Taking Great Care of My Factory

Preventing Damage from Skateboarders on Powder-Coated Stairway Hand Rails

17 December 2017

Deann Hunter

A very common cause of chips and scratches in powder coating on stairway hand rails is the bottom of a skateboard, as the user tries to slide or grind down the rail. Cities have been trying for decades to stop this damage, including opening city-run skateparks so skateboarders could go somewhere else to skate. But that hasn't stopped many skaters, especially those in towns without skateparks nearby, from using hand rails as skate props. If you have bought a commercial property that has damaged powder coating and you think it's due to skateboarders, try the following to reduce the chances of more damage accumulating.

Signs

Always start with notices that you don't want skateboards on the rails. Yes, there's a risk that you might encounter someone dedicated to breaking all rules and just being rude (in other words, someone who treats the sign as an invitation instead of as a warning not to use the rails). But most skaters will be more understanding and will likely avoid your stair hand rails if you place signs in clear view that request that skaters do not use the rails because of the damage it creates.

You may also want to research the trespassing or loitering laws in your area as those could apply to skaters that you find messing around on the rails despite the signs. Having some legal power behind you definitely helps.

Skate Stops

Try installing knobs or stops along the rails' surfaces to make them very uncomfortable for skaters. Keep in mind that the rails still have to be usable for people trying to hold onto them; an attempt to add knobs to railings at BYU in 2011 backfired when students claimed they were jamming fingers and breaking nails on the knobs when they reached for the hand rails. Go for stops or knobs that are smoother and lower-profile, but still high enough to make sliding or grinding down the rail impossible.

Security Cameras

If you still find damage -- maybe you opted out of installing stops and are still having a problem, or you find the stops themselves are vandalized repeatedly -- you may want to resort to using security cameras. No one likes the idea of being under surveillance, but if someone is vandalizing your property, a camera may be the way to go, at least temporarily. Laws vary by state, so be sure you install the camera with all laws in mind.

Give the rails a fresh powder coating, and keep monitoring them for damage. There are ways to protect the coating on the rails, so don't give up. Contact a professional like Tri-State Fabricators Inc if you need help applying a fresh powder coat to your hand rails.

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