http://inlinedesign.us/t/handrail-brackets

1. The whole purpose of handrails is to prevent untoward accidents when people use the ramps, decks,
stairs etc. To add to this, they also contribute significantly in enhancing the aesthetic look of the
surroundings.
Because of this, handrails are made in a variety of beautiful designs that appeal to nearly every type of
house owner. Thus, whether you have a modern and contemporary handrail bracket ambience in your
home or the traditional and gracious look, you will find handrails that suit any setting. If you opt for
wooden railings, they impart a solid and dignified look to the stairs and another advantage of wood is
that it suits practically every kind of furniture and setting. Another benefit of wood is that it can be used
in combination with other materials in your railings.
Materials used for handrails are diverse. The basic aim behind the manufacturing of handrails is that it
should complement the material of the railing. So, wood, aluminum and steel are some of the popular
materials for handrails and they come in rectangular, square and round shapes. Most of the metallic
materials either have a silk luster finish, an electrostatic powder coated finish, an acrylic urethane finish
or simply a brightly polished finish.
The basic fact is that handrails come in various styles but their installation depends on the kind of
staircase and the style of railing you have. If the railing is simple without any elaborate curves and turns,
then the installation of the handrails presents no problems whatsoever. However, if the stairway is
spiral or circular or if the railings have an intricately curved design, then installing handrails might
involve a high degree of skill and knowledge. This also holds true for railings which have many right
angle turns. If the handrails have to be fixed on to the wall, they have to be fixed onto brackets which
are then attached to the walls.
Before you fix the handrails, though, you have to take into account building codes that have certain
specifications as far as handrails are concerned. Generally, stainless steel handrail bracket during
installation care has to be taken so that a child's head cannot pass through once the newel posts and
balusters have been fixed. The height of the handrail should not be less than 34 inches and more than
38 inches. If you are unsure about the building code requirements, a good idea would be to verify with
the building code of your locality whereby you can obtain the specifications that are particularly relevant
to your area.