Outdoor railings
Three concrete steps to the front door, and nothing at all to hold on the way down.
Aluminum and steel handrails for steps, porches and decks. Fixed into concrete or framing, at a height that actually works, and finished so they survive an Ontario winter.
- Both sides
- Where steps allow
- Into structure
- Not surface mounted
- Winter rated
- Finish and fixings
- An afternoon
- Typical install
What does your entrance actually need?
A handrail is the least expensive fall prevention there is. Three questions tell us how much of one you need and what it can fix into.
A handrail costs less than a night in hospital by an enormous margin.
Falls on outdoor steps are among the most common serious accidents for older adults in Canada, and the risk peaks in exactly the months when the steps are icy and the daylight is short. A handrail does not prevent every fall, but it converts a great many of them into a stumble.
It is also the least disruptive accessibility work there is. No permit in most cases, no structural alteration, a few hours on site. Where a stairlift or a platform lift is a project, a railing is an afternoon, and for someone who is unsteady rather than immobile it is frequently all that is needed.
Set to the person
A rail at the wrong height is barely used. It should meet the hand comfortably with the arm slightly bent, walking normally.
Something a hand closes around
A round or oval profile a hand can actually grip, not a flat wide top rail that can only be rested on.
Where the steps allow it
People have a stronger side, and it changes after a stroke or a hip. Two rails means the route works either way.
Fixings that survive salt
Road salt destroys the wrong fasteners. Specification matters more here than almost anywhere else on a house.
Where it fixes, and what it is made of.
Concrete steps, a wooden porch and a poured landing each want a different approach.
Powder coated aluminum, will not rust, needs no painting and stays stable through freeze and thaw cycles.
Galvanised and painted steel for longer runs, heavier duty use and where a more traditional appearance is wanted.
A single vertical or angled rail beside the door for the last step and the pause while a key is found. Small, and disproportionately useful.
Railing around a raised deck or porch meeting code for height and spacing, with a graspable handrail on the steps.
What it fixes into matters more than how long it is.
Fixing into sound concrete is straightforward. Fixing into crumbling concrete, into brick that has spalled, or into a porch deck whose framing has softened is a different job, and it has to be dealt with rather than worked around, because a railing that pulls out is worse than no railing at all.
We check the substrate at the survey and tell you what we find. If the top step needs repair before a rail can be anchored properly, we will say so rather than fixing into something that will not hold.
The rest of the entrance
A railing is often one part of making the front door work properly.
Ramps
Where a wheelchair or a walker has to get up the same steps, a railing alone will not do it.
Platform lifts
For higher rises where a compliant ramp will not fit in the space available.
Automatic door openers
Reaching the door and then not being able to open it is the step people forget to plan for.
Threshold ramps
The raised sill at the door. An inch is enough to catch a walker wheel or a toe.
Questions about outdoor railings
If yours is not here, call us on 905 451-7743. A person answers during business hours.
How much does a handrail cost?
Less than most people expect, and considerably less than the fall it prevents. The variables are the length of the run, the material, and what it fixes into. We give you a written price after the site visit rather than a range that turns out not to apply.
Do I need a permit for a handrail?
For a simple handrail beside existing steps, usually not. For a new deck railing or work that alters the structure, sometimes yes, depending on the municipality. We check at the survey and handle it where it applies.
Can you fix a railing into old concrete?
Usually, but the concrete has to be sound. If the top step is crumbling or spalled, it needs repair before anything is anchored into it, because a railing that pulls out is more dangerous than no railing. We check the substrate at the survey and tell you what we find.
What height should a handrail be?
It should meet your hand comfortably with the arm slightly bent while walking normally, rather than being set to a standard number and hoping. We set it from the person who will use it most, which is one of the reasons the survey matters.
Should I have railings on both sides?
Wherever the steps are wide enough, yes. People have a stronger side, and it changes after a stroke, a hip replacement or a shoulder injury. Two railings means the route works going up and coming down regardless of which arm is doing the work.
Will it survive road salt?
With the right fixings and finish, yes. Salt is what destroys outdoor railings in Ontario, and it attacks the fasteners before the rail itself. We specify stainless or coated fixings and a powder coated or galvanised finish for that reason.
Can you match my existing railings?
Often, yes, in profile and colour. Bring us a photograph or we will look at the survey. Where an exact match is not available we will show you the nearest options rather than fitting something that looks obviously added on.
How long does installation take?
Most residential handrails are a few hours to a day. Longer runs, deck perimeters and any work that needs concrete repair first take longer, and we give you the schedule in writing with the quote.
Is a railing enough, or do I need a ramp?
A railing helps someone who walks but is unsteady. It does nothing for a wheelchair or a scooter, and it is only partly useful for a walker. If either of those is in the household, ask us to assess a ramp at the same visit so you can compare.
Does the tax credit really cover it?
The Ontario Seniors' Home Safety Tax Credit covers a range of home safety work, and railings are the sort of preventative improvement it exists for. It is claimed on your return rather than applied for in advance, so there is no waiting. Confirm your own eligibility with your tax preparer.
Can it be fitted to a rented home?
It needs the owner's permission because it involves fixing into the structure. Landlords often agree because a handrail improves the property and reduces their own liability. We can provide a specification to show them.
What about the walkway, not just the steps?
Worth mentioning at the survey. A long path with nothing to hold can be as much of a problem as the steps, and a rail along a section of it is sometimes more useful than one more rail on the stairs.
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Book a free railing assessment
We look at the steps, check what the rail can fix into, and set the height from the person using it. No charge for the visit.