Four Ways to Add the Ultimate DIY Handrail to Your Home with Old West Iron

It's no secret that handrails are a must-have item for any home, whether your staircase is indoors or outdoors. What many people don't realize is that your handrails can be an integral part of your home decor and aesthetic. So how do you achieve a swoon worthy staircase with a worthy handrail? At Old West Iron, we believe that the best path to unique home perfection is creating DIY projects that reflect your style, home, and family. Here on this blog, we'll show you a few ways to put this practice to good use.

DIY Handrail Using Old West Iron's Staircase Railing Pickets

Handrail pickets are an excellent way to build a DIY handrail from scratch or to revamp an existing staircase by replacing the spindles you already have. These pickets come in a variety of styles and are made by hand, so they can be fully customized to the dimensions that you want. Order as many as you need, each spindle is made from sturdy steel and comes with included wood screws so you can get right to work on building your dream handrail. We can also provide rustic square head lags for a more unique look.

While our handrail pickets are a great choice for any level of DIY enthusiast, we've seen incredible projects from experienced woodworkers who have made their own wooden railings to accompany them. Homemade or not, the freedom to choose any railing you want to compliment these pickets is a definite plus.

Installation Tips:

1. These pickets are made for the outer edge of a staircase or loft edge, not for wall installation.
2. The provided wood screws are 3/4". If you need something different, please reach out to request additional or different fasteners.
3. We recommend getting final measurements for your railing before placing your order to ensure that our team can advise you properly and your order arrives exactly as needed.
4. If you will be installing these spindles on a stone or brick surface, we recommend finding the proper anchors at your local hardware store.

Wall Mounted Railing Using Hand Forged Handrail Brackets

For a wall mounted railing, stylish and supportive handrail brackets are a must. At Old West Iron, all handrail brackets are made by hand from quality steel and carefully finished in a wide selection of hand-hammered textures and unique finishes to fit any decorator's taste. Your choice of square or hex head lags provide a solid installation and a final touch of individuality for your project, and the adjustable brackets make installation a breeze.

These brackets are ideal for your choice of wooden handrail, and the highly adjustable plates allow for a wide range of angles and handrail sizes. The wall to hole center standoff of 2 5/8" adheres to most safety and construction codes to ensure that your stairs are safe and your handrail remains secure for years to come.

Installation Tips:

1. While the mounting plates are fully adjustable, it's still extremely important to take correct measurements before installation so that your brackets can be placed appropriately. It's best to avoid drilling holes that you don't need!
2. If you are mounting the handrail on stone or brick, it's best to find the appropriate anchors at your local hardware store.
3. The choice of fasteners adds a lot to your home aesthetic. Try going with a square head lag for a rustic look or a hex head for a more industrial or modern style.

Easy To Install Wrought Iron Handrails

Home construction and renovations are busy times, and we understand the importance for ease and quick turnaround during large projects. That's why we also offer ready to install iron handrail and bracket sets. Hand made from solid steel and offered in a variety of design styles, these handrails come with everything you need to install them fresh out of the box, including wood screws (we can also provide masonry anchors) to attach the brackets to the wall and self tapping screws to install the handrail on the brackets.

We also offer custom sizing and freight shipping options on sizes over 9', please contact our office any time for custom quotes and shipping prices.

Installation Tips:

1. Please contact us if you plan on installing this product on stone, brick, or concrete walls, we will include anchors to ensure your railing remains secure and is properly installed.
2. If your order includes a railing over 9' or longer in length, it will typically ship in two pieces that will snap together securely, but if you would rather have it shipped in one piece please reach out to us for an oversized shipping quote.
3. We recommend taking your measurements ahead of time and being mindful of where your wall studs are. Then, it's best to mount your brackets on the wall before installing the rail to ensure that the brackets are secure and placed properly.

Building or Revamping Railings with Hand Forged Post Caps and Post Bases

Already have a great railing that just needs a little TLC? What about a set of matching post caps and faux post bases? These construction accessories come in unique hammered textures and hand painted finishes that make each one as unique as your home, and we can customize to nearly any size, shape, or style that you can imagine. Our blacksmiths work tirelessly to perfect each product, so you can be sure that you'll receive the ultimate combination of quality and style with every order. You can order a faux post base, which consists of the decorative "ears" without the steel base, by calling or emailing our office for a quote.

If you're constructing a new railing, our iron post bases can make a perfect addition to both the structural and stylistic aspects of your wooden spindles, and they can be easily installed during construction.

Beyond the customization of the products themselves, we also offer a wide selection of lags, wood screws, and decorative nails or rivets to make the unique qualities of your home shine.

Installation Tips:

1. Post caps can be installed securely in a myriad of ways. Some of the most popular are to use decorative clavos, rustic screws, strong hold epoxy, or a combination of these methods.
2. Want to harness the stylistic touch of a clavos but don't want to install with nails? Many of our post caps come with welded on rivets and different installation methods.
3. Our post bases involve a steel base beneath the post, but if you're looking to add to a spindle that has already been installed, a faux post base might be for you.
4. Do you need a three sided post cap to accommodate a too-close wall? A round cap for a round post? Contact our office for a custom design and quote.

Conclusion

Stairway railings are a vital piece of making your home a safe place for family and guests of all ages (not to mention a requirement for meeting safety standards) but that doesn't mean your railings need to stop at practicality. Whether you're dreaming of a period appropriate feature for your century home or a modern touch for your minimalist paradise, Old West Iron can help you make that dream a reality.