Gate & balcony decor By Antoh Decor Enterprises 3 min read
Key points
- A damru is a round cast collar with a hole through the middle that slides onto a steel bar and is welded in place.
- Bore sizes are 12, 16, 20 and 25 mm; choose the one that matches your bar.
- They are used on staircase and balcony balusters, window grills and gate bars.
- Antoh Decor stocks damru for wholesale and retail at its Nairobi branches.
If you have walked through Gikomba or any fabrication street in Kenya you have seen damru (also spelt damroo): the round, ribbed collars on railings and grills that make a plain square bar look like a turned baluster. The name comes from the small hourglass-shaped drum, which the collar resembles.
What a damru does
A damru is purely decorative. It hides nothing structural, but it breaks up a long straight bar, catches light and paint, and gives a railing a classic, finished look. Because it slides on and is welded with a couple of tacks, it adds detail with very little labour.
Bore sizes
| Bore | Fits |
|---|---|
| 12 mm | 12 mm bars: window grills, light work |
| 16 mm | 16 mm bars: grills, light balusters |
| 20 mm | 20 mm bars: balcony and staircase balusters |
| 25 mm | 25 mm bars: gates and heavy railings |
Where to use damru
- Balusters: one damru near the top and bottom of each bar, or a pair with a chillum in the middle.
- Window grills: at each crossing point to hide joints.
- Gates: along vertical bars in a line, often combined with steel flowers.
Fitting tips
- Slide all damru onto the bar before you weld the bar into the frame.
- Mark the heights, set each damru with a jig, and tack it on two sides.
- Clean slag and grease, then prime and paint or powder coat.
Combining damru with other decorations
Damru are rarely used alone. Popular combinations in Kenyan railings and gates:
- Damru + chillum + damru on each baluster: the classic turned look. See staircase railing design.
- Damru + steel flowers on gate bars: a damru at each bar crossing and a flower in the panel centre.
- Damru on decorative pipes: a damru at each end of a twisted or sugarcane pipe hides the cut.
Ordering quantities
Count the bars, decide how many damru go on each, multiply, and add a few spares. For a staircase, count each flight and landing separately. Fundis and hardware shops buy damru in bulk; homeowners can buy exactly what the fundi lists.
Common mistakes
- Buying the bore size for the wrong bar, especially when a job mixes 16 mm and 20 mm bars. Order each size separately.
- Welding damru crooked. Check with a square before the final tack.
- Painting before cleaning: grease and weld spatter on cast parts show through the finish.
Need flatter collars for square bars? See our washer damru guide. Or go straight to the decorative damru product page for a price.
Products & services in this guide
Gate, Balcony & Staircase Decorations
Decorative Damru (12 mm – 25 mm)
Cast decorative damru in 12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm and 25 mm bore to dress up balusters, grills and gate bars.
12 mm16 mm20 mm
Price on request · wholesale & retail
Gate, Balcony & Staircase Decorations
Washer Damru – Square & Round (16 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm)
Washer damru for square tube and round tube applications, in 16 mm, 20 mm and 25 mm, for balusters on gates, balconies and staircase…
16 mm20 mm25 mm
Price on request · wholesale & retail
Frequently asked questions
What is a damru in metalwork?
A cast decorative collar with a centre hole that slides over a bar and is welded in place to give railings and grills a turned look.
Is it damru or damroo?
Both spellings are used in Kenya for the same part.
What sizes do damru come in?
Antoh Decor stocks 12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm and 25 mm bore sizes.
Can damru be powder coated?
Yes. Once welded and cleaned, damru take paint and powder coating well.
