Belly Pickets

Belly Pickets - Another decorative stair picket option.

The railing designs for your home or business are one of the best ways you can make your stairs, balconies, or decks stand out. Many people today are using steel and wrought iron pickets and balusters to add a decorative and elegant flair to their homes. If you’re looking for a change from the more traditional straight pickets in your railing, consider belly pickets.

 

What are Belly Pickets?

You have probably seen belly pickets around on houses and balconies, but perhaps you didn’t know what they were called. Most pickets are designed to be straight up and down, connecting the upper railing to the lower railing. They may include special designs in between, such as flowers, leaves, swirls, or a special hammered design, but usually they don’t deviate much in terms of their shape from top to bottom.

 

Belly pickets, on the other hand, are not straight up and down. They are made using a curved design, extending at the bottom then curling back in toward the lower railing. They get their name because they look like an extended “belly” when you view them from the side.

What are Belly Pickets Used For?

The most common place where you can find belly pickets is on railings for balconies and stairs. While you can use them in almost any application, they are best suited for building styles that have a more classic look versus contemporary. Straight lines and geometric shapes are often used to achieve that modern look, while curved steel pickets tend to have a more old-world look to them. In fact, one of the most popular building styles that employs belly pickets on railings and staircases is Spanish-style architecture.

How do you Choose Quality Pickets?

If you have never shopped for pickets before, choosing quality is important. The final appearance of your railing depends on how well your pickets are made. You want to look for pickets that are uniform in shape and in length. Unless you’re purposely going for a more abstract look, you also want them to have a uniform design, with the same size “belly” part of your picket so they all extend an equal distance out from the railing. It’s also important to check your local building codes and regulations before you decide on any picket style to ensure that the ones you choose are fabricated to the right specifications for your area.

If you shop at a place like Wasatch Steel, you can find a wide selection of different shapes to choose from, and you will get a high quality finished product. In addition, you can get a great selection of different styles and sizes that will help your final railing stand out. Wasatch Steel creates many of its own picket designs, which means you can help create exactly the look you want without scouring every metal seller and settling on a style that is not quite what you hoped for.

When you’re building a beautiful staircase, deck or balcony railing, the finished product is what matters. Getting an ornate and intricate style of pickets will make the final appearance stand out from more traditional railing with unique shapes and master craftsmanship