Handrail For Garage Entrance


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Old 11-03-18, 12:31 PM
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Handrail For Garage Entrance

I need some input on building a free standing hand rail for a three step stair to garage entry door to the house. The two lower steps are concrete with the third step into the floor of the house. I have searched, but can't find a clear consensus on how to anchor the posts in concrete and build the hand rail from wood.

Some questions are:
1) Should there be two posts or one post at the bottom of the stairs and fasten the rail to the door frame?
2) How to best anchor the posts? Use a post base mounted with anchors to the floor anchors horizontally through the posts into the concrete stairs?
3) Which anchors are best for this : expanding 1/2 anchor or epoxy/threaded rod?

TIA
 
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Old 11-03-18, 12:50 PM
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Hard to say when we can't see the stairs. It's possible you could anchor a post base anchor to a concrete pad AND bolt to the side of the step but no way to know. You can dig a hole and embed the post in concrete... it's not ideal as far as longevity or replacement but for a free standing handrail it's often the best (and sturdiest) solution.

One post at the bottom. How you attach to the wall depends on your design and type of siding.
 
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Old 11-03-18, 01:55 PM
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Here's a couple of pics. Plan was to put one hand rail on the left side.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138501...in/dateposted/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138501...in/dateposted/
 
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Old 11-03-18, 03:34 PM
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Yeah if that's a cement floor, use a 4x4 post base anchor. Place it as close to the steps as it will go. One 1/2" x 3" expansion / wedge anchor will anchor it to the floor. Turn it so that the flanges you nail through are parallel to the house, and use Simpson anchor screws in every hole. Plumb the post up with a level, insert shims as needed between the post and the side of the step. Then drill through the 4x4 and into the step... (stay at least 2" away from the top or front edge of the step!) Then put another wedge anchor there. (1/2 x 7)

On the wall, it depends what it back there to screw into. You might need to use a long vertical 2x4. There "should be" 3 inches of framing around the door to screw to.
 
 

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