings. They also cater to a different kind of aesthetic. Their features include:

The ability to choose between designs with or without glass paneling. Many people enjoy using stainless steel as a framework for glass railings. However, you can also order stainless steel railings that are glass free and more casual in appearance.
Being fingerprint free. Glass railings may gather fingerprints and handprints over time and will need to be cleaned, just like windows. This is doubly so if you have children of your own or some that visit with any kind of frequency. Stainless steel railings that don’t include glass won’t need to be cleaned unless you’re looking to disinfect them.
A more industrial appearance. Stainless steel railings lend themselves well to industrial aesthetics due to their hardy, cold appearance. If you’re a fan of exposed pipes, concrete, and simple, hanging, light fixtures, stainless steel railings will fit right in.

Making Your Choice

Both of these railing types are great choices. The most important difference between them is the aesthetic they belong with. If you think they would look good with your interior design, there’s no wrong choice.

No matter which railing type you choose, you can find them here at Pro Weld in Toronto. If you have questions you’d like answers to, we’re more than happy to help. Give us a call at Pro Weld and we’ll make sure you know everything you need to to make an informed purchase.

Preserve Your View with Glass Railings

Webmaster September 30, 2019

There are a lot of different railing types available on the market these days. From different designs to different materials, it can be hard to figure out exactly what it is that you need for your home or business. That’s why Pro Weld is here to draw light to something unique: glass railings.

What are Glass Railings?

Glass railings are a type of railing made of glass panels. These panels are incredibly strong, making them safe and unlikely to break, should something collide with them. Their durability means they’re a safe and elegant installation for businesses and homes alike.

For Families

If you have small children in your home, glass railings are actually safer and more convenient than their metal alternatives. Children have a tendency to try putting parts of themselves into the gaps of metal railings. If not themselves, then their toys are bound to get pushed through the spaces only to fall to the floor below. This poses a hazard for people on the lower floor. Choosing glass keeps this kind of thing from happening. With no spaces, there’s no risk of an arm getting stuck or someone getting hurt from projectiles.

Outdoors

Glass railings are fantastic for outdoor installations. Because glass is water resistant, rain won’t damage these railings over time. That makes them ideal for lining accessible rooftops, balconies, and even pool areas.

Preserve Your View

Arguably the best part about glass railings is that they’re transparent! That means that, unlike metal railings, they won’t spoil your great view. Want to lounge on the roof and still enjoy your view of the city skyline? Want to protect people on the patio from splashed pool water while still being able to chat? How about being able to look down at your first floor from a loft? You can do all of these things with glass railings.

Design Benefits

The cool thing about glass railings is that, while carrying all of these cool features, they still fit into most designs! Any more contemporary design will carry these railings perfectly. The sleek and unobtrusive appeal of glass will fit right in with any kind of color palette or layout. Glass won’t clash with your decor. You can put these railings virtually anywhere without them detracting from the existing design.

Flexibility

The other neat design feature you gain from using glass railings is that you can put them nearly anywhere. Both outdoor and indoor applications are fantastic. They’re hardy enough to withstand the weather and elegant enough not to look out of place in a modern home. The possibilities are endless.

If you’d like to inquire about our glass railings or any other products we offer, give us a call at Pro Weld. We’re more than happy to answer your questions and help you place your order.

The Best Material for Outdoor Railings

Webmaster September 6, 2019

Putting up railings outdoors comes with a great number of considerations. What’s safest? What looks good with with the exterior design of the building? What will stand up to the local weather? Pro Weld, the railing experts, are here to cover the basics of outdoor railings. We know a thing or two about how each railing material stands up to the weather. Let’s take a look.

Avoid Wood

Wooden railings are surprisingly common outdoors. That’s mostly just because wood is such an affordable material. A little paint makes a cheap product last a few years outdoors. The problem with wooden railings is that they won’t last. Rain, snow, and frequent wear and tear from use will make wooden railings deteriorate. The paint will start to curl and chip, leaving the wood beneath vulnerable to the elements. The elements won’t be kind.

The other thing about wooden railings is that each slat or dowel between the top and bottom of the railing is usually only secured with a nail or screw on either end. It’s so incredibly easy for these nails to come loose, leaving a big gap where a railing used to be. Taking the safety risks and the overall quality drop that wooden railings give to your home, it’s best to avoid them.

Consider Aesthetic

Now that we’ve moved away from wood, it’s time to consider how the material of your railings will affect your exterior. There is something to be said for exterior aesthetic. After all, the way your home looks from the outside is the first thing visitors, neighbors, and buyers will see. That’s why curb appeal is so important.

For red brick homes, wrought iron railings look truly amazing. The black iron really stands out boldly against the backdrop of red. It’s also a classic combination. Buyers and admirers alike will love this timeless color palette.

More modern-looking homes made out of lighter stone may look good with glass or stainless steel railings. It depends on the kind of vibe your exterior gives off. Are you looking for something gentle and beautiful, or something sleek and bold? Take a trip outside your house and imagine the different railing types before picking based on guesswork. Try looking up pictures of other homes with a similar design to yours and see what you think looks best on those.

Weather Resistance

When it comes down to outlasting the weather, Pro Weld offers a number of great railing solutions. Wrought iron and cast iron both do incredibly well against both rain and snow. You’ll find that both types of damp weather won’t do much in the way of wear on your iron railings.

However, if you’re looking at using stainless steel, it’s worth considering the effect of snow. The colder times of the year can lead to smooth, steel railings becoming sticky with cold. Like the timeless tale of licking a metal pole in winter, touching your skin to a cold, steel railing can lead to some discomfort. It’s all a matter of who’s using the railings and where they’re located.

No matter what choice you’re leaning towards, we’re always happy to get a call. Give us a call and we’ll take the time to answer all of your questions. We’re looking forward to helping you through your order and serving your home the way we do best.

Make Your Two-Story Home Family Friendly

Webmaster September 6, 2019

Are you planning on getting a second-story home expansion? Maybe you’re designing a two-story custom home. No matter the case, if you’re making changes to a home that involve a second floor, you’re going to need railings. Check out how Pro Weld can assist in making your home family friendly.

Railing Types

Any simple railing can be made of wood. The thing about wooden railings is that they’re prone to breaking after a little while. This is especially true in houses with children. Kids falling against railings or trying to shove toys through the gaps can lead to broken railings. This not only poses a falling hazard, it makes it possible for your children to get injured on the broken wood.

Pro Weld offers a better alternative; buy metal railings. Buying metal railings means your railings will withstand more wear and tear than simple wooden ones. Not to mention, the railings can’t just break off when the wood gives out or a nail comes loose. Metal railings, whether they’re stainless steel or wrought iron, are welded together. A rambunctious child alone cannot damage that.

Luxury Railings

If you’re the kind of family that puts a lot of time and money into your home interior, you’ll love our wrought iron and cast iron railings. Pro Weld’s iron railings can be made into exquisite designs, able to stand up to some of the toughest scrutiny. These railings look gorgeous inside more refined homes, making them safer and more beautiful.

From straight bars to swirling designs, you can get whatever your heart desires. We have iron railings for any kind of interior style. If you’re looking for something more sleek, take a peek at our stainless steel or glass railings instead. We really do have something for everyone.

Balcony Railings

With a second-story addition or a new two-story home build, there’s a good chance there will be balconies. Where there are balconies, there must be railings. Fortunately, Pro Weld has a number of different railing types that are great for outdoor use.

Our iron railings are especially nice with brick exteriors. The black really stands out against the red or grey stone. If you like a luxurious touch to your home exterior, iron is the way to go. Order your favorite design and watch your home go up in resale value as your balconies are fixed with quality railings.

Rooftops

Many homes have rooftop terraces. These terraces could also do with some better protection. Don’t settle for wooden railings when you could have metal or glass. Pro Weld specifically recommends glass railings for rooftop terraces. They make it easy to maintain your view from the roof, not obscuring the surroundings. Plus, the solid panels ensure kids and objects can’t fit through any spaces between rails.

If you have questions about the railings we have to offer here at Pro Weld, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

7 Steps to Remember to Prepare Your House for a Showing

Webmaster July 31, 2019

When you decide to sell your home, it can be an emotional process, especially if you’ve lived there for many years. You make so many memories in your home that it can be hard to let it go.

With all the stress of selling your home comes the added stress of getting it ready. You want to make as much money as you can off of the sale. Preparing your house for a showing is one way to help.

What do you do to get your house ready to show potential buyers? Follow the guide below to get you started.

Start Cleaning

The first thing to do is to begin cleaning the entire house. No one wants to walk into a dirty and cluttered house if they’re thinking of buying it. They want to picture their family in your living room, and it’s hard to do that if your stuff is lying around everywhere.

Dust every nook and cranny you can find. Don’t forget about any railings, both inside and outside. They can collect a lot of dust and often get forgotten about.

Organize Your Closets

Potential buyers want to see every aspect of your home, including the closet. Although it may be snoopy to some, many viewers will open up closet doors to see what’s behind the door. Be prepared for this. Organize and declutter the closet. You don’t want junk falling out when someone opens the door. Nor do you want any personal items visible that you want to be kept private.

Repair Any Minor Damages

You want to show your house in the best condition possible. If you spot any minor damages, try to fix them before the showing. Anything that is major, you can either fix it or have the realtor make a note that it will get discussed in the deal.

Take Down Items Moving With You

Since you want your potential buyers to picture themselves living in your home, you should remove any items that you’ll take with you. Avoid any awkward conversations over an item that was around in the showing, but you instead took it with you. The buyer can’t dispute an item if he or she never saw it in the first place.

Check the Curb Appeal

When a buyer drives up, they’ll make their first impression of your home based on the front yard. Picture yourself as someone first approaching the property. What do you see and how does it make you feel? If there are children’s toys lying around everywhere and the grass looks like a jungle, it doesn’t give off a good first impression.

Set a Comfortable Temperature

You want to have the temperature in your home at a comfortable level. Set it to a level that keeps the potential buyer inside. If it’s summer, your home should be a place of relief from the heat. During the winter, the warmth should make them want to continue walking through your home.

Create a Pleasant Smell

The smell of your home will factor in the appeal of it. A good tip is to bake a fresh batch of cookies or have some citrus fruit in a display bowl. Be careful about candles and air fresheners, as many people have allergies to the fragrances.

Don’t Overlook These 6 Things When Designing Your Home

Webmaster July 31, 2019

Designing a home can be a fun time, or it could be one of the hardest things you do. If you don’t have the most creative mind, you may struggle on how you want your home to look. Maybe you’ll even hire someone to do the job for you, and that’s okay too.

Whether you’re designing your home yourself or having someone tackle the task for you, there are many things in your house that you don’t want to overlook. We have six of those things to consider when designing your home.

How Livable the Space Is

One of the top priorities when designing a home is how livable your plan is. Is your home easy to maneuver through? Does one room flow into the next? Your home should meet the needs of you and your family first.

Many designs seem really modern and appealing until you actually live in them. Do you have enough storage for everything, or did you sacrifice storage space for a particular design detail?

Railings

They may not seem like a big deal at the time, but any railings you have in your home can add or take away from the design of the space. Railings along the staircase can make them pop out. If you have an open upstairs that overlooks below, having glass railings gives off a different illusion instead of closed-off railings.

Your Personality

Your personality to shine in your home. If it doesn’t, how long do you expect that you’ll like the design? Although you can pick any style you want for your home, it should still make sense to who you are. If you don’t like going to the beach, would a beach-themed house make sense then?

Storage

Having enough storage in any home is an essential part of every design. It’s frustrating when you run out of space to store things. You either have to become super creative with where you put items, or you have to start decluttering your home. Ensure that your design has enough storage spots for the whole family.

Outdoor to Indoor Transition Spot

Although this may not seem like a big deal, having a spot that is a transitional space between the indoors and outdoors is very handy. A mudroom is an excellent spot to put shoes and coats in, and it helps to prevent dirt from getting tracked throughout your home. It’s a bonus for making your home more comfortable and livable.

Counter Space

At the time of the design, you may think that you only need a minimal amount of counter space. Then, you start to cook for your family and wish you would have added in additional counters or built the island you were thinking about. Not having enough counter space is very frustrating in any home, let alone one that has a large family. So, ensure that you have enough space to do everything you need to in the kitchen.

If you don’t follow the points above, it doesn’t mean your home won’t be livable or desirable. However, these points will help make your home more appealing and more comfortable for everyone inside it.

5 Tips for Taking Care of Outdoor Wood Railings

Webmaster July 2, 2019

If you have a deck, chances are you have railings around it. If not, it may be time to invest in installing some.

Railings serve as an essential purpose for the safety of those who use the deck. Since they are outdoors, it’s important that you continue to take care of them to maintain their structural integrity.

Keep your outdoor railings in top shape by using the following five tips.

Know the Type of Wood

Before doing anything, you need to know the kind of wood used to make the railings. What you do to clean one type wouldn’t necessarily work for another kind. Knowing the type of wood allows you to pick cleaning products that are meant to protect and seal that specific type.

Use Non-Harsh Cleaners

Certain cleaners are too strong to use on wood as they can strip the finish. With your railings, you want them looking like new for as long as possible. Try and stay away from detergent cleaners and go for non-detergent ones.

For a more heavy-duty clean that will protect the wood, look for cleaners that are meant for outdoor wood, and even better if you can find products that won’t harm the environment. If you can’t find any, non-detergent dish soap works fine. Water and white vinegar is a good combination for tough stains.

Apply an Oil or Sealant

To keep the wood shiny and looking like new, apply a sealant or protective coating to the railings. This step is what helps protect the wood from the harsh elements, especially when winter rolls around.

When applying a sealant, rub with the grain and ensure that you get into all the crevices in the wood as well. Allow the product to soak into the wood before wiping any excess product off with a clean rag.

Inspect for Wood

You should regularly inspect the railings to see if any nails are sticking out, slivers to remove, or if there are any broken pieces. For any nails sticking out, you should immediately drive them back in to prevent any snagging.

If any parts of the railing are damaged, it could put the whole railing in jeopardy of falling apart, and that is not something you want to find out if someone is leaning against it.

Stain the Railings

Even a good stain will fade after a while as it sits outside. Between the sun, rain, cold, and snow, at some point, you’ll need to restain the railings. To keep the railing looking like new, adding a fresh stain every five years is a good guideline to follow. When that time comes, stain the railings as you stain the deck to maintain the same colour and look.

Get the most out of your railing by taking care of it and having a maintenance routine. Even as simple as cleaning the railings regularly will help maintain the health of the wood so that you’re left with a strong and healthy railing.

Is Your Fence in Need of Repairs? 4 Warning Signs to Watch For

Webmaster July 2, 2019

If you look around your neighbourhood, chances are the majority of fences you see are made from wood. That is because wood is an excellent resource for building fences. It is quite often affordable, easy to work with, and very reliable.

With most things that are outside, after a while, they will need repairing and even replacing. Fences are no exception. Even if you have a brick or aluminum fence, at some point you’ll need to fix it.

Since wood fences are the more popular option, we’re going to look at four warning signs that say you need to repair your wooden fence.

Rotting

Rotting is a common indicator that your fence is on its last life, or at least that particular board. If you notice rotting spots on your fence, it’s something you want to address right away. Over time, that rot can cause your fence to warp and damage the structural integrity. As the rot deteriorates the fence, it also loses the look you were initially going for.

If you find only a few boards that have rot, you likely can get away with repairing only those boards. However, if the rot spreads, it probably has weakened the fence to the point of replacing the whole thing.

Insect Damage

Can you spot tiny holes in your fence? That could be a sign of insect damage. Many insects will burrow and eat away at wood, and if left untreated, can cause significant damage to your fence. As with rotting, inspect the whole fence to see where all the infested spots are. If it’s spread too far, you’ll likely have to replace the fence instead of repairing it.

For insect damage, you may want to further investigate as to where the infestation is coming from. You wouldn’t want to replace only to have the bugs return.

Splintered Boards

Splintering is another good indicator that it’s time to repair your fence. The problematic thing with splintering boards is that it can be difficult to determine if you need to simply repair certain boards, or if the whole structure is weakened.

If the fence is still standing upright even though there are splintered boards, you likely can get away with repairing only what is needed.

Sagging

If you notice that your fence isn’t standing up straight anymore, maybe it’s starting to warp or has a lean to it, that is a sure sign that your fence requires your attention. Sagging can come from the weather or from age.

The important thing to remember with a sagging fence is to determine what is causing it to sag. If the boards are rotting and making the fence sag, the structural integrity of the fence could be damaged, making the fence quite dangerous.

After building a fence, it’s essential that you spend time taking care of it. Fences provide privacy around the property. However, if you notice one of these signs and don’t act on repairing your fence, it soon becomes dangerous. A falling fence could seriously harm someone.

If you’re unsure whether or not to replace or repair your fence, call a professional contractor to help come up with a plan for you.

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