Vinyl railings versus steel

Our buildings are on the ocean. Steel railing rusts and requires constant maintenance.
Has anyone converted to vinyl/plastic railing?
Our concern is the strength of vinyl/plastic as these railings are multiple story in height?

Have read that some vinyl has aluminum core or steel or concrete.
Steel core sound scary as we won't see the rust and failure.

Any info is appreciated!

Martin,

There are a lot of choices out there and I would check your codes for your area as what is required and to what specifications. If vinyl is good to go in your state, I personnally would say use it. Now I have not used this company, nor am I promoting them, but here are some links you can check into:

www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/68/6...c08-b6bb3a11a828.pdf

www.huskervinyl.com/pdf/husker-vinyl-sta...all-instructions.pdf

www.asibp.com/stair-rail-options.php

www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?N=0&l...vinyl+stair+railing# !

If your management company have never dealt with eSupplySystems, they are a good company which could save your management company big bucks because of the combined purchasing power they have. Now this company I know and they are good, but of course this going above and beyond what you are requesting.

I would definately not recommend vinyl railing, especially in humid climates. Vinyl railing is a magnet for filthy mold/mildew as well as oxidation. We install and maintain quite a bit of vinyl and the clients are always disappointed at the yearly maintenance of what they thought was a maintenance free product.

A local expert in fence and rail systems (not a big box store) will save you money and maintenance issues in the long term. In Mid Missouri the go-to material is powder coated aluminum 1st choice and powder coated steel 2nd and other materials in varying lesser degrees. Good luck in your search.