According to the 2025 Global Construction Materials Report, 78% of coastal properties now use outdoor stainless steel handrail systems due to saltwater resistance. During a Miami beachfront project last spring, our team saw how 316-grade steel withstood hurricane-force winds that snapped aluminum rivals.
Criteria | Stainless Steel | Wrought Iron |
---|---|---|
Rust Resistance | 25+ years | 5-8 years |
Weight (per meter) | 4.2kg | 11.5kg |
Counterintuitively, outdoor stainless steel handrail systems show 22% lower lifetime costs than powder-coated options. A 2025 University of Toronto study proved this through accelerated weathering tests simulating 15 years of exposure.
Q: Can these railings handle extreme temperature swings?
A: Absolutely! Our 2025 Alaskan installation withstood -40°C to +35°C cycles using thermal expansion joints.