Appreciate the informative video. My mom has a friend who broke her leg and needs a railing on her concrete stairs. Problem is it is zero degrees and will be that way for awhile. The instructions on the epoxy say don’t apply below 32 degrees. Wonder if I could slide by without it somehow?
Surface mount aluminum railing are the answer imo done it many times by the time you factor in how easy they install and you never have to stain 100% worth the slightly more upfront cost
I have a set of brick steps in my garage that has 6 steps that are set on concrete. I was going to use something like a Titen fastener and use 2 x 4 for the posts, mitered on bottom so as not to sit directly on the concrete and fasten directly to the brick. Anything that you would change about this? I thought about using 4 x 4 posts with a base anchored to the concrete and then fastening to the brick.
It will be difficult to attach to something hollow, but email me a picture and I will take a look at it. Our email address can be found by clicking on the link in any video description.
These videos are awesome. Is there any chance you have made a video with more information on the epoxy system? I'm looking to do exactly this (drill into the side of my old steps to add new wood handrailing).
My steps are 8" thick concrete that over hang on the edge of a cinderblock wall. The overhang varies some,but is close to being a consistent inch. Whoever did the original handrails surface mounted them on top of the steps and theyve always been flimsy,but now the 4x4s are rottening around the bottom. I'm considering using 4x4 posts,notching out where the steps overhang and anchoring just to the concrete. I'll mount the bottoms of the posts in the ground,but I've gotta cut through asphalt in the driveway to dig holes. Alot of work it seems.
@@stairbuilding simpson makes what looks like a great post mount for a 4x4 . It bolts down with 4- 1/2" anchors and I can just dig holes and fill them with concrete to adjust where I need to drill my mounting holes. I'm gonna use a wide (6") handrail cap to hide the variations of where the posts will mount due to varying overhangs. The steps are only 36" wide and the railing being mounted ontop of the steps has always been an issue carrying in furniture and groceries and such. Itll cost me a few hundred dollars but I think I'll be happier and itll most likely outlast me.
Are there any special considerations when installing these horizontally as show here? I'm curious as to the best way to make sure they are straight and remain centered in the hole, which is much easier in a vertical installation.
I might need a little more details, what would you be installing horizontally, if you're going to be installing the post vertically. Using a straight edge or level, straight lumber and string can provide you with something to create a straight guideline and of course a level can be used to make sure the post are vertically level.
@@stairbuilding wow. Thanks for replying. Really appreciate it. I hope you find the time to make that video! Lol. Also I'm using 4x4 posts, bolted to the side as mentioned. If you have the time for another reply! 😂
Hi, Greg, thanks for the video. I am going to be attaching wooden posts to a concrete staircase exactly like this. You mentioned drilling a 1/2 in. hole for a 1/2 in. bolt, but then you later mentioned using epoxy. I bought some heavy duty concrete anchor bolts that don't require epoxy and had planned to use those, but now I'm looking into epoxy. In researching the use of epoxy, it seems as though you have to drill a hole much larger than the bolt and then let the bolt set. For this application, are there benefits to one over the other, concrete bolts with or without epoxy? It seems like either one would work ok as long as they are properly installed, but I'm wondering if drilling a bigger hole into the side of the staircase to accommodate the epoxy might weaken the concrete of the stairs even further. Thanks for any help you can provide!
Yay! Finally, I found an informative video.
Thank you so much.
Glad it was helpful!
Appreciate the informative video. My mom has a friend who broke her leg and needs a railing on her concrete stairs. Problem is it is zero degrees and will be that way for awhile. The instructions on the epoxy say don’t apply below 32 degrees. Wonder if I could slide by without it somehow?
Surface mount aluminum railing are the answer imo done it many times by the time you factor in how easy they install and you never have to stain 100% worth the slightly more upfront cost
I have a set of brick steps in my garage that has 6 steps that are set on concrete. I was going to use something like a Titen fastener and use 2 x 4 for the posts, mitered on bottom so as not to sit directly on the concrete and fasten directly to the brick. Anything that you would change about this? I thought about using 4 x 4 posts with a base anchored to the concrete and then fastening to the brick.
Any idea what to do with a hand rail on a precast (most likely hollow) set of stairs?
It will be difficult to attach to something hollow, but email me a picture and I will take a look at it. Our email address can be found by clicking on the link in any video description.
Could you notch a 4x4 and drill into the side AND on top through something like an EZ bracket on the top
If it will stabilize the post, then yes.
Great videos .great planning and knowledge . thank you very much
Our pleasure!
Great video
Thanks!
These videos are awesome. Is there any chance you have made a video with more information on the epoxy system? I'm looking to do exactly this (drill into the side of my old steps to add new wood handrailing).
I can put it on my list.
How many post are required per X feet?
There is no exact formula I can provide you with. Maybe no more than 3 or 4 feet apart might work, but this spacing will depend on your lumber used.
My steps are 8" thick concrete that over hang on the edge of a cinderblock wall. The overhang varies some,but is close to being a consistent inch. Whoever did the original handrails surface mounted them on top of the steps and theyve always been flimsy,but now the 4x4s are rottening around the bottom. I'm considering using 4x4 posts,notching out where the steps overhang and anchoring just to the concrete. I'll mount the bottoms of the posts in the ground,but I've gotta cut through asphalt in the driveway to dig holes. Alot of work it seems.
I've put posts in the ground before as the only way to create a strong post at the bottom of stairs and sometimes it's a lot of work.
@@stairbuilding simpson makes what looks like a great post mount for a 4x4 . It bolts down with 4- 1/2" anchors and I can just dig holes and fill them with concrete to adjust where I need to drill my mounting holes. I'm gonna use a wide (6") handrail cap to hide the variations of where the posts will mount due to varying overhangs. The steps are only 36" wide and the railing being mounted ontop of the steps has always been an issue carrying in furniture and groceries and such. Itll cost me a few hundred dollars but I think I'll be happier and itll most likely outlast me.
Are there any special considerations when installing these horizontally as show here? I'm curious as to the best way to make sure they are straight and remain centered in the hole, which is much easier in a vertical installation.
I might need a little more details, what would you be installing horizontally, if you're going to be installing the post vertically. Using a straight edge or level, straight lumber and string can provide you with something to create a straight guideline and of course a level can be used to make sure the post are vertically level.
My main questions: What size anchor bolt (diameter) and how far into the concrete should they go?
It will depend on the project. Smaller handrails might require smaller diameters and shorter holes if using epoxy type installation.
@@stairbuilding wow. Thanks for replying. Really appreciate it. I hope you find the time to make that video! Lol. Also I'm using 4x4 posts, bolted to the side as mentioned. If you have the time for another reply! 😂
Hi, Greg, thanks for the video. I am going to be attaching wooden posts to a concrete staircase exactly like this. You mentioned drilling a 1/2 in. hole for a 1/2 in. bolt, but then you later mentioned using epoxy. I bought some heavy duty concrete anchor bolts that don't require epoxy and had planned to use those, but now I'm looking into epoxy. In researching the use of epoxy, it seems as though you have to drill a hole much larger than the bolt and then let the bolt set. For this application, are there benefits to one over the other, concrete bolts with or without epoxy? It seems like either one would work ok as long as they are properly installed, but I'm wondering if drilling a bigger hole into the side of the staircase to accommodate the epoxy might weaken the concrete of the stairs even further. Thanks for any help you can provide!
I think an engineer would like to see the epoxy.
On new steps use epoxy cause you could bust the concrete
On the bottom post I would suggest digging the post like a fence post then anchor the rest of the post to keep the concrete from chipping away.
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