Fitting banners on railings
Fitting a banner to railings is a simple job once two things are sorted. You need permission, and you need the right ties in your bag.
Before you leave the office.
Railings always belong to someone: a school, a landlord, a park, the council. Get a clear yes from the owner. If the railing is beside a road, or the banner is advertising something, ask the council whether consent is needed, and whether it could block a driver's view at a junction or crossing. Do not rely on what you have seen others do on the same stretch.
Next, measure the railing where the banner will go. Note the height of the top rail, the height of the bottom rail and the centres of the uprights. Our page on banner eyelet spacing shows how to turn those into eyelet positions, and the overall choices are on railing banners.
What to tie it with.
| Fixing | Good for | Downside |
|---|---|---|
| Cable ties | Tidy, secure, low cost | Must be cut off, so no reuse; a slack one stays slack |
| Bungee ties | Allow a bit of give in the wind; quick to remove | Easy for someone else to remove as well |
| Rope or cord | Odd gaps and long reaches | Needs good knots and regular checks |
For a banner up for a weekend, bungees make the job quick. For a month on a school fence, a cable tie is harder to tamper with. Choose outdoor-grade ties if you can, since cheap ones go brittle in the sun.
The fitting order.
- Lay it out. Open the banner on a clean surface, not on wet pavement, and find the top. It happens.
- Top corners first. Tie one top corner to the rail, then pull the banner along and tie the other. Keep the top edge parallel with the rail, not with the ground, which may slope.
- Middle of the top. Tie the centre, then fill in the top eyelets, moving from the centre outwards.
- Bottom corners. Pull down firmly, but do not strain the eyelets.
- The rest. Work along the bottom, then down the sides. Every eyelet gets a tie.
- Step across the road. See how it looks from where people will read it, and take out any sag.
Things that go wrong.
- Spear-topped railings. Keep the banner away from points, which can tear it in the wind and are a hazard to anyone fitting it.
- Gaps at the ends. A banner that ends between two uprights flaps. Plan for it to end on one.
- Long runs in the open. Wind loads a solid banner like a sail. A mesh banner may suit a very exposed location better.
- Leaving it there. Have someone check it after any windy night and take it down on time. Tidy up the cut ties too.
Keep yourself safe as well. Work from the pavement side, away from the traffic, and wear something visible on a busy road. Fitting can be agreed in your quote if you would like us to look after it.
Banners out in the weather.
Your questions.
Should the banner go on the road side or the pavement side?
It depends on who needs to read it, and on what the owner allows. Think about the reader first, and keep it clear of anyone's path.
Can I reuse a banner after it comes down?
Yes, if the eyelets are sound. Dry it completely, wipe it down and roll it, as folding leaves creases.
How tight should the ties be?
Firm enough that the banner does not flap, with no strain at the eyelets. If the material is puckering around a tie, it is too tight.