Custom Steel Deck & Stair Railing | Hobble Creek Canyon, Springville, Utah

Titan Forge LLC designed, fabricated, coordinated powder coating for, and installed approximately 139 linear feet of custom exterior steel railing for a home in Hobble Creek Canyon near Springville, Utah.

Completed across two phases, the final measured railing length was approximately 139′ 0¾”: Phase One totaled 68.5 linear feet, and Phase Two added approximately 70′ 6¾”. This became Titan Forge’s largest residential railing project to date.

The homeowners were replacing an aging wood deck and stair railing that had become deteriorated and unstable. They wanted a simple vertical-baluster design that looked clean, felt solid, and—most importantly—gave them confidence that they would not have to worry about the railing every time they used the deck or stairs.

The finished system included two stair flights, a mid-landing, a long upper-deck run, approximately a dozen fabricated railing sections, custom 1/4-inch post mounting plates, a custom CNC plasma-cut Model A feature panel, and a Wet Concrete textured powder-coated finish applied by Professional Powder Coaters in Provo, Utah.

What made this project challenging was not the visual design. It was making a large, multi-section steel railing system fit an existing staircase whose geometry was not perfectly uniform. The solution was straightforward: when standard measurements were not giving us the precision we wanted, we changed the process instead of lowering the standard.

Fabricator & Installer: Titan Forge LLC

Location: Hobble Creek Canyon, Springville, Utah

Project Type: Custom residential exterior steel stair, deck, handrail, and guardrail system

Total Installed Railing: Approximately 139 linear feet (139′ 0¾”)

Project Phases: Phase One — 68.5 LF | Phase Two — approximately 70′ 6¾”

Project Significance: Titan Forge’s largest residential railing project completed to date

Existing Condition: Deteriorating and unstable wood railing

Design: Clean modern steel railing with vertical balusters

Stair Configuration: Two stair flights, one mid-landing, and a long upper-deck railing run

Fabrication: Fabricated and dry-fitted at the Titan Forge shop in Springville, Utah

Design & Layout: AutoCAD plus full-scale field mockups

Approximate Number of Sections: About a dozen fabricated railing sections

Finish: Wet Concrete textured powder coat

Powder Coating: Professional Powder Coaters, Provo, Utah

Special Feature: Custom CNC plasma-cut Model A railing panel integrated into the mid-landing railing

Warranty: One-year Titan Forge workmanship warranty

The project began with an old wood deck and stair railing that had deteriorated and become unstable.

The homeowners were not looking for an elaborate ornamental railing. They wanted something simple: vertical steel balusters, clean lines, a finish that fit the home, and a railing they could trust.

That last part mattered to me.

These homeowners use this deck and these stairs. They decorate the earlier railing sections with American flags, seasonal lights, flowers, and other personal touches. It is part of their home, not just something around the edge of a deck.

I wanted the finished steel railing to feel solid the second someone put a hand on it. The clients are an older couple, and I wanted them—as well as their family, friends, and anyone visiting the home—to feel secure using the stairs and deck.

So while the design stayed intentionally simple, I was willing to put extra work into the mounting, fit-up, and installation to get the strength and feel I wanted.

The visual design was intentionally restrained.

Titan Forge developed the railing layout in AutoCAD so the homeowners could see the proportions, spacing, and overall appearance before fabrication began. Across both phases, the project grew to approximately 139 linear feet of custom steel railing.

The primary railing components included:

• 2″ × 2″ steel posts, 1/8″ wall
• 1″ × 2″ rectangular steel top rail, .083″ wall
• 3/4″ square steel vertical balusters
• 1″ × 1/2″ rectangular steel bottom rail
• 1/4″ steel post base plates

From a design standpoint, the railing is clean and straightforward.

Fabricating approximately 139 linear feet of it around an existing exterior staircase—with multiple transitions, two stair flights, a landing, a long upper-deck run, and real-world variations in the stair geometry—was not.

One of the biggest challenges on this project was accurately capturing the geometry of the existing stairs.

Our first approach was the conventional one: tape measures, levels, squares, and individual measurements of stair rise and run. That works well when the staircase is consistent.

This staircase was not perfectly uniform.

Small variations from one stair to the next meant that even a fraction of an inch could compound across a long railing section. Once we transferred the original measurements back to the shop, some of the angles were not matching the stairs as precisely as I wanted.

That was the point where the project could have gone one of two ways: accept a fit that was “close enough,” or change the measuring process.

We changed the process.

We went back to the Hobble Creek Canyon property and built full-scale railing mockups from 2×4 lumber directly against the existing staircase.

No digital measuring system was used. The mockups gave us something more useful for this particular staircase: the actual field geometry.

Instead of assuming every rise, run, and stair angle was mathematically identical, the wood mockups captured the real relationship between the stairs, landings, transitions, and mounting locations. We could then take those physical dimensions and angles back to the Springville shop and fabricate the steel sections around what actually existed.

It took more time up front, but once the mockups were right, fabrication became much smoother.

That became one of the biggest lessons from this project for me: do whatever the project requires to protect the quality of the finished work.

A tape measure, level, square, AutoCAD drawing, or mockup is just a tool. If the standard method is not giving us the precision we need, we change the method instead of sacrificing fit.

After the field geometry was established, the railing system was fabricated at the Titan Forge shop in Springville, Utah.

With approximately 139 linear feet of railing spread across two phases, the system had to be built in manageable sections rather than as one continuous assembly. In total, the project used approximately a dozen fabricated railing sections.

Those sections were sized so they could be:

• Fabricated accurately in the shop
• Dry-fitted before finishing
• Transported safely
• Handled safely by the installation crew
• Delivered to the powder coating facility
• Carried into position on the elevated deck and stair system
• Joined accurately during final installation

Dry fitting was a major part of the process.

We performed multiple trial fits at the property to verify angles, transitions, connection points, mounting locations, and alignment before the railing received its final powder-coated finish.

By the time the finished sections came back for installation, we were not hoping they would fit.

We had already proven the fit.

One of the details I am most proud of is mostly hidden once the railing is installed: the post mounting system.

I wanted the railing to feel exceptionally solid, so Titan Forge fabricated custom 1/4-inch steel post base plates for the existing Trex deck and wood framing.

Each primary base plate was secured with four #14 × 3-inch star-drive wood structural lag screws. The screws pass through the Trex decking and into the supporting wood structure below.

But I did not want the posts relying only on fasteners driven vertically through the deck surface.

The mounting plates were also fabricated with a 90-degree vertical attachment. That allowed an additional approximately 5/16-inch through-bolt, with washers, to secure the post mounting assembly through the outer vertical face of the deck framing.

That gave each post multiple attachment points in different planes.

There was no known failure we were trying to correct. I simply wanted to build the connection as solidly as practical for these homeowners.

After installation, the completed railing exhibited no noticeable movement under normal hand loading. That rigid, secure feel was exactly what I wanted when we started the project.

For me, one of the most satisfying parts of the entire job was watching approximately a dozen separately fabricated sections finally become one continuous railing system.

Individual railing sections were mechanically tied together using 5/16-inch rivet nuts and bolts. That allowed adjoining sections to be aligned and secured cleanly during final assembly while still letting us fabricate, finish, transport, and install the project in manageable pieces.

This is where all the measuring, mockups, AutoCAD work, dry fitting, welding, grinding, powder coating coordination, and planning either pays off—or it does not.

On this project, it paid off.

Once everything was anchored and connected, the transitions lined up and the separate sections visually read as one railing system.

For a project of this size, that final fit and continuity is probably the part I am most proud of.

Although the homeowners wanted the overall railing design to remain simple, the mid-landing gave us an opportunity to make one part of the project personal.

The homeowner has a real appreciation for his Ford Model A, so Titan Forge created a custom CNC plasma-cut steel feature panel incorporating a Model A silhouette.

We did not simply bolt a decorative sign onto the face of the railing.

The panel was built into the railing itself.

A framework was fabricated from the same 3/4-inch square steel used for the vertical balusters. The surrounding balusters were cut to accept the framed panel, and the complete assembly was welded directly into the mid-landing railing.

That kept the custom artwork consistent with the rest of the fabrication. It feels like part of the railing—not an accessory added afterward.

It is a small detail compared with the overall 139-foot project, but it is one of the details that makes the railing specific to this home and these homeowners.

After fabrication and dry fitting were complete, the steel railing sections were prepared for professional powder coating.

The homeowners selected a Wet Concrete textured powder coat, applied by Professional Powder Coaters in Provo, Utah.

The gray textured finish works especially well with the Trex decking, the home’s exterior, and the natural setting in Hobble Creek Canyon. It gives the railing a softer architectural appearance than a typical gloss-black finish while still letting the clean steel geometry stand out.

Titan Forge fabricated and prepared the railing sections and coordinated the coating process before final installation.

Final installation presented its own challenge because much of the work was taking place on an elevated exterior deck and stair system.

Safety was the first priority.

I did not want any employee working from a position where he felt unsafe, unstable, or unable to control the section being installed. We organized the installation around the strengths of each crew member, the weight and geometry of each railing section, and safe access to the work area.

Breaking the approximately 139-foot system into manageable sections proved valuable again during installation.

Each section could be moved into position, aligned, anchored to the deck structure, checked for fit, and then mechanically tied into the neighboring railing section.

The goal was not speed at the expense of control. The goal was to install every section safely and correctly.

There is a point near the end of a custom fabrication project when the drawings, measurements, cut lists, tack welds, mockups, dry fits, and installation problems fade into the background.

You are just standing there looking at the thing you built.

This project had one of those moments for me.

Walking up and down the completed stairs and putting a hand on the railing was almost surreal. I kept checking the railings because I loved how solid they felt. After all the measuring, remaking the measurement process, custom mounting plates, dry fitting, and final assembly, there was a real sense of satisfaction in seeing how securely everything came together.

That mattered because the homeowners’ original goal was not complicated: they wanted to replace an unstable wood railing with something they could feel confident using.

There was also another side to it.

Seeing the Phase One railing decorated with American flags, lights, flowers, and the homeowners’ personal touches made it obvious that this was not just steel around a deck. They take pride in their home and in that outdoor space.

I respect these clients a lot, and that made me care even more about getting the details right.

This is the largest residential railing project Titan Forge has completed to date, and I am proud that I was able to see it from the first measurements and AutoCAD layout all the way through fabrication, powder coating coordination, and final installation.

At approximately 139 linear feet across two phases, this is Titan Forge LLC’s largest residential railing project completed to date.

For homeowners, contractors, builders, or anyone searching for a custom steel railing fabricator in Springville, Provo, Utah County, or surrounding Utah communities, this Hobble Creek Canyon project demonstrates our ability to handle:

• Large custom residential steel railing projects
• Exterior stair railing, deck railing, handrail, and guardrail fabrication
• Multi-phase railing fabrication and installation
• Field measurement of complex existing structures
• AutoCAD railing layout and planning
• Full-scale field mockups when existing stair geometry requires them
• Shop fabrication and repeated dry fitting
• Custom 1/4-inch steel post base plates
• #14 × 3-inch structural lag-screw attachment into wood framing
• Supplemental through-bolt mounting at the vertical deck framing
• Multi-section railing fabrication and field assembly
• 5/16-inch rivet-nut and bolted section connections
• CNC plasma-cut decorative steel panels
• Powder coat preparation and coordination
• Installation on elevated decks and stair systems
• Owner involvement from initial measurement through final installation

Most importantly, this project demonstrates how Titan Forge approaches custom metal fabrication when the existing structure does not fit neatly into textbook dimensions:

We adapt the process instead of lowering the standard.

How large was the Hobble Creek Canyon steel railing project?

The completed project totaled approximately 139 linear feet of custom exterior steel railing across two phases. Phase One totaled 68.5 linear feet, and Phase Two added approximately 70′ 6¾”, for a combined measured length of about 139′ 0¾”. It is Titan Forge LLC’s largest residential railing project completed to date.

Do you fabricate custom steel railings for existing homes?

Yes. Titan Forge designs, fabricates, and installs custom steel railing systems for existing residential decks, stairs, landings, and similar applications. Existing construction often requires field verification and custom fabrication because dimensions and stair geometry can vary from one property to another.

Can you build railings when the existing stairs are not perfectly uniform?

Yes. This Hobble Creek Canyon project is a good example. Conventional measurements did not give us the precision we wanted, so we built full-scale 2×4 wood mockups on site to capture the actual stair geometry before completing fabrication.

Where are Titan Forge railings fabricated?

Our custom steel fabrication work is performed at the Titan Forge LLC shop in Springville, Utah. For this project, the railing sections were fabricated and dry-fitted in our shop, trial-fitted at the property, professionally powder coated, and then returned to the site for final installation.

What steel sizes were used on this railing?

This project used 2″ × 2″ steel posts with 1/8″ wall, 1″ × 2″ rectangular top rail with .083″ wall, 3/4″ square vertical balusters, 1″ × 1/2″ rectangular bottom rail, and custom 1/4″ steel mounting plates.

How were the railing posts attached to the Trex deck?

Titan Forge fabricated custom 1/4-inch base plates. Each primary plate was fastened through the Trex decking into the supporting wood framing with four #14 × 3-inch star-drive wood structural lag screws. The mounting system also incorporated a 90-degree vertical attachment with an additional approximately 5/16-inch through-bolt and washers through the vertical deck framing.

How were the individual railing sections connected together?

The project was fabricated in approximately a dozen manageable sections. During final installation, adjoining sections were aligned and secured using 5/16-inch rivet nuts and bolts so the completed assembly functioned and appeared as one continuous railing system.

Do you offer powder-coated steel railings?

Yes. Titan Forge can fabricate and prepare railing assemblies for professional powder coating and coordinate with the coating vendor. This project was finished in a Wet Concrete textured powder coat by Professional Powder Coaters in Provo, Utah.

Can you incorporate custom designs or artwork into a railing?

Yes. Titan Forge offers CNC plasma cutting for custom steel components and decorative elements. On this project, we created a Model A silhouette panel, framed it with 3/4-inch square steel, and welded it directly into the mid-landing railing.

Does Titan Forge warranty custom railing work?

Titan Forge provides a one-year workmanship warranty on its fabrication and installation work, subject to the terms applicable to the project.

Does Titan Forge only build residential railings?

No. Titan Forge LLC provides welding and metal fabrication services for residential and commercial projects, including custom railings, stairs, structural steel fabrication, CNC plasma cutting, repair work, and other custom fabricated steel components.

Titan Forge LLC is a welding and metal fabrication company based in Springville, Utah, providing custom steel fabrication for homeowners, contractors, builders, and businesses throughout Utah County and surrounding areas.

This Hobble Creek Canyon project is a real example of the type of work we take on: an existing structure, difficult field geometry, approximately 139 linear feet of railing, multiple stair and deck sections, custom mounting details, shop fabrication, CNC plasma cutting, powder coat coordination, and final installation.

If you have an existing deck or staircase that does not lend itself to an off-the-shelf railing—or you simply want a steel railing fabricated specifically for your property—we can review photos, measurements, drawings, or the project scope, develop the fabrication approach, and tell you whether it is a good fit for our shop.

Custom fabrication does not always begin with perfect conditions. It begins with figuring out how to build it right.

Send us photos, measurements, drawings, or your project scope. We’ll review the job, identify the fabrication and installation considerations, and outline the next steps.