We recently completed a small but very impactful porch railing project in Oshawa for a homeowner whose front entrance had a very low porch with only a single step. From a building code perspective, a railing was not required. However, safety and comfort were still top of mind for the homeowner and her husband, especially when using the porch daily or during winter months.

They initially contacted us to install just a stair railing for the single step. The porch itself was modest in size, and there was one existing wooden support post holding up the roof above. While functional, the setup looked dated and didn’t offer much visual balance.

After meeting with the homeowner and reviewing the space together, we discussed a slightly expanded option. Instead of installing only a stair railing, we proposed upgrading the entire porch by adding a continuous aluminum railing and replacing the existing wood support post with a sleek 4×4 aluminum column. The idea was to create a unified, finished look rather than a partial upgrade.

We provided a very fair price for the expanded scope, and while it meant spending a little more than originally planned, the homeowner immediately saw the value. Rather than having a single railing that felt like an add-on, the porch would feel complete, modern, and intentional.

The transformation was immediate. The new aluminum railing gave the porch structure and definition, even though it remained low to the ground. Replacing the wood post with a clean aluminum column removed the last remaining dated element and tied everything together visually. What was once a very simple entrance now looked polished, balanced, and welcoming.

The entire project came in at roughly $2,500, and the result was a porch that looked dramatically better without requiring a major renovation. More importantly, the homeowner and her husband now have the added sense of security they were looking for, along with a front entrance that significantly improved the home’s curb appeal.

This project is a great example of how code requirements don’t always dictate real-life needs. Even when a railing isn’t required, thoughtful upgrades can make a home safer, more comfortable, and more visually appealing—especially when small changes are planned with the overall design in mind.