How to Install a Handrail on Concrete or Brick Steps

Every year head and hip injuries prove lethal to people climbing steps, especially in old age. In our litigious society, it doesn't matter if the steps lead to your business or your front door; there must be a safe approach. A handrail on concrete or brick steps will prevent slips and dangerous injuries.

Things You'll Need

• Goggles Respirator Protective clothing [Materials for Method 1] Sharpie marker Masonry screws Carbide masonry drill bit (width of screw shaft) Drill [Materials for Method 2] Carbide masonry drill bit (width of the rail plus 2 inches) Drill Posts Concrete

Instructions

Safety First

1. Put on (at minimum) a pair of goggles and a respirator.

2. Make sure that the area around the work zone is clear for an appropriate distance.

3. Wear "old clothes" and any protective clothing relevant to your work environment.

Wall-Mounted Rail Installation

1. Hold the rail against the wall and mark the screw holes onto the wall using a sharpie. Remove the rail and set it down.

2. Drill the sharpie marks in the wall using a masonry drill bit (carbide) to the depth of the screw. The diameter of the drill bit needs to be diameter of the screw shaft (not the spiral "teeth" the screw uses to grip the wall). To determine this, just hold the bit next to the screw and use the profiles of the screw and bit to compare the sizes. The screw (teeth included) needs to be the diameter of the hole in the rail where the rail connects to the wall.

3. Clean out the drilled holes before screwing in the masonry-type screws. The installation is complete.

Free-Standing Rail Installation

1. If the rails are to be mounted into holes drilled into the steps themselves, drill the holes with a large drill bit to a depth of at least 6 inches. Make the hole large enough to accommodate the pipe plus 2 inches. Add concrete around the posts, making sure to get it all the way into the hole. Go to Step 4.

2. If you're mounting the rails into dirt (with pipe entering the ground at two or more places), dig the holes for the rails with a 4-inch radius (or larger for more stability). The deeper the holes, the more secure the rails. Digging post holes can be done by hand or using a post-hole digger. To get the rail below the frost line, find the requirements in the building codes for your area. Three feet is a sufficient depth in most U.S. locations outside of Alaska. Continue to Step 3.

3. Drive temporary support posts into the ground between the holes you dug. Position the posts next to the rails so that the rails can be tied to these posts as temporary supports while the cement cures. Tie the rails to keep them in the desired position with the ends of the pipes in the center of the holes where the cement will harden.

4. Pour in the concrete powder to the desired depth, measuring the amount of concrete powder as this is done. Add the prescribed amount of water according to package instructions, a little at a time, in parts. First pour enough to start to moisten the powder (about five percent of the entire amount required by the instructions) and mix the water around until the moisture is evenly distributed. Repeat this process with the same amount of water over and over again while mixing the concrete in the hole. Once the mixture is evenly mixed, leave the concrete to cure anywhere from one to five days as indicated by the package instructions, the weather and the type of concrete you are using.

5. When the concrete is completely cured, remove any supporting posts that are not part of the rail and patch the resulting holes with dirt. The project is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• You can mix the concrete outside of the hole and pour it into the hole, but don't forget to remove air bubbles by inserting a tool called a vibrator into the concrete so that the bubbles are shaken out to the edges. Add rocks to the concrete to add strength and decrease the costs involved with doing several of these rails at once. Do not let the drill bit "bind up" or get stuck in the wall, because it will burn out the engine and reduce the power of the drill to the point that it will need replacement. Drill inward and then back the drill out of the hole to remove a little of the masonry dust.

• Don't add a rail to masonry unless the masonry is stable and strong. Don't forget to wash your hands well after using concrete. Wear gloves whenever concrete is handled. Don't skip the protective gear. Wear safety goggles and a respirator when working with concrete dust. Do not put clothes covered with concrete or concrete powder into water or allow the water inside of drainage systems or washing machines. Don't try to do this by yourself if the rail is heavy or unwieldy. Get help from a friend.