Wobbly posts, splintered top rails, and a wall of pickets standing between you and the backyard you actually wanted to look at. If that sounds like your deck, you have far better options than what the builder installed. DW Elite Decks designs and installs custom deck railings in Leawood, KS, in powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel cable, and glass railing, and we handle the permit and inspection paperwork the city requires.
5.0 ⭐ rating with 240+ Google reviews, BBB A+ accredited since 2009, licensed Class A and residential contractor, Deckorators Certified Pro Spotlight builder, multi-year Angi Super Service and Best of Houzz award winner.
We are a Westbury Certified Master Pro, which means we install their full lineup and know how each system behaves once it is up. We also install Deckorators, Fortress, DekPro, and RailFX when a project calls for it. Here is how the three most requested options compare.
The workhorse. Aluminum with a powder-coated finish resists rust, fading, and weather damage, which matters in a metro that swings from hot, humid Julys to hard winter freezes and gets hit with spring hail and straight-line winds. It is also the most budget-friendly of the three.
Black and bronze are the two finishes that tend to disappear visually against a mature tree line, which is exactly what you want on a lot backing to greenspace.
Best for: Most decks and porches, homeowners who want low maintenance without a premium budget, and HOA submittals where a conventional baluster look reads as safe.
Cable trades the picket for a thin horizontal or vertical line, so the railing stops competing with the view. On a Leawood walkout lot where the deck sits eight or ten feet above grade, that difference is dramatic from the seating area.
Cable systems need proper post spacing and correct tensioning to stay code compliant and stay tight over time. This is the option where installation quality shows up most, and where a cheap install goes slack within a couple of seasons.
Best for: Elevated decks, golf course and greenspace lots, and modern or transitional architecture.
The Veranda system uses tempered glass panels in aluminum framing for a fully unobstructed sightline. It is the most open option we install and reads as genuinely contemporary.
Worth knowing up front: glass shows pollen, dust, and rain spotting, and Leawood springs deliver plenty of all three. If you are the kind of homeowner who will not enjoy the view unless the panels are clean, we will tell you that during the consultation rather than after installation.
Best for: Wind-exposed decks where you want to sit outside without a breeze, and homes where the view is the whole point.
Sorrento mesh uses welded stainless steel mesh for containment with airflow, which works well for pet owners. ADA aluminum handrail covers ramps and stairs where accessibility matters. And the drink rail adapter converts your top rail into a usable surface finished in the same board as your deck, which we often spec alongside Deckorators decking so the materials line up.
This is where Leawood differs from a lot of its neighbors, and where homeowners get caught off guard.
Replacing your railing requires a permit. Swapping decking surface alone does not, but replacing railings, joists, beams, or posts does. If a contractor tells you a railing job needs no permit here, keep calling.
Your plans have to show the railing details. Submittals need two sets of plans covering framing sizes and spacing, how the deck attaches to the house, and guardrail and handrail heights and locations.
The guard is doing real work. Under the IRC, any walking surface more than 30 inches above grade needs a guard; residential guard height is at least 36 inches, and openings cannot pass a 4-inch sphere. Leawood publishes its deck guidelines under the 2018 IRC, and we confirm current requirements with Codes Administration on every project.
Permits have a clock on them. They expire 90 days from issuance, so we do not pull yours until materials are confirmed and your build slot is set.
Licensing is doubled up. Leawood requires contractors to be licensed with both the city and Johnson County. We hold a Class A license in Johnson County, the top classification, and submit through the Access Leawood portal for you.
If your project grows beyond railing into a full rebuild, our Leawood deck builder page covers the wider scope, and setbacks become part of the conversation as well, since most residential districts require a 25-foot rear yard and 15-foot side yard setback that can vary by subdivision.
Leawood is not one housing market, and the right railing in one part of town looks wrong in another.
Old Leawood and the Leawood Homes Association area. The LHA dates to 1938 and covers roughly 1,500 homes between 95th Street and Somerset Drive, State Line and Mission Road. Exterior renovations need Architectural Review Committee approval, which is separate from your city permit. A city permit is not HOA approval. On these mature-canopy lots with mid-century homes, a dark powder-coated aluminum system in a traditional profile usually clears review most easily.
South Leawood along the 135th and 151st corridors. Newer construction around Hallbrook, The Hills of Leawood, and Ironhorse Golf Club means larger walkout lots, real elevation change, and views worth protecting. This is cable and glass territory. These subdivisions have their own architectural guidelines, so we prepare the submittal before ordering material.
Lots backing to parks and trails. Homes along Tomahawk Creek Trail, near Ironwoods Park, or backing to Leawood City Park green space have the strongest case for stainless steel cable or glass railing. You paid a premium for that back line. A picket railing hides it.
We keep the same simple process we use on every project, with one extra step that Leawood specifically calls for.
Visit the showroom and handle powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel cable, and glass railing side by side, along with finish colors and any lighting or drink rail add-ons. Then you get a detailed written bid with the railing system named and no vague allowances. Our pricing page explains how we structure estimates.
This is the Leawood step. If your subdivision has an architectural review committee, we prepare the drawings and specs it needs, and we start early since review timelines are outside anyone’s control. We also submit your city permit through Access Leawood with plans showing framing, connections, and guardrail and handrail details.
Posts get mounted to the structure, not to the deck surface. Cable gets tensioned to spec. Glass gets set square. Your yard gets cleaned up at the end of every day. We meet the inspector for the final, then walk the finished railing with you.
Railing is often one piece of a bigger plan. While the crew is on site, these pair naturally:
You can see finished work on our recent projects page.
Cost depends on linear footage, material, number of stair runs, corners, and whether lighting is integrated. Powder-coated aluminum is generally the most affordable of the three main options, with cable and glass costing more. Request a bid for a firm number on your deck.
Bring photos of your deck and a rough idea of your linear footage, and we will walk you through powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel cable, and glass railing side by side in the showroom. If you would rather start at home, we will come out, look at your existing structure, and give you a written bid with the system named and the permit work included.
Call (913) 782-7575 or request your free bid online and let DW Elite Decks build custom deck railings in Leawood, KS that make your backyard worth looking at again.
Granted a Class A building license for operation in Johnson County, Kansas. This is the top license type for any contractor.
Deckorators chose DW Elite Decks as its First Certified Pro Spotlight Feature.
Awarded the coveted Angie's List Super Service Award (many times), which is only given to the top 5% of all Kansas City deck builders.
Nationally recognized by Rich Noonan, the Eight Time Emmy Award-Winning Reporter for Fox News!
Westbury Certified Master Pro. Beacon of distinction as the bar is set high to earn this coveted status.
At DW Elite Decks, we pride ourselves on delivering craftsmanship that meets and exceeds industry standards. As Kansas City’s premier custom deck builder since 1997, we ensure every project is executed with proper permits and passes final inspections, guaranteeing code compliance and long-term safety.
