Tuesday, 22 November 2011

Estate Railings

Estate Railings have a classic style often associated with country parks and rural estates. The traditional fence has an ancient look but offers a modern and hardy fence. The modern fence is now stronger and more resilient than the older style of estate fencing.

Estate fencing is useful for marking boundaries on a large estate and also keeping livestock from gardens and within the grazing areas. Sometimes estate fencing can be called deer or park fencing as it was traditionally used to keep deer within estates.
Deer or estate fencing is a great alternative to wire fencing and wooden posts. Wire fencing is temporary and susceptible to damage and weathering. Whereas estate railings are more durable and will last a lot longer, look more classic and have the options of including gates to provide a more traditional finish.

Estate Railings are delivered in a galvanized finish but also have the option of being powder coated. Usually estate railings are a traditional black colour but having a powder coating, gives you a choice of different colour finishes. You may for example want a green finish if the railing borders a woodland, that will pull the fence into the environment and it will not stand out as much. However the black railings on an estate rail do tend to be a feature themselves. It is useful to have the option for different colours if they are needed.

If you order estate rail from Alpharail, you can choose to have a supply and delivery or supply and fix service and you can choose from a range of heights. This allows you to fit your own railing or take advantage of the installation service.

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Keep People off the Grass with Trip Rails

We’ve all seen signs on well-kept lawns and parks outside buildings with the message “Keep off the Grass” as tempting as the grass looks to sit on or cut across a sign is asking people to respect the grass and the sign, while there is no physical deterrent it is almost a challenge to the person walking by.

Signs like “keep off the grass” are easier to enforce with the use of trip rails. Trip rails are rails that tend to be about the height of an adults knee or lower and can line either a grassed area or a planted area to help to deter people from walking on the grass or trampling a planted area. Trip rails by their nature are not a feature like a full fence and gate but such rather a rail that prevents someone from easily passing it but in itself is not really noticed. It also means passers-by can enjoy the park or area without a physical barrier to it.

Trip rails tend to have a simple design, fabricated from either circular or rectangular hollow sections, linked together through regular posts, they can be rendered in a number of colours and finials can be added to improve the look of them. The majority of them are steel trip rails as this material is suitable to withstand weathering and easily rendered in which ever covering is needed

Trip rails from Alpharail are a good idea because the rail can be designed to the area you want to use it; this means if the area you want to protect is an awkward shape or is really long, Alpharail can create a rail that is suitable for this purpose.

Monday, 17 October 2011

Finish off your Fence with Finials and Finishes

When creating a fence design, something that is often overlooked is the finial, the name given to the rail and post heads. Adding something extra to the top of the fence has the dual aspect of adding increased security to a boundary railing and adding an extra design edge to the rail.

Railing Finials vary from a single point often a similar shape to an arrowhead but they can also be rounded and have more than one point coming off them. Railing Finials can have posts finials that echo the design of the rail finials or can be something a bit different.


If you have a look at some of our more recent projects like Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, the finials there are more unusual and denote a megaphone to reflect the history of Speakers' corner. In other projects like in the Thompson Veterinary practice the finials tied the handrail to the railing by the use of a different colour; this use of colour makes the finial stand out.


In many of our projects you can see the traditional arrow shaped finial but if you haven't seen a finial you want to use Alpharail can commission a finial of your own design to give the railing a look that is unique. You could consider a bespoke finial, if you have a unique design you can use that is linked to your business, school or park like the Hyde Park megaphone.

Aside from finials, the other possible consideration for finishing your fence is the finish. All Alphrail's are hot dip galvanized using a zinc coating this helps to provide extra protection for the rails from rust.

Alpharail rails tend to be powder coated at the factory to provide a durable weather-proof finish to further protect your rail from corrosion and give an even finish. Like paint, powder coating can be in a range of colours so does not necessarily have to limit your choice alternatively the rail can be painted.





Thursday, 8 September 2011

Pedestrian Guardrails for Public Safety and Security


Pedestrian guardrails help make public roads, bridges and buildings safer for pedestrians, passengers and commuters. Here at Alpharail it has been our business to ensure the safety of the public for the past 25 years. We have been providing high quality and effective pedestrian guardrails to local authorities and private contractors all over the United Kingdom.

When it comes to choosing the type of pedestrian guardrail to build and install, Alpharail can make some intelligent suggestions. It will be dependent on a few factors which will affect the size, style and material used for the rail. These include the location where the guardrail will be installed, the traffic volume in the area, and the presence of other structures such as trees and buildings.

Budget may also be a deciding factor when choosing suitable pedestrian guardrail. For those with limited funds, basic and affordable unit panel designs from Alpharail are now avalible. These have variations based on height and the distance between infill bars. On height, M1 and M2 versions are offers with M1 offering a full height and M2 with a slight gap from the bars to the base. The size of the infill bars also vary. Infill bars make guardrails more visible to drivers in public roads. The Optirail system are most visible among pedestrian guardrails and apply effective size variations with infill bars.

The unit panels measure about 1m or 2m in length. Special sizes can also be ordered such as panels with rakes and radiuses. These can be either finished with compliance to standards set by BS EN ISO 1461 : 1999 or BS 6497. The former refers to finishing fabricated iron or steel with hot dip galvanized coatings. The latter on the other hand is another option wherewith powder organic coating such as polyester is used instead.

Alpharail also offer decorative panels to add an aesthetic value to the pedestrian guardrails. Various designs are available to choose. All railings made are compliant with BD 7818 : 1995. This contains specifications for pedestrian restraint systems such as guardrails made of metal. This guideline is imposed upon all manufacturers and installers of related products and services. Alpharail pedestrian guardrails remain reliable, safe and of high quality by complying with the standards set by this specification.

Monday, 5 September 2011

External Balustrade at Alpharail


External balustrade is a beautiful accent for any exterior design. It has been used on balconies, in parks, and to assure the security of children in school yards. While many think the balustrade is ugly institutional like steel railings, it can be so much more. There are inserts and panels that can be added to the balustrade to add a touch of personality or flair to your exterior space.

Here at Alpharail our balustrade is a low maintenance product that will last for many years. Our entire balustrade range is powder coated to prevent rusting and deterioration. This also makes it easy to clean off excessive dirt and filth, just take a hose to it and spray it off.

Balustrades have also become an architectural statement. With spiralling, and innovative design, these rails have become more common in a variety of places and uses. Balustrade can now been seen in restaurants, hot spots and clubs, zoos and parks. External balustrade offers security, safety and functionality to the environment it is placed in.

While the most common form of external balustrade is made with metal, there are other types of balustrade that deserve a mention. A variety of different timbers and plastics can also be used in the fabrication of balustrades.

When you are seeking balustrade for external use, you need a company with that has the expertise and experience to not only install, but also provide the best balustrade on the market, Alpharail is that company, and we offer the best to every customer whether they are industrial, personal or educational settings.

Thursday, 11 August 2011

Discover Alpharail's Range of Juliette Balconies


When you want to add something additional to protect your home, it can often be more difficult than you expect. An option would be Alpharail’s extensive range of Juliette balconies, not only to they look beautiful but they have the additional ability to protect a wide variety of windows.


Juliette balconies present pure beauty, and that is the first thing customers will notice in the product, because of the way the balconies are designed customers will see they are making the correct choice in product as not only will it give their home a great look it will be increasing the safety of the property also.

Juliette balconies offer ultimate protection for windows, and usually they will be covering the bottom half of a two level window, this type of covering will prevent people from breaking the glass on the reachable portion of the window, however it is also small enough with enough openings to easily allow the air to flow freely through the balcony allowing for a great breeze to enter your home.

Here at Alpharail we have a variety of Juliette balcony ranges, all with stunning different designs:
The Portland
The Byron
The Rufford
The Chatsworth
The Washington
The Lincoln
The Jefferson
The Cleveland
The Stafford

Being able to protect your home is a wonderful thing to do and a stunning Alpharail Juliette balcony is definitely a method to consider making your home safe and attractive.

Friday, 5 August 2011

Bollards, Arches, Barriers and Cycle Stands

Every person in this world need to protect themselves and everything they own. With this in mind, there is a need for quality bollards, arches and rails. With the huge number of people who do not find what they need, here at Alpharail we can give them the solution that they are looking for. There are a lot of makers of the same product but the only difference is the quality. It can be a challenge to find products like these that will last a long time because these products are outdoors and constantly tested by the elements.Alpharail have been making these kinds of products for a very long time, and they have been able to cater to the different needs of their clients and still be able to provide them with quality service. Our products are so good that it can stand the test of time. We are the ones that are behind the nice railings that you see everywhere in the UK and we have a list of places and examples we have worked on. Our work is not only about the quality of the materials but the quality of the design is also included. Some of our products like our arches can be adjusted to fit the needs and requirements of the clients.


Our designs make it easier for people who are looking for arches, rails and barriers with style. We are able to come up with modern designs that are present in the current market and attractive looking. Our barriers also come in a range of designs to ensure that they don’t only protect you but look good in the process.

We also have a range of cycle stands, and they are a product which has made us famous. Our stands come in so many design’s that our clients will enjoy choosing the cycle stand them.


Here at Alpharail with the products we offer, you will not find any better deal elsewhere when it comes to quality and price.