Stair and Porch Railings in Glen Burnie, MD

A Post-War Suburb on Slabs

Glen Burnie took off after World War II. In 1947 nearby Harundale was built as one of the largest prefabricated developments in America, about 1,200 steel-frame homes on concrete slabs finished in brick, shingle or aluminum siding, and in 1958 Harundale Mall opened as the first enclosed mall east of the Mississippi. The 1950s and 1960s suburbs that followed were joined later by townhouses and apartments. Slab houses sit close to the ground, so their front stoops are short.

Short Stoops and the Four-Riser Rule

The model residential code requires a handrail only on a flight with four or more risers, and a guard only where the walking surface is more than 30 inches above the ground. Many Glen Burnie stoops are two or three steps, below both triggers, so a railing is optional there. It is still one of the most common requests, especially for older owners, and a short rail still needs to be anchored solidly into the concrete and easy to grip.

Anne Arundel Is Clear on Deck Railings

Anne Arundel County's "Do I need a Permit?" guide is unusually direct: for an attached deck, replacing the deck, replacing its railings or replacing structural members requires a building permit, while replacing deck boards only does not. A deck that abuts the house or sits within three feet of it counts as attached. A detached deck under 200 square feet and under three feet high may not need a permit outside the Critical Area. Porches need a permit. The County enforces the 2021 IRC under Bill 25-24.

Railing Work in Glen Burnie

From Glen Gardens and Ferndale to the streets off Ritchie Highway, Crain Highway and the B&A Trail, the jobs we see most are short stoop railings, permitted deck railing replacements, metal railings, repairs, interior stairs and added handrails.

Glen Burnie Railing Questions