My name is James Pader and I’ve personally been crafting Mountain Laurel Handrails on special requests from clients since 2004.
I’m a Licensed General Contractor in the state of North Carolina and, in 2009, I posted pictures of a deck railing project my construction company installed. In the spring of 2010, I received an inquiry and within a few weeks the first national shipment went from Franklin, NC to Washington State. A few months later, another order went to Missouri. By the end of 2010, Mountain Laurel Handrails became my new focus.
I look forward to working with you on your rustic wood railing project!
James Pader — Se habla español
Such beautiful work! James has been very helpful as we figure out how to incorporate these stunning handcrafted handrails to our deck.
James was able to secure the locust posts i needed for my project. He was very knowledgeable and helpful.
These handrails are not only great quality but they also give your home such a unique look and they look great for years to come. The handrails for my deck are now 8 years old and still look great! I’ve received more compliments on them over the years than just about any other part of the house. James provides excellent customer service as well. Great people to do business with and they provide quality craftsmanship!
I ordered a panel of railing which I had made into a gate for my front porch…it literally has MADE my front entrance…! VERY COOL I love it!
Awesome guy! Not disappointed with the panels that he made for us. Was very accommodating, even with our small order. Pictures to follow.
The mountain laurel rails continue to stand the test of time!!! So glad we made this investment!!!!
We installed our railings in 2016 and today they are still solid and beautiful. They are the perfect accent piece that gave our home an excellent finished appearance. Great product!
As a building contractor I had visions of constructing these railings myself and installing them at our B&B Susquehannock Lodge but once I saw the Quality of Mountain Laurel Handrails and ease of ordering it was a no brainier, great quality and ease of installation.
We had a wonderful experience with this company! They built the most beautiful handrail for our loft. They shipped it to our home in California and it was delivered in perfect condition. It looks so beautiful in our home and we get so many compliments from our guests. It’s the showpiece of our home!
Mountain Laurel Handrails are so easy to work with and look forward to working with them again on our next project!
Mountain Laurel Handrails are so easy to work with and look forward to working with them again on our next project!
James did a wonderful job for our client--which added a blessing to both our work.
Communication was amazing! Delivery on time and product was great! Highly recommend!
If you’re searching for unparalleled craftsmanship and attention to detail, look no further than James and his team. They craft and install custom laurel handrails, and the result is nothing short of breathtaking. Each piece feels like a work of art, showcasing their dedication to precision and quality.
What sets James apart is not just the exceptional product but also the service experience. He understands how to communicate. From start to finish, they are responsive, professional, and genuinely invested in ensuring your vision comes to life. It’s rare to find this level of care and commitment in today’s world—it truly feels like a lost art.
I highly recommend James and his company to anyone seeking extraordinary craftsmanship and an impeccable service experience.
What sets James apart is not just the exceptional product but also the service experience. He understands how to communicate. From start to finish, they are responsive, professional, and genuinely invested in ensuring your vision comes to life. It’s rare to find this level of care and commitment in today’s world—it truly feels like a lost art.
I highly recommend James and his company to anyone seeking extraordinary craftsmanship and an impeccable service experience.
great attention in the pre-order process to make sure installation goes smoothly. great looking rustic addition to any project.
James was very helpful. The rails look great! What a nice addition to our log cabin.
Beautifully made hand railings at a competitive price! Plus, the owner is fantastic to work with!
It was great working with James and his team on my project! Cant recommend enough!
True talent and craftsmanship here. I have now worked with James on 2 different projects that required both creativity and critical measurements. Only have seen EXCEPTIONAL work come out of his hands. I couldn’t have been more grateful for all he has done.
Loved using the Handrails on this project! They made it pop yet appear right at home in nature!
We were very satisfied with our railings. The whole experience from customer service to delivery was exactly how James described the process! I would highly recommend James . The quality of craftsmanship exceeded my expectations !
Purchased this Mountain Laurel Handrail from James in 2015. It’s been a great addition to our home, gets lots of compliments, and was well worth the investment. Solid 5 stars on customer service, as well.
Wow, what a great product. We installed these on our deck at the lake and they have lasted and look incredible even after eight years of being installed in the weather. I am so glad we went with this product. It's uniqueness and beauty. It's really a head turner
We ordered our Mountain Laurel Handrails almost 10 yrs ago and we still love them. A beautiful way to bring nature in to your home. We have received endless compliments over the years. Our contractor installed the post and the thick top piece, plus he figured out how to create a “door” for the steps. We wanted to be able to keep kids and animals safe from falling down the steps. Give James your measurements and bring some nature in to your home too!
This is the MOSY creative and detailed aware team. the quality of their work commits to their belief that what is in nature should be reflected in how we live with nature. I LOVE their creativity, their work ethics and details toward perfection and reflection of nature. Thank you for daring to be different and creative for us all!!!
Jimmy Pader and Mountain Laurel Handrails are the BEST! The are every skilled, do excellent work and the handrails look fantastic! Hugo H - Weaverville NC
James is great to work with! His products are extremely well done and beautiful, and he stands behind both his work and his product. We've ordered twice from him. The first was perfect. The second order was for 6 panels and with a clerical error, we only received 5. We called him and he apologized and shipped the missing panel that same day. We would do business with him anytime!
Railing is just as beautiful now as it was many years ago when we first received it.
Worked with James for a large exterior handrail and it was great. From management to craftsmanship were all incredible. Will work with the team again in the future.
We love our Mountain Laurel handrails. It still amazes me how they were constructed and shipped. The price was amazingly affordable for the beauty and skill. We had them installed indoors and out 8 years ago and they are just as beautiful as they were then. People always comment on them. They have enhanced the beauty of our unique custom home. I love the way the light creats shadows and reflections of the natural designs inside and out. James Pader is friendly, helpful, and goes above and beyond to share his excellent and unique product.
Jimmy is one of the most genuine and honest men I have ever met. I would do business with him 100 times over any cooperation.
Just had mountain laurel handrails installed on my porch and I couldn't be more pleased with the results! The attention to detail is near perfect. Each handrail is a work of art, blending seamlessly with the rustic charm of my property. It’s not hard to tell that there was a good amount of effort put into making each section. Not only do the handrails add a beautiful touch to my home, but they also feel incredibly sturdy and safe. I highly recommend mountain laurel handrails to anyone looking to add a bit of a natural touch to their home. Jim and his team really took care of me and my folks. Best home improvement decision I’ve ever made!
"I recently worked with Mountain Laurel handrails, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. The quality of their craftsmanship is unparalleled; the handrails are beautifully made, with each piece showcasing the natural beauty and uniqueness of the wood. They add a rustic yet elegant touch to my home that I've received numerous compliments on.
The team at Mountain Laurel Handrails was professional and knowledgeable, guiding me through the selection process and ensuring that the design matched my vision perfectly. It's clear that they take pride in their work and are committed to delivering top-notch products and services.
I highly recommend Mountain Laurel Handrails for anyone looking for unique, high-quality handrails. Their dedication to quality and customer satisfaction truly sets them apart. I couldn't be happier with the results and will definitely consider them for future projects
The team at Mountain Laurel Handrails was professional and knowledgeable, guiding me through the selection process and ensuring that the design matched my vision perfectly. It's clear that they take pride in their work and are committed to delivering top-notch products and services.
I highly recommend Mountain Laurel Handrails for anyone looking for unique, high-quality handrails. Their dedication to quality and customer satisfaction truly sets them apart. I couldn't be happier with the results and will definitely consider them for future projects
Great company to work with.
Great craftsmanship.
Customer service couldn’t be better
Great craftsmanship.
Customer service couldn’t be better
We really have enjoyed our mountain laurel panels & handrails around our backyard deck. They are very attractive & we have received many compliments on them! Thank you James for checking on us with any questions or concerns that we might have & that we are fully satisfied with the product. We would highly recommend!!
These woven branch handrails are the perfect addition to our home’s bamboo floors, pine ceilings and oak trim. James was easy to work with and helpful even after our purchase.
It was a pleasure working with them and the railings look great after many years.
We’ve had in place for just over 10 years and they still look new! No issues! We love them
Great company to due business with. My projects with the mountain laurel comes out top notch. Would recommend using them for that added touch
James was very easy to deal with..made the ordering process easy, and shipping details as well.. would use him again..for sure.
We ordered and installed Jim's beautifully made MOUNTAIN LAUREL HANDRAILS several years ago in a mountainous area known for it's heavy amount of snowfall each year. Our handrails did not let us down, they have withstood harsh weather elements just fine. We've never failed to receive compliments on the uniqueness of the design, it has been the finishing touch to our rustic mountain home. Working with Jim (across country) was so easy, he 'delivers' on his products and stays in touch to insure customer satisfaction and product durability.We give MOUNTAIN LAUREL HANDRAILS a 6 out of 5 stars rating!
Great communication, personalization and prompt shipping.
The railing is super functional but most importantly a true work of art. We love it!
The railing is super functional but most importantly a true work of art. We love it!
Our Mountain Laurel Handrails are a beautiful accent to our weekend home: very unique very well crafted. We constantly get compliments on them. I highly recommend this product
I’ve had my Mountain Laurel hand rails for 10 years and have always received RAVES about how beautiful and cool they are. We live by the beach and the vibe is exactly what I needed in my home. They were excellent to work with and I am planning on using them again for our new build at Smith Mountain Lake Virginia this upcoming year !
Very happy with the product! Railing were very easy to install and look fabulous!
The decision to add branch railing added more rustic charm to our rental cabin, Bailey’s Cabin On The Creek, in Bryson City, North Carolina. Even though James with Mountain Laurel Handrail makes handrails to install, we decided to take on the project ourselves. When we picked up the branches, Pete and Cam shared their tips and tricks on creating these unique railings over the years. Now, we have beautiful handrails at our cabin for all to enjoy. Thanks guys!
In addition to amazing design and craftsmanship James is generous with educating about his work and responsive with inquiries. Highly recommended!
Beautiful railings. James was great to work with. He was honest and does great work! I am ordering more for the inside of the house. I will send photos when the house is complete. Thank you!!
Great railing builder who really cares about his product and clients. Beautiful for any log cabin or rustic house. Highly recommend
The remarkable craftsmanship of the handrails took our beautiful mountain home in the treetops to a new level! The highlight of our home!
It was a pleasure working with James to custom build some rails for a staircase. They are absolutely beautiful. James promptly returned all calls and emails and was more than willing to discuss our DIY project and gave us pointers for installation. The way business should be conducted. Thanks.
We love the railings and get many complements on them. Thanks for a quality product.
This is the second order made to mountain laurel handrail. I can’t say enough good things about James and the folks at mountain laurel. They produce a stunning product and their customer service is exceptional.
We just started putting up our new handrail and I LOVE it! Friends are amazed at the design and cant wait to see it finished. Will definitely add Pictures when its done! Thank you MLH!
James did our western cedar wood and Laures deck rails about 15 years ago. The Laurels are like new, naturally aged. Everyone that seem them is impressed. We are so happy with them.
Laurel hardwood handrails add such a unique “look” to any project. James and his team do a great job with this unique product. I added laurel handrails on my treehouse deck and stairway and they always get rave comments when people see them for the first time. I highly recommend them.
Excellent craftsmanship and precision of dimensions for rhododendron rail system for this build. James is a delight to work with. Looking forward to our next opportunity of working together!
Our Landscape design firm, Aristotle Design Group designed and built a tree house using Mountain Laurel Handrails for the front porch. James’ offerings were a unique option that perfectly matched our clients’ aesthetics and blended perfectly into the wooded surroundings.
Great product, great experience. Note that we hired a carpenter to install the rail, so I can’t speak to that part of it.
Amazing company! We purchased just the mountain laurel material because we wanted to incorporate the existing top and bottom logs on our River Cabin in 2013. Fast forward to 2022 and the logs we saved were now rotten but the mountain laurels were good as new, so we re-used them in the new railings. Absolutely love them!!
James took my measurements and created panels that dramatically upgraded the appearance of our cabin and made it infinitely safer for our grandkids.
Has been able to supply me with all I have needed to do my railings on three structures at our lake house. We always get the question”where did you get the material?” And I always tell them about James and his company’s work.
Excellent service, timely delivery and gorgeous handrails what else is there to desire?
Many compliments on our porch railing at Mountain cabin. Hard to believe it has been almost 10 years.
I submitted a CAD drawing with dimensions and angles. The railings were built to the specs. We love the way they look in our cabin.
Mountain Laurel Handrails are gorgeous and beautifully constructed. The whole process to order was was super easy. Delivery on site and installation was user friendly. Highly recommend
I enjoyed working with James. He was very helpful and super responsive to all my questions as we went through the process. The quality, beauty, and true uniqueness of the laurel railings he built for my rock stairs in the back of my NC mountain cabin exceeded my expectations.
I had an amazing experience working with Mountain Laurel Handrails. They turned out beautifully.
Received rails that were well packaged. Took a little planning to figure how to cut and mount, especially the corners with a 45 degree angle. All turned out well and am pleased with the final product.
I can't say enough good things about Mountain Laurel Handrails and James Pader. Not only are the handrails beautiful and exactly what we wanted, the customer service was also superlative. James was very responsive when I had questions about measurements and installation instructions. One of the rails was damaged in shipping and James immediately sent a replacement. The handrails definitely add the perfect final touch to our tree house.
These handrails really set off the rustic look in our cabin. I shopped around and although there are other companies that make a similar product, they were out of our price range. I was so happy to find these.
I designed my lake home wanting to make it unique as possible. I had seen pictures of railings like this and always wondered how to build something like it. I started doing a little research on line and found Mountain Laurel Handrails. After a few emails and some dimensions the railings were ordered and delivered shortly after. They were accurately built and easy to install. Now I have a very unique railing and it’s kind of like functional artwork. Thanks!
The Team
Ella
Operations Manager
Ella is a native North Carolinian who is glad to call the beautiful mountains and rivers of the area home.
She has a passion for the outdoors, good cooking, and friends and family. As Operations Manager, she is
happy to manage orders, oversee the marketing team, organize and manage processes, and so much
more that goes on behind the scenes!
Pete
Production Manager
Pete grew up in the mountains of Asheville, NC, where he mastered skills in carpentry and construction
before relocating and joining our team as Production Manager. He manages and trains the production
team, ensures quality standards, keeps orders on schedule, and everything else that goes into making
sure we nail your order!
Mountain Laurel Handrails® is a trademark of Winter Sun Construction, LLC which is a licensed general contractor in the state of North Carolina, #65844. And also a certified Federal contractor.
Learn more about James, featured person in the popular Contrarian Thinking newsletter. He shares his journey and the rise of Mountain Laurel Handrails.
We discussed broadband internet options and opportunities for rural communities in 2017 with Blue Ridge Public Radio.
In 2014, we were featured in Journal of Light Construction.
Remodelor Magazine featured Mountain Laurel Handrails in 2011.
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