A less costly design alternative in non urban locales that are served by overhead power lines is to take advantage of equipment enclosures to modify visual impact. Relay and control equipment, station batteries and indoor power switch gear all require enclosures. The exterior appearance of these enclosures can be designed to match neighboring homes or buildings. The exterior of the conductor and the interior of the enclosure are painted with non-magnetic malt finish black paint to improve the heat transfer.

Exterior Stairs/Stairways are generally built less steep. The treads need to be deeper and risers shallower outdoors to make the stairs safer when wet or covered with snow or ice. Heavy timber or pressure-treated wood is often chosen for a wood stair out of doors. Ground-supported steps follow the contours of sloping sites to provide easy access to porches or entrances or as connections between terraces and landscape elements. Stairways can be straight, round, or may consist of two or more straight pieces connected at angles. Special stairways include escalators and ladders. Alternatives to stairways are elevators and inclined moving sidewalks.