Your essential design
& specification catalog

Get the definitive guide to our custom decorative architectural foam shapes. This free catalog is packed with hundreds of design profiles, detailed technical specifications, and real-world project applications.

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Traditional Baluster – B13

Traditional Baluster – B13

Any Custom Size Available

Increase the value of your home and transform ordinary to interesting with over 100 designs, we have something to match every décor style. Lightweight for quick and easy installation

1. CORE OF…

from $65.00

Any Custom Size Available

Increase the value of your home and transform ordinary to interesting with over 100 designs, we have something to match every décor style. Lightweight for quick and easy installation

1. CORE OF STRUCTURE IS MOLDED EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (1#CF).
2. AROMATIC FAST CURE URETHANE, IMPACT RESISTANT, HARD COAT FINISH.
3. TEXTURED FINISHED SURFACE IS 100% AGGREGATED ACRYLIC.

Sharp design clarity and high quality, limitless pattern options
Can be cut, drilled, glued or screwed with common tools
Factory primed and ready for paint or faux finish
Resistant to moisture, insects, and peeling or splitting

 

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Architectural Shapes — your trusted partner

We create custom decorative shapes for architects, builders, developers, hotels, and homeowners — delivering elegant, durable, and easy-to-install solutions across the USA.

Expert craftsmanship, design precision

Our team draws from decades of experience in classical and modern architecture, ensuring each column delivers both visual elegance and structural reliability.

Lightweight yet strong materials

Unlike traditional stone, our EPS-based columns are reinforced and coated for strength. They’re easy to install, highly durable, and weather-resistant — perfect for any U.S. climate.

Fully customizable options

From proportions and fluting to base and capital details, every element can be tailored to match your project’s style and scale.

Client testimonials

From your first idea to the final installation — our process is clear, fast, and designed to make every detail simple.

I purchased a turn of the century historic building in a very prominent area of my city. The Historical Architectural Review Board required us to have a certain size and style baluster for our exterior handrails and the ones that I purchased from Decorative Architectural Shapes are perfect. Great service, great product!

Evelyn NelsonRaleigh, NC

We recently constructed a “Sun Room” addition on our home with a flat roof. We finished the roof with a Baluster and Rail design as an architectural accent. We did not want long term maintenance and painting, so these products worked out great. They painted well, they have been through three hard winters without any sign of damage. Everyone thinks they look beautiful and are the crowing touch to our new sun room addition.

Mason CarterSacramento, CA

I ordered two of the balusters to help with my deck redesign. The deck was originally built in 1989 and has served me well. But I had always wanted a traditional baluster look. The balusters from Decorative Architectural Shapes are exactly what I need. They are well built and very sturdy. They should last for many years.

Abigail MitchelNew Orleans, LA

Used these as a railing for a biblical temple set. They were super lightweight and easy to work with.

Ethan RobertsSalt Lake City, UT

FAQ

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Your essential design
& specification catalog

Get the definitive guide to our custom decorative architectural foam shapes. This free catalog is packed with hundreds of design profiles, detailed technical specifications, and real-world project applications.

Download Free Catalog
Let's build something great together

Have a project in mind?

Our dedicated specialists are ready to collaborate with you, turning your concept into a detailed plan with a transparent budget. Let’s bring your vision to life!

More architectural shapes

We provide architects, builders, and homeowners with turnkey decorative elements that transform any project — fast, easy, and cost-effective.

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Exterior Wall Niches

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Decorative Moldings

Decorative moldings

Decorative Trims

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Sills & Bands

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Crown Moldings

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Commercial and Residential Cornices

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Juliet Balcony

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Balustrades and railings

Every building tells a story. Not just through its walls or windows, but through its details — the subtle elements that shape perception and define character. And among those details, decorative railing, architectural balustrades and balustrade systems play a surprisingly powerful role. They guide the eye, create rhythm, and form the architectural punctuation that turns a structure into a statement.

decorative railing panels

With several decades of hands-on experience and thousands of completed projects behind us, we’ve learned that success in this field is about far more than manufacturing. It’s about understanding the dialogue between technology and design — how structural integrity, aesthetic nuance, and practical constraints can work together to create something truly distinctive. Every decorative railing and architectural balustrade we deliver is the result of that philosophy: not a copy-paste solution, but a carefully engineered, thoughtfully designed piece that elevates each project far beyond the ordinary.

Today, these are not just safety components within a building. They’re an integral part of its design, shaping the identity and visual perception of the entire project. It’s precisely these kinds of details that give architecture its unique appearance and character — a powerful factor that enhances its commercial appeal and increases its overall value, improving overall curb appeal for both residential and commercial developments.

polyurethane balustrade

The hidden power of railings: safety, story, and everything in between

 

In modern architecture, decorative railing is far more than a guardrail. It’s a multifunctional design solution that:

  • Defines the visual logic of a facade and reinforces architectural lines.
  • Creates safer, more intuitive environments — guiding how people move through a space while keeping elevated areas, terraces, and balconies secure without sacrificing design intent. Whether it’s directing foot traffic in a busy commercial atrium or providing peace of mind on a rooftop lounge, the right railing and balustrades make safety feel seamless and almost invisible.
  • Adds emotional resonance and perceived value — transforming a purely functional structure into a place people want to be. A thoughtfully designed decorative balustrade does more than frame a view; it sets the mood, communicates sophistication, and leaves a lasting impression that elevates the entire property experience.
  • Directly increases the market appeal — and price — of a property.
  • Reduces lifetime maintenance costs and operational risks.

When we design a decorative balustrade or develop a set of decorative railing panels, we think beyond form. We engineer for logistics, installation speed, budget predictability, and long-term performance — so when the product arrives on site, it fits perfectly, works flawlessly, and looks exceptional.

A story written over centuries — and why it still matters

 

Balustrades have been shaping architecture for over five centuries, and their evolution is a masterclass in how aesthetics and engineering respond to cultural shifts.

In the Renaissance, heavy stone balustrade systems and stair railings were a sign of power and permanence. In the 18th century, iron brought elegance and lightness — ornate patterns that let buildings breathe. Modernism stripped everything back to pure function and geometry. And today, we have the freedom to combine all those influences, often in ways that weren’t even possible before.

This is where it gets exciting for today’s designers and developers: every era’s language is now available as part of your toolkit. In Sarasota, one of our clients took inspiration from Tuscan villa terraces and asked us to reimagine them for a rooftop restaurant. We crafted decorative balustrades with soft curves and a matte limestone-like texture. Guests now photograph the terrace daily — and every post becomes organic marketing.

Another example: a university library in Atlanta wanted to weave mid-century modern motifs into its new design. We produced decorative railing elements with crisp geometric lines and concealed fasteners — an homage to 1960s aesthetics but built with 21st-century efficiency.

decorative railing panels

Materials and technology: precision at the core

 

We don’t use metal. We don’t pour concrete. We don’t work with white pine or any other traditional material. Every architectural balustrade, decorative railing panel, and polyurethane baluster we produce is engineered from advanced high-density expanded polystyrene (EPS), coated with a hard aromatic polyurethane layer and finished with an aggregated acrylic texture.

The heart of each system is a molded EPS core. It’s lightweight yet incredibly strong, moisture-resistant, doesn’t warp or rot, and is immune to insect damage — making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor space use.

Over that core, we apply a fast-curing, impact-resistant polyurethane shell. This layer dramatically enhances structural strength, protecting against impact, abrasion, and UV exposure.

The final surface is a 100% aggregated acrylic finish, formulated to withstand harsh weather while offering endless aesthetic possibilities. From the look of carved stone to aged metal or natural wood, we can replicate virtually any texture or finish you imagine. All products arrive prefabricated, so your design intent stays intact down to the last detail.

What does this mean in practice? Our polyurethane balustrades and exterior decorative railing systems:

  • Resist moisture, pests, peeling, cracking, and fading.
  • Require almost no maintenance and never corrode.
  • Deliver consistent geometry and structural stability for decades.
  • Arrive installation-ready, reducing labor hours and site work.

On a project in Jacksonville, replacing planned concrete guardrails with polyurethane balustrade systems cut the weight load by 80%. This eliminated the need for slab reinforcement — saving the developer over 18% of the total project budget.

Why these systems outperform anything else

 

BenefitDetails
Feather-light, heavy-dutyFour to six times lighter than traditional materials, simplifying transport, handling, and installation.
Design freedomComplex profiles, intricate patterns, custom logos, and branded motifs — all achievable with precision.
Weatherproof durabilityResistant to moisture, UV rays, insects, and extreme temperature shifts.
Cost efficiencyLower logistics costs, faster installation, and virtually zero maintenance.
PrefabricatedArrive ready for a quick and easy installation.
Seamless integrationReady to adapt to any architectural style — classic, modern, or anything in between.
architectural balustrades

Where these systems make the biggest impact

Facades and terraces

In Miami, we helped a developer completely transform a high-rise residential project. They needed the facade to feel lighter and more upscale. Our balustrade did just that, becoming a focal point of the building.

Rooftops and observation decks

For a hotel in St. Petersburg, we created custom rooftop balustrade systems engineered to handle coastal wind loads while integrating with the roof’s drainage system. Because of the lightweight design, no additional slab reinforcement was needed — and the rooftop restaurant stayed open throughout construction.

Interiors and public spaces

At a university campus in Georgia, we produced foam baluster components with gentle curvature and a soft stone-like finish. The lightweight, precision-milled components allowed for delicate, floating stair balustrades that became a centerpiece of the interior.

Why working with us just makes sense

  • U.S.-based manufacturing and full quality control.
  • Complete design flexibility — from profile and texture to finish and color.
  • Detailed engineering documentation, load calculations, and installation specs.
  • Sustainable, lightweight, and impact-resistant materials built to last.
  • Predictable lead times and reliable delivery schedules.
  • Guaranteed precision and dimensional accuracy.

We’re not just a supplier — we’re a strategic partner who helps turn ideas into architecture. That’s why companies like Disney, Hilton, and Universal Studios trust us with their most visible spaces.

Your essential design
& specification catalog

Get the definitive guide to our custom decorative architectural foam shapes. This free catalog is packed with hundreds of design profiles, detailed technical specifications, and real-world project applications.

Download Free Catalog
Let's build something great together

Have a project in mind?

Our dedicated specialists are ready to collaborate with you, turning your concept into a detailed plan with a transparent budget. Let’s bring your vision to life!