Curved Oak Balcony Balustrade Overlooking a Newport Coast Great Room
About This Project
A curved balcony guard is harder than a curved stair rail, because a stair rail curves in two directions at once and can hide small discrepancies in the rake, whereas a balcony rail curves in plan only — perfectly level — so any deviation from a true arc is immediately visible against the horizontal line of the floor.
We set out this 22-foot Newport Coast balcony from a single centre point, laminated the oak cap to that exact radius, and set every post on a scribed arc rather than by measuring between posts. Measuring post-to-post accumulates error around a curve; setting from a centre point does not.
What the Homeowner Needed
A curved second-floor balcony guard reading as a single continuous arc across the great room opening.
Challenges on Site
The floor structure had a slight crown across the opening — normal in a span this size — meaning a truly level rail would have shown a varying gap to the floor. We split the difference, following the floor slightly so the reveal reads consistent to the eye.
How We Solved It
Radius set out from a single centre point, cap laminated to that radius, posts scribed to the arc rather than measured between.
Project Highlights
- ✓ 22-foot continuous curve
- ✓ Set out from a centre point, not post-to-post
- ✓ Reveal tuned to the floor crown
Common Questions
Why is a curved balcony rail harder than a curved stair rail?
Because it is level. A stair rail rises as it curves, and small variations read as part of the rake. A level balcony rail sits directly against the horizontal line of the floor and ceiling, so any deviation from a true arc is obvious from across the room.
Project Overview
A sweeping second-floor balcony guard in white oak with blackened rod infill, curved in plan across 22 feet.
Materials & Details
- Laminated White Oak Cap
- Blackened Steel Rod Infill
- White Oak Posts
It reads as one clean sweep from downstairs. That is what we were worried they would not get right.
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