Why Handrail Brackets Are Essential

When using rails of various type from the hand, foot and stair rails, brackets are a must. These brackets function as support to the tubing so it won’t fall and could serve its purpose well.

Handrails can be used in different places such as the stairs, bathrooms notably at the tub area and at home as well as commercial bars. These fixtures are meant to provide comfort and support to people who may need something to hold on to in order to keep their balance while standing, ascending or descending a staircase.

To keep it sturdy, this wall fixture makes use of screws. This is to enable them to handle the weight of people as they hold on to it for support. It won’t serve its purpose unless it is attached to the wall through the wall studs if possible.

Ideally, a handrail should be strong enough to support 250 pounds of weight. Did you know that every year, about one in three older adults fall mostly in their homes? For older folks, a fall can have an adverse effect on their mobility or worse, can cause their death.

It used to be that handrail brackets were just the plain type. Today, though, apart from the traditional types, there are a wide range of decorative ones to choose from that suit every personal style. Materials have also advanced and now besides wood, there’s the stainless, aluminum, wrought iron and brass available on the market. And other than the materials and styles, they also come in different textures and finish such as the polished brass and chrome, satin, satin nickel, satin chrome, antique nickel and oil rubbed bronze.

Brackets usually come with screws and when used in handrails, they are installed differently. For instance, the decorative types featuring animal heads designed with a ring can be installed to the wall by securing the screws located in the head part while the tubing can just be inserted into the ring part.

The plain and simple type, on the other hand, uses at least three screws. The three are secured to the wall while the other two are secured to the tubing to keep it in place.

Experts recommend using round tubing for handrails. Compared to other designs, a round type with just the right diameter is more comfortable to hold on to and will fit anybody’s hand better.

As far as height is concerned, handrails should be installed at least 34 inches from the floor. This is the ideal height for adults but for children, a lower height is necessary.

Keep in mind that when installing handrails especially on stairways, you need to follow the building codes specific in your area. There are rules to follow concerning height for kids and adults, distance from the wall, the number of brackets to use and the distance of each bracket.

If you’re after using decorative brackets, make sure that they match the material of your tubing. Installing them can be a do-it-yourself project or you can get the assistance of a professional carpenter if you wish.