36” vs 40” kit
Our new 36” Horizontal Handrail Kits are designed to be used on flat surfaces turning from a staircase. This is because the upper end of the Stair Handrail Kit for turns is around 36” since the upper post will be positioned a step lower.
If you are not attaching the Horizontal Handrail Kit to a Stair Handrail Kit, then either height will work. Generally, residential spaces use the 36” variant.
See the difference:
36” vs 40” kit
Our original 40” Horizontal Handrail Kits are used when attached to a Stair Handrail Kit on straight path. This is because the upper end of the Stair Handrail Kit is around 40”.
If you are not attaching the Horizontal Handrail Kit to a Stair Handrail Kit, then either height will work. Generally, commercial spaces use the 40” variant.
See the difference:
Everything you need out of the box
All parts and core tools needed to install this kit on any surface come included with your order. No more extra trips to the store, saving you time and money.
- Top & Middle rails
- Posts
- Brackets
- End caps
- Post covers
- Screws
- Nuts & Bolts
- Drill Bits
- Anchor & Washer
- Ruler & Pencil
Made by CR Fence & Rail, America’s #1 selling handrail
Designed for DIY use
Our kits come with complete instructions, with each part and tool labeled. If anything is unclear, our industry-leading support team is ready to answer any questions via call or chat.
MODULAR & CUSTOMIZABLE
This Horizontal Handrail Kit is compatible with the following products for the perfect fit:
- Another Horizontal Handrail Kit
- Stair Handrail Kit
- Plain Post with Top Rail
As demonstrated by our CEO
From installing the posts to attaching the fence channels, our CEO Richard covers all the steps on how to set-up your system easily and efficiently.
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FAQs
We’ll provide all the fasteners you’ll need, including screws for attaching the post to wood and plastic, as well as anchors for cement and masonry. The installation process will be easiest with a handheld power drill or hammer drill, and a set of screwdriver bits — but any set of screwdrivers will work in a pinch. If you need to cut your handrail to size, a cutting tool such as a hacksaw, angle grinder, or die grinder will come in handy.
Absolutely! All our rails come powder-coated with a 5-layer black finish that’s made to withstand even the most extreme weather conditions. This protective layer defends against flaking, chipping, scratches, and color deterioration. Outdoor paint of any color will adhere to the protective layer — in fact, weather-resistant paint can even add an additional layer of defense against the elements, while customizing your rails to look exactly the way you want.
Cleaning your rails is easy! Our 5-layer weather-resistant coating already protects against most stains, while dirt is easy to clean off. We recommend following any of the methods below to clean your rails:
- Use a non-abrasive or microfiber cleaning cloth dampened with water to wipe and clear the rails from dust.
- If using cleaning liquids, we recommend water-based cleaners as these do not damage the finish of the rails. Make sure to dry the surface completely after cleaning to avoid staining and rusting.
- If opting for power washing, use the low setting to avoid damage to your rails.
To maintain your railings, we recommend waxing the exposed areas using either commercial car wax or beeswax furniture polish for extra protection and to keep it looking shiny and new. Apply the wax using a soft cloth and rub it gently in circular motions. Allow the wax to dry for at least 20 minutes before buffing it off with a clean, dry cloth.
Our railing kits come with the necessary drill bits and wedge anchors to secure the posts onto any surface, be it wood, concrete, or brick. If you are planning on installing the posts on harder surfaces like granite, you will need a diamond drill bit (5/16" x 3.5")—which provide for free. Send us a message if you need one.
To make the installation process seamless, we’ve also included a depth-measuring pencil, washers, and a hex nut driver.
For more instructions on how you can install the railing posts, watch this video:
If you need more information about the types of drills you can use with our parts, refer to this:
Building a metal handrail from scratch is a fairly time-intensive process, and requires several professional tools. You’d need to start by measuring the height and depth of your steps, as well as the offset distance between the edge of the steps and the post markers. Then you’d need to determine the angle of the rails, as well as the length of each piece of pipe, and buy correctly angled fittings as well as a sufficient amount of pipe. You’d likely also need to choose the correct flanges, swivel fittings, and malleable plugs, as well as fasteners for wood or concrete. After placing the flanges to mark the position of each fitting, you’d secure the fittings to the wood or concrete surface using a power drill, insert the vertical posts, then attach the fittings to the horizontal post and secure it in place.
Building your own handrail from scratch can be a fun weekend project, but our DIY prefabricated rail kits enable you to complete the installation in an hour or less. We include all the components and fasteners, so all you’ll have to do on your end is saw the lengths of metal down to size (if necessary) and secure the components in place.
CR Fence & Rail offers a diverse selection of handrail kits, suitable for a wide variety of installation scenarios.
Available in 6 different lengths, from 1-2 steps all the way to 6 steps.
Available in 2 different lengths: 4-foot and 6-foot.
Available in 4-foot and 6-foot lengths, from 4’ wide / 32” tall to 6’ wide / 36” tall.
Available in straight 36” and 42” sizes, corner 36” and 42” sizes, and a 36” stair size.
We also sell individual posts, fasteners, drill bits and fasteners—though our handrail, guard rail and post kits include all the components you’ll need to install them.
The most important factor you should consider is to ensure the kit you choose is the right size for your installation scenario. If in doubt, it’s best to err slightly larger as you can always cut down the rail to fit. When selecting a kit, you should also ensure it’s sturdy enough to withstand the weight it’ll have to bear, and can withstand extremes of hot and cold.
All our rail kits are designed to be easy to install in an hour or less. As long as you’re comfortable with using simple power tools, you should be able to handle the job without any special assistance. In fact, more than 3,000 happy customers say their railings were remarkably fast and easy to install!
Like any product made of metal, our rails will heat up a bit on sunny and/or hot days. However, our 5-layer protective powder coating is weather-resistant, and will prevent your railing from becoming too hot to touch. In the unusual circumstance that your railing becomes too hot, simply wiping it down with cold water will quickly cool it off again.
- Wood drill bit: 5/16” (M8) W x 3” (75mm) L
- Masonry drill bit: 5/16” (M8) W x 4-3/4” (120mm) L
- Wedge anchor: 5/16” (M8) W x 3-1/8” (80mm) L
- Lag screws: 5/16” (M8) W x 1.9/16” (40mm) L
When installing our posts on any type of flooring (e.g., composite wood) and it is too thin, you will need to purchase longer screws or anchors elsewhere in order for the products to be mounted properly on the inner floor.
Depending on the type of connection and your layout, the distance will vary. However, the tolerance for any discrepancies or errors is only 1/4".
However, we suggest for you to wait for all parts and rails to arrive before you begin installing the railing system as the top rail positioning will determine where posts will be placed. Repositioning the posts, once installed, will also require more effort. As such, for the smoothest installation experience, we recommend that you wait for the top rail connectors so you can fit out the top rails and position the posts accordingly.
Yes, however, you will need straight brackets. You may get in touch with us and make a request for them, free of charge.
You can watch the entire process of how to do this here:
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