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PVC Column Wraps vs. Traditional Column Materials

PVC Column Wraps vs. Traditional Column Materials: Pros and Cons

  Posted on June 7, 2023

When deciding between PVC column wraps and traditional column materials like aluminum, there are several factors to consider.

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The Benefits of Choosing Aluminum Fence for your Pool Area

The Benefits of Choosing Aluminum Fence for your Pool Area

  Posted on May 3, 2023

Why choose aluminum fence for your pool area? Read below to find out!

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The Importance of Choosing High-Quality Aluminum Railing Products

The Importance of Choosing High-Quality Aluminum Railing Products

  Posted on April 6, 2023

When it comes to selecting a railing system for your property, there are many different materials to choose from. However, aluminum has become an increasingly popular choice due to its durability, low maintenance requirements, and versatility in design. While aluminum railing systems are widely available, not all products are created equal. In fact, choosing low-quality aluminum railing products can have a detrimental effect on your property and even pose a safety risk.

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6 Steps to Installing a PVC Column Wrap

6 Steps to Installing a PVC Column Wrap

  Posted on March 14, 2023

Wondering how to save time on PVC column wrap installation? Read here to find out:

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4 Ways to Save Time on any Construction Job Site

4 Ways to Save Time on any Construction Job Site

  Posted on February 24, 2023

We are all familiar with the adage that time is money. How can you save time and therefore money on a construction site? Read on for four ways to do this and make 2023 your most efficient year yet!

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Social Media in the Building Products Industry

Social Media in the Building Products Industry

  Posted on January 17, 2023

How important is your online presence, really?

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Three Popular Materials for Residential Columns

Three Popular Materials for Residential Columns

  Posted on December 7, 2022

And the best uses for each one

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Eight Career Paths in Manufacturing

Eight Career Paths in Manufacturing

  Posted on October 26, 2022

October is Manufacturing Month and with it coming to a close, let’s take a look at the different careers available in a manufacturing setting and what kind of skillsets or interests might make a particular career path right for you. Contrary to popular belief, every manufacturing job is not just someone standing in a line doing mindless work for eight hours each day. Careers in manufacturing actually have much more to offer than that.

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How to Save 30 Minutes Per Column on PVC Wrap Installation

How to Save 30 Minutes Per Column on PVC Wrap Installation

  Posted on September 28, 2022

Snap-Tite® PVC column wraps are available and ready to take the market by storm.

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The Three Most Important Details to Know About PVC Column Wraps

The Three Most Important Details to Know About PVC Column Wraps

  Posted on August 29, 2022

 Educating you about column wraps is an important part of what we do. Continue reading to learn about cellular PVC column wraps!

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Can a Custom Column Complete Your Vision for a Perfect Porch?

Can a Custom Column Complete Your Vision for a Perfect Porch?

  Posted on July 27, 2022

Featuring the Savannah Column Cap and Base!

Would you like to explore the various customization options for your aluminum column needs? Column options can range from square and round to fluted, panel, and smooth. They can be further customized by choosing from different colors, various caps and bases, and so much more. Keep reading to identify some of the options available in making a column your own.

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Evaluating 13 PVC Column Wrap Terms. In the background, PVC column wraps are displayed on a commercial building

Evaluating 13 PVC Column Wrap Terms

  Posted on March 23, 2022

PVC? Column Wrap? LRV values? I thought I already knew about columns? What is this PVC Column thing all about?

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Mid-Rises on the Rise. A mid-rise apartment building in the background showing multiple balconies with aluminum guardrailing.

Mid-Rises on the Rise

  Posted on February 28, 2022

What is a Mid-Rise building and why has it become the go-to building type for developers?

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Explaining alloys, picture in background featuring multiple balconies with railing as a guardrail.

Explaining Alloys

  Posted on January 18, 2022

People are asking about alloys, but what does that even mean?

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Railing to the rescue, how does railing hlep prevent slips, trips, and falls during the winter season? Series 5P and 5H aluminum pipe railing in the background.

Railing to the Rescue

  Posted on December 22, 2021

How does railing help prevent slips, trips, and falls during the winter season?

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Column similarities and differences, picture in the background shows Snap-Tite PVC Columns on a commercial building.

Similarities and Differences In Columns

  Posted on November 23, 2021

Columns can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and materials. Today we will take a look at the different materials and the advantages each brings to the table.

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Railing Renovation - Does Railing Renovation Fit in With the Larger Renovation Trend of the Post Pandemic World?

Railing Renovation

  Posted on October 29, 2021

How does railing fit in with the larger renovation trends?

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Fence - creating the perfect barrier. Background image showing Series 7 aluminum fence enclosing a baseball diamond.

Fence - Creating the Perfect Barrier

  Posted on September 23, 2021

Creating the perfect barrier, is it really that difficult?

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Guardrail vs. Handrail, image showing steps with aluminum handrail and guardrail in the background.

Guardrail Vs. Handrail

  Posted on August 31, 2021

Wait, Guardrail and Handrail aren’t the same thing? Since when?

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Close up of Series 9H Horizontal Railing on a Multi-Family Building Balcony

Railing and Multi-Family Buildings

  Posted on July 27, 2021

How did railing and multi-family buildings become a perfect and unexpected match?

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Close up photo of 550 Pipe Picket Railing with 500 handrailing attached.

500 Vs. 550 Filling in the Difference

  Posted on June 30, 2021

Minor changes can make a big difference, especially when it comes to railing. With Superior offering different modifications and designs, what exactly makes the 500 and 550 series' different?

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Taking the LEED, How Manufacturing is helping create sustainable building.

Taking The LEED

  Posted on May 28, 2021

With an increase in focus on sustainability and environmentally friendliness, how are manufacturers taking on this challenge?

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How do you attach this railing Pt. 3 - exploring prefabrication and on-sight welding

How Do You Attach this Railing? Pt. 3

  Posted on April 29, 2021

When installing railing, there are two main ways to arrive at a fully installed railing. What are they and how do they differ?

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Photo of side mounted railing attached to composite wood balcony.

How Do You Attach this Railing? Pt. 2

  Posted on March 31, 2021

When installing railing, there are a variety of surfaces that railing can attach to. What are they and does it even matter?

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Series 5P Pipe Picket Railing anchored using surface mounts at a high school

How Do You Attach This Railing? Pt. 1

  Posted on February 18, 2021

When installing railing there are a variety of options from which to choose. What are they and does it even matter?

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Pictures Showing Superior Aluminum's different railing options

9000 vs. 9100, 2000 vs. 2100 What are the differences in these very similar products?

  Posted on January 29, 2021

Minor changes can make a big difference, especially when it comes to railing. With Superior offering different modifications and designs, what exactly makes these two variations similar and different?

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A brief history of railing design. Step railing shown in a park filled with trees.

A Brief History of Railing Design

  Posted on December 17, 2020

Taking a look at how railing designs have changed over time.

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Hitting Refresh - How the Internet is changing the manufacturing industry

Hitting Refresh

  Posted on November 30, 2020

A look at how the Internet is changing the Manufacturing Industry

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Assembled in America - picture of Superior Aluminum welder.

Assembled in America

  Posted on October 27, 2020

The world is more connected than ever, so why does it matter where my product is assembled?

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Aluminum railing used in a stairway for an educational facility.

Aluminum Vs. Wood... Which Railing is Right for you

  Posted on September 28, 2020

Old vs. new: which type of railing is right for you?

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Aluminum Railing used for multiple balconies at a multi-family development

Aluminum Vs. Vinyl... How Do They Compare?

  Posted on August 24, 2020

When choosing between a vinyl or aluminum railing system, is there really any difference? Of course, there is! Just like toppings on a pizza, what your railing is made out of will have dramatic long-term effects.

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How the Building Products Industry Creates A Safe Work Environment. Outside view of Superior Aluminum.

How does the building products industry create a safe work environment amid Covid-19?

  Posted on July 27, 2020

The Coronavirus has created a new market dynamic within many industries, and the building products industry is no exception. What does the new landscape look like? In our final installment of our three-part series, we take a closer look at how the building product manufacturers incorporate safe practices in their own workplace.

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How the Building Products Industry Adjust to New Supply Chains. Superior truck dropping off railing in Chicago.

How does the Building Products Industry Adjust to New Supply Chains?

  Posted on June 25, 2020

The Coronavirus has created a new market dynamic within many industries, including building products. What does the new landscape look like? In part two of our three-part series, we take a closer look at how supply chains have been affected by the coronavirus.

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How the building products industry has recentley changed due to Covid-19

How has the Coronavirus affected the building products industry?

  Posted on May 28, 2020

The Coronavirus has created a new market dynamic within many industries, building products included. What does the new landscape look like?

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History of Columns Pt. 2

Column History - Present Day

  Posted on April 30, 2020

Have columns really changed that much in the last millennium?

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Railing on multiple balconies promoting cleaning railing to make it look like new again

How do I keep my railing clean?

  Posted on March 31, 2020

While Superior Railing is low-maintenance, there isn’t anything we can do about random dirt and messy substances getting on your products. What we can do is offer some cleaning advice to keep your railing looking its best.

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History of Columns

Taking a Closer Look At Columns

  Posted on February 24, 2020

Is there really any difference in columns? Don’t they all look the same? Have they always been the same?

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Pipe cable railing showcasing one of aluminum's many advantages

Aluminum Railing Vs. Other Metals....How do they Stack Up?

  Posted on January 24, 2020

In today’s world, there are so many choices. Do you want pizza or pasta, coffee or tea, aluminum or steel? We aren’t qualified to debate the first two, but we know a thing or two about railing!

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Cable railing at a university workout facility

Looking at 10 Important Cable Railing Terms

  Posted on December 17, 2019

Cable railing is a relatively new trend in the industry, leading to some confusion on specific terminology. We're here to help alleviate that confusion by focusing in on 10 key terms associated with the product!

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What is the actual difference between railing and fence?

Fence Vs. Railing, what's the difference?

  Posted on October 24, 2019

The terms often are interchangeable, but critical differences are key in ensuring the proper products are used….so, what are these differences?

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Asking the question: What do lines on a railing system mean?

Two-Line? Three-Line? How about some guide-lines!

  Posted on September 24, 2019

The number of “lines” in a given railing system is critical to the overall project design, but the terminology often leads to confusion. So, what does two, three, four, etc. line railing ACTUALLY mean?

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A pipe cable railing lines an outdoor patio and does not create a ladder effect

Do Horizontal Railing Lines Create a Ladder Effect?

  Posted on August 16, 2019

From time to time we get asked about horizontal lines in railing systems creating a ladder effect, which means attracting children to climb into dangerous situations. Is this concern justified or are horizontal lines safe to install in every location?

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Handrail guides users up a ramp as the question is asked: How does handrail fit in with the ADA?

How Does Handrail Meet ADA Guidelines?

  Posted on July 16, 2019

The Americans with Disabilities Act established precedents to ensure all could equally enjoy public and commercial buildings across the country, so where does handrail fit in?

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Railing on multiple balconies promoting cleaning railing to make it look like new again

How Do I Clean This Gunk Off My Railing?

  Posted on June 11, 2019

While Superior Railing is low-maintenance, there isn't anything we can do about random dirt and messy substances getting on your products. What we can do is offer some advice for cleaning that gunk off. 

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Various pieces of safety equipment promoting building safety month

Building Safety, The Superior Way

  Posted on May 10, 2019

May is Building Safety Month, and at Superior Aluminum we take safety very seriously. Safe, code-compliant designs and a workforce that keeps safety front of mind are integral parts of the Superior way. 

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Pipe railing surrounding a water treatment plant illustrating one of many project varieties quotable via the get a quote tool

Wait, I Can Easily Get a Railing Price Now?

  Posted on April 19, 2019

For years getting a project into Superior’s railing quotation process was potentially mysterious and complex, but that is no longer the case.

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A basketball hoop promoting the discussion of brackets in conjunction with the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

It's March - Time to Talk Brackets!

  Posted on March 19, 2019

March is the time of year where everyone is talking brackets, and that includes Superior Aluminum (and a special guest)!

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Pipe handrail with pipe picket railing illustrates code compliant handrail design for a code discussion

Do You Know your Code? Part Three

  Posted on February 13, 2019

It's time to take another deep look at building codes! Do manufacturers just use whatever size material they have laying around to build handrails? Is it just screwed into the wall? There are handrail codes that deal with these questions and it is time to explore them. 

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Numerous balconies feature railing terms to be explored in depth

Examining 20 MORE Railing Terms

  Posted on January 23, 2019

Working with railing can often get confusing, especially when very specific terms start to get thrown around. We have already looked at 20 common railing terms, but now it's time to check out 20 more! 

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Pipe railing surrounds brewing tanks at an Ohio brewery

Railings and Beer.....a Perfect Match?

  Posted on December 27, 2018

Railings and beer. Two seemingly random and unrelated topics with wildly different demographics showing heavy interest in them, right?

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Picket fence guarding a backyard showing numerous fence terms set to be defined

Investigating 12 Fence Terms....and 4 Bonus Terms!

  Posted on November 13, 2018

Fence, including Aluminum Fence, is important for keeping unwanted visitors away, but can sometimes become a bit perplexing. We took a deep dive into some of the key terms associated with fence in an effort to clear away some of the fog. 

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Local students explore Superior Aluminum on Manufacturing Day

Local Students Discover Superior Aluminum

  Posted on October 17, 2018

The local high school is right down the road from Superior Aluminum Products, but most of the inhabitants have no idea what goes on in their own backyard...it is time to change that!

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Pipe picket stair railing at a church showcasing building codes to be examined

Do you Know your Code? Part Two

  Posted on September 17, 2018

Does a handrail just get installed on a step because the building owner is being nice? Do they just pick a spot on the wall and say: "looks good, fasten it there?" As it turns out, handrails have their own sets of rules within the larger building code to create a consistent, safe set of standards. 

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Installed square picket railing illustrating the end result of the full railing order process

How does railing go from an idea to an installation?

  Posted on August 20, 2018

So you have this great idea for a beautiful railing project....now what?

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Pipe cable railing installed at a manufacturing facility illustrating the end result of development

How did Pipe Cable Railing come to be?

  Posted on July 23, 2018

A closer look at the needs and development that led to a brand new member of the Superior Aluminum product family.

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An apartment building representing the recent boom in multi-family facilities

A Glimpse at Housing Trends and What they Mean

  Posted on June 19, 2018

Where is the housing market going in comparison to where it has been? What does it mean for building product manufacturers? 

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Several lines of step and balcony railing illustrating discussed building code compliance

Do you Know your Code?

  Posted on May 10, 2018

Ever wondered if that hotel balcony railing was really safe to lean against? Turn's out there is a wide array of rules and regulations called building codes that ensure it is indeed safe! We tackled two of these such codes in depth!

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Square porch columns support an entryway using components to be defined

Examining 15 Common Column Terms

  Posted on April 12, 2018

Load-Bearing? Wrap-Around? What do all these fancy column terms actually mean?!

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Step railing leads to an apartment building with components to be defined

Understanding 20 Common Aluminum Railing Terms

  Posted on March 7, 2018

Working with railing can often get confusing, especially when very specific terms start to get thrown around. Superior is here to ease some of the confusion. 

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Football players stand at practice promoting discussion of football without manufacturing

The Big Game Without Manufacturing?

  Posted on February 13, 2018

What would the end of a football season look like without Manufacturing? We decided to answer the question! 

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A new construction project with processes used to be defined

Understanding 12 Key Construction Terms

  Posted on January 16, 2018

The construction and building supply industries tend to throw out acronyms that can make anyone pause and say: “Wait, what does that mean?”

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