A New Jersey ornamental iron shop quoted a complete guardrail and handrail system spanning three levels of a warehouse addition. The spec called for 2" square tube posts at 4' on-center, 1-1/2" pipe top rail, mid-rail, and 3/4" square pickets — all hot-dip galvanized after fabrication. Total material weight was approximately 1,800 lbs across 210 linear feet of railing. IronKit priced it on a per-foot basis for the railing components and per-unit for posts and base plates, then added shop fabrication, field installation, and galvanizing as separate line items. The foreman said the per-foot breakdown helped him explain the cost to a skeptical building owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the handrail cost $11K for 210 linear feet?
Northeast labor rates, hot-dip galvanizing, and three-floor field installation drive the price. The per-foot cost works out to about $52/lf installed — competitive for commercial galvanized rail in the NJ market.
Does IronKit include galvanizing in the quote?
Yes. IronKit adds galvanizing as a per-pound line item so the customer can see the exact finish cost. You can switch to paint or powder coat and the number updates automatically.
What OSHA code does IronKit reference?
IronKit notes the applicable code (OSHA 1910.29 for guardrails, IBC 2021 for building guards) in the project details. It does not perform engineering calculations — always have a PE stamp the drawings.