About Alameda Custom Railing
Who We Are
Alameda Custom Railing is a locally owned and operated railing fabricator serving the island of Alameda and the greater East Bay. We design, build and install custom railings for homes and commercial properties: wrought iron, stainless cable, glass, and powder-coated aluminum. Every project is measured on-site, drawn to your space, and fabricated in our own shop rather than pulled off a warehouse shelf.
We work the way a real metal shop should. You talk to the people who build the railing, not a call center. That means honest advice about what will actually last on a salt-air balcony in Alameda, what a hillside deck in Berkeley needs to pass inspection, and where a simpler design will save you money without cutting a corner that matters.
Licensed & Insured In-Shop Fabrication Free On-Site Estimates Code-Compliant
Our Philosophy
A railing has two jobs: keep people safe and look like it belongs on your home. Too many railings do one and ignore the other. We start with the safety requirements the California Building Code sets out, guard height, the 4-inch sphere rule on baluster gaps, load requirements at the top rail, then design around them so the finished product fits the architecture instead of fighting it.
Because we fabricate in-house, we control quality from raw steel to final finish. We are not marking up a subcontractor's work or hoping a distant supplier got the welds right. If something needs to be adjusted to fit an out-of-square opening or a period-appropriate detail on a Victorian, we do it at the bench.
Coastal-Grade Materials That Last Here
The East Bay is hard on metal. Alameda sits near sea level surrounded by salt water, and marine air corrodes hardware that would be fine inland. That shapes what we recommend: 316 marine-grade stainless for cable and fittings, hot-dip galvanizing and oven-cured powder coat on steel, and finishes chosen for the specific exposure of your property. The right material specification up front is the difference between a railing that looks good for decades and one that streaks with rust in a couple of winters.
Materials we work in every week include hand-forged and mild carbon steel for ornamental iron, 1x19 stainless aircraft cable, tempered and laminated glass with standoffs or spigots, and structural aluminum. We match the material to the job, the setting, and the budget.
How the Process Works
Consult & Measure
We come to you for a free on-site estimate, take field measurements, and talk through style, budget and code.
Shop Drawings
We produce CAD and shop drawings so you see the design and the engineering before any steel is cut.
Fabricate & Finish
Cutting, welding and finishing, powder coat or galvanizing, happen in our shop under our control.
Install & Inspect
We anchor and install on-site, then support you through final code and safety inspection.
Where We Work
We serve Alameda County and the East Bay, including Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro, Hayward and Castro Valley. Each city has its own permit process and its own quirks, Alameda's own Permit Center and historic housing stock, the Hayward Fault running under several of these communities, and county-issued permits in unincorporated Castro Valley. We know these jurisdictions and build to what your local inspector expects.
Ready to see what we can build for your home or property? Explore our railing services or contact us for a free on-site estimate. You can also call us directly at (510) 555-0100.