10 easy outdoor handrails you can build yourself

At Simplified Building, we offer a comprehensive selection of outdoor handrails for steps and garden handrails, all designed to provide safety, stability, and style to your outdoor space. We understand the importance of having outdoor handrails that deliver protection and add to your outdoor space's beauty. That's why we offer a range of handrail options that are easy to install, affordable, and built to last.

Kee Klamp fittings and pipes are great for building sturdy structures that will stand the test of time. We’ve shown you how you can use these to construct furniture, greenhouses and plenty of other unusual structures; today, we will go through some examples of outdoor handrails that our customers have built for their homes or gardens.

It is very easy to build your own exterior handrail; whether it’s for the stairs, decking, porch, ramps or just an alleyway – either go for one of our pre-designed handrail kits or build an outside handrail from scratch.



Projects

It is very easy to build your own exterior handrail; whether it’s for the stairs, decking, porch, ramps or just an alleyway – either go for one of our pre-designed handrail kits or build an outside handrail from scratch.


1. Outdoor stair railing

These two handrails were installed by Bruce on the main entry stairs. Bruce painted them black so that they matched the colour scheme of his house.

He used the SR-029 floor fixed handrail kit for this project, which is one of the easiest kits to install in our range.

outdoor stair railing


2. Metal handrail with curves

This handrail was constructed without the need to bend the metal tube. David used Obtuse Angle Elbows (55 type fittings) to create the curves in this handrail.


If you are looking for a similar outdoor handrail system, you will need the following fittings:


3. Handrail for your roof terrace

Mark decided to use Kee Klamp and tube to create this sturdy handrail for his roof terrace. This now provides an increased level of safety to the terrace, making it a perfect place to spend time with family and friends.

handrail for your roof terrace

To make it extra safe, you can add infill panels to prevent children from climbing on the handrail.

handrail for roof terrace


steel handrail for roof terrace

Here’s what you need to build a similar structure:


4. Pool area stair handrail

Here’s another example of how our SR-029 handrail kit can be used. One of our customers used this kit to create a handrail for the pool area. The handrail will provide a good level of safety on a slippery surface such as this one.

pool area stair handrail


Mount a SR-029 Handrail

  • Floor mounted stair handrail
  • Super strong and resistant to rust
  • Suitable to use indoors and outdoors
  • Perfect for landlords, home owners or business owners
Purchase a kit

5. Handrail attached to a stone wall

Bob was looking for a cheap handrail option that would suit the winding stairs in his garden and the stone wall that surrounds these.

wall mounted handrail

Adding railing to a stone wall can be difficult, but the key is to use the right anchors. Options include concrete screws, expanding anchors and sleeve anchors:

Concrete screws

(images from: Lizhan Hardware, Masonry Magazine and Scrooz)

Make use of our elbow fittings to cater for the rounded shape of the wall.

What you can use:


6. Balcony handrail with glass panel inserts

Build a sturdy handrail for your balcony and use glass panel inserts; this will maximise a beautiful view. Although harder to clean, the glass inserts will give your balcony a modern, elegant look.

balcony handrail

Here’s what one of our customers has built using Kee Klamp fittings:

balcony handrail

He used P50 fittings to attach the glass panels to the structure.

7. Outdoor handrail system that is mounted to the ground and one wall

This handrail was built by Jacob, and it is fixed on both the ground and one wall of the house.

outdoor handrail system

You can achieve a similar effect by using our Adjustable wall-to-floor SR-C50C58 handrail kit.


Mount an SR-C50C58 Handrail

  • Wall to floor stair handrail
  • Super strong and resistant to rust
  • Suitable to use indoors and outdoors
  • Perfect for landlords, home owners or business owners
Purchase a kit

8. Bespoke metal handrail for stairs and porch

David needed a custom solution to cover the front stairs and the porch of his home. He did not want to sacrifice on style, so he painted the galvanised fittings and tube with a textured brown paint.

Home handrail system

Here’s what you’d need to build a similar structure:


9. Stair handrail for a house with a beach view

Patrick’s house has a view of Lake Michigan in the US and access to the beach. However, the stairs leading to the beach needed a sturdy handrail that was easy to install and would be super durable.

stair handrail for a beach view house

The handrail is approximately 20 metres long and is fixed along a staircase with 52 steps. Patrick has used Kee Klamp fittings and tube to build the entire structure and is now pleased with the look and functionality of it.

Mount a SR-C50 Handrail

  • Topfixed inline adjustable stair handrail
  • Super strong and resistant to rust
  • Customise the kit to fit your requirements
  • Perfect for landlords, home owners or business owners
Build your own

Here’s what he used:


10. Outdoor handrails for the elderly

Mike needed a handrail for his mother’s front steps. He wanted to encourage her to move around more and go out of the house, but his mother found it difficult to navigate steps in general.

handrail for elderly

Mike decided to install the railing at the centre of the steps, allowing his mother to use whichever hand she wanted. He also painted it black, giving it a finish that suited the house.

If you are looking for a similar solution, then our SR-565 wall mounted handrail kit could be an excellent choice. It includes 567-7 fittings (End post handrail returns) that make the railing terminate to post, eliminating the risk of having your clothes or handbag trapped at the ends of the railing.

Mount an SR-565 Handrail

  • Wall mounted handrail
  • Super strong and resistant to rust
  • Suitable to use indoors and outdoors
  • Perfect for landlords, home owners or business owners
Purchase a kit

Why Kee Klamp?

Resistant - Kee Klamp fittings are hot-dipped, galvanised and incredibly resistant to rust, so you can safely use them for outdoor structures. Customers have used these to build handrails on docks for example.

No welding – Kee Klamp fittings do not require any welding, which means that they can be used by anyone, including domestic customers, for a variety of projects. All you need is an allen key!

We take pride in providing our customers with the best products and services. Our team of experts is always on hand to answer any questions, and our extensive inventory ensures you can find the perfect solution for your needs. Browse our collection of outdoor handrails today and discover the ideal solution for your outdoor space.

Need help?


Questions & answers about our handrails

Can I install your handrails on steps?

Yes, our handrail kits are suitable for installation on stairs.

Depending on the stair material (concrete, wood, brick), you will need various fixings to ensure that the handrail kits are mounted correctly.

If you know the angle of the stairs, go for a fixed angle handrail kit. If you do not know the angle of the stairs or you are unsure of it, choose a variable angle option.

Are these handrails suitable for garden access?

Yes, they are. Depending on your layout, you can use one of our floor, wall-to-floor or wall mounted styles to help you enjoy your garden all year round.

Can I install your handrail outside?

Yes! Because they are made of heavy-duty materials such as galvanised steel or aluminium, our metal handrails are perfect for use outside or inside the house. With reasonable care, they can last decades without bending or rusting.

How do I know what handrail I need?

Depending on your layout, you will be looking at either one of the following categories:

  • Floor mounted – all uprights mount to the ground (whereas this is a flat surface, a flight or stairs or a ramp)
  • Wall to floor mounted – one end mounts to a wall and the other one to the floor, with the help of an upright
  • Wall mounted – the handrail is fully mounted to a wall
Once you know what type of surface you need to mount the handrail onto, continue exploring our existing kits to choose a suitable option. You can select a rail depending on the angle of your stairs (fixed or variable angle), on the material (steel vs aluminium), the ending (open or rounded endings) or whether you need an inline or an offset surface.

If you are ever unsure, get in touch with our advisers. We will be happy to assist!

How easy is it to install your handrails?

Our rails are fairly easy to install as they do not require any welding or complicated tools. All kits come with the relevant grab rails cut to the size you need, and use fittings that attach to the tube using screws. All you need is an Allen key to tighten the screws up.

Watch this video to see how we install one of our popular handrail kits for stairs:

Do the handrails come in other colours?

Our handrail kits are available in the original silver colour, with ST-BLK518 being the only rail we have available in a black powder-coated finish.

Are your rails suitable for disabled persons?

Our handrails can be used by anyone with reduced mobility or who just needs a bit of help navigating a flight of stairs or a ramp. However, for wheelchair users, we would recommend a DDA handrail with a mid-bar. Read more about DDA

Are your rails suitable for the elderly or persons with reduced mobility?

Yes, they are. Depending on each person’s needs, you can choose a suitable accessibility handrail from our extended handrail kit range. If none of the rails on our website suits you, please get in touch, and our friendly advisers will be able to recommend a system.

How do I measure correctly?

Remember what your Dad told you? 'Measure Twice, Cut Once' You know the the phrase!

Figuring out the measurements for your handrail requires some attention to detail. There are two ways to figure out the dimension for your grab rail, and how you do it probably depends on how much you like maths.

This simple way to do this is to have someone stand at the bottom of the steps holding the end of the measuring tape. Walk to the top of the stairs while each of you holds the measuring tape 1m off the ground. Record the length when you have positioned the ends where you want the rail to begin and end.

The mathematical way of calculating would be to measure the rise and run of the steps and then calculate the length of the railing by the following formula:

Railing Length = √ height2 + length2

The square root of the height squared plus the length squared will give you the proper length of your rail.

What sort of prepping do I need to do?

Whether you are mounting to the wall or to the ground, be sure that the area is cleaned so that it can receive the base flange or railing bracket without obstruction.

How do I mount base flanges?

Anchoring to concrete or masonry

  • Align flange and mark holes - Set the base flanges where they need to go and mark the holes with a marker.
  • Dimple holes with a nail set - Before drilling, make a dent in the surface to prevent the drill bit from drifting.
  • Drill holes for the anchor - Use a hammer drill and the appropriate masonry bit to make a hole for the anchor. Follow the instructions for drilling the hole from the anchor manufacturer.
  • Remove dust from holes - Use an air hose or vacuum cleaner to get the debris out of the holes.
  • Attach flanges with anchors - How you will do this depends on anchor style. But if you use hammer-in anchors, then put a nut on the end of the threads to protect the threads while you hammer the anchor into place.
  • Cut off excess bolt - If you have an excess bolt that is exposed after tightening the anchors, use a hack saw to remove the excess.

Anchoring to wood

  • Align flange - Set the base flanges where they need to go and mark the holes with a marker.
  • Drill pilot holes - Drill a pilot hole appropriate for the size lag screw that you are using.
  • Attach flange with screws - Use a socket set to screw the lag screw into place.

Hardware

The hardware you use for mounting handrails depends on the materials you are trying to connect the railing to. See our guide for what types of screws, plugs or through-bolts you would need depending on the rail type you are installing.

How do I mount wall railing brackets?

  • Align bracket and mark holes - Begin by placing the bracket against the wall and marking the holes.
  • Drill pilot holes - Drill a Pilot hole for the screws that will be used to attach the brackets. A hammer drill will be required if you are drilling into concrete or masonry.
  • Attach brackets to the wall - Attach the brackets with the appropriate kind of screw for the material that you are anchoring into.

Hardware

The hardware you use for mounting handrails depends on the materials you are trying to connect the railing to. See our guide for what types of screws, plugs or through-bolts you would need depending on the rail type you are installing.

How do I attach the uprights?

In most cases, this is as simple as slipping the upright into the base flange and tightening the set screws in the fittings. Use a level to ensure that the post is plumb.

How do I attach brackets to the uprights?

This will be different for each kind of railing. The key here is not to attach the fitting too tightly. Attach the bracket or fitting just enough so that adjustments can be made. You will probably not want to make your final tightening until after the railing has been attached.

How do I attach the railing to brackets?

When it comes to the differences in the handrail kits, attaching the rail to the handrail brackets is where there is the most diversity. Some railings will be much easier to attach than others.

  • Attaching directly to the fitting - Some railings were meant to slip through a hole in a fitting. If this is case, then the job is easy! Simply slip the tube through the hole in the fitting and tighten down the set screw.
  • Drilling into tube - Some railing brackets are designed to connect to the tube with screws. If this is the case, then make pilot holes with a drill before attempting to screw into the tube. Even if your screws are "self-drilling" we recommend making a pilot hole. Pilot holes can be made by aligning the grab rail on the brackets and using a marker to mark each hole. Once the hole is marked, take the railing off the brackets and pre-drill the holes in a stable location. After you have made the pilot holes, set the railing on the brackets and attach them with the appropriate screws.

Hardware

The hardware you use for mounting handrails depends on the materials you are trying to connect the railing to. See our guide for what types of screws, plugs or through bolts you would need depending on the rail type you are installing.

How do I tap in the tube caps?

Once your entire handrail is assembled, you'll want to tap the tube caps into any exposed ends of the rails and posts. It is best to do this with a rubber mallet. If you don't have a rubber mallet, then cover the cap with a piece of cardboard to protect the metal from scratches while you tap it in with a standard hammer.

Our team is here to help

Test

Our experts will help you select the items you need to complete the project.

Shopping Basket

Show Pricing

Option available in footer.