Guide to Buying a Ground-Mounted Handrail for Steps

If you're looking for a ground-mounted handrail for steps, you've come to the right place. This guide will help you understand the two main types of ground-mounted handrails and the main things to consider when buying one for your home.

Please Note: This guide is focused on helping you buy the right ground-mounted handrail.

• If you are interested in buying a wall-mounted handrail, please read our guide on How to Buy a Wall-Mounted Handrail.
• If you are interested in how to buy an assembled railing (guardrail), please read our guide on How to Buy an Assembled Railing (Guardrail).
• If you do not know the difference, please read our guide on the 3 main types of handrails and railings.

Before You Start:

• Know Your Handrail & Railing Code Requirements
• You should be aware of the requirements, the benefits of code compliant railings and handrails, and whether or not you will be required to meet the requirements.
• For more information on this topic, please read our Guide to Code Requirements for Handrails and Railings.

What this Guide Covers:

• The two types of ground-mounted handrails
• What impacts the style of  ground-mounted handrails
• Outdoor longevity of different types of metals our ground-mounted handrails are made from

Two Types of Ground-Mounted Handrails

We offer two types of ground-mounted handrails:

1. Single-post Handrails
2. Double-Post Handrails

Let's cover some things you should know about each type.

Single-Post Handrails

Single-post handrails feature a handrail design where only one vertical post is used to support the entire handrail.

If you need a handrail for outside steps, ground-mounted handrails are a great option.

A single-post handrail like the one above (our Opti Stainless Steel 316 Handrail for 1 to 3 Steps) lives up to its name; it is a perfect option for 1 to 3 steps when there is not a wall by the steps for a wall-mounted handrail.

Double-Post Handrails

Some of our double-post handrails for steps can have custom lengths from 24 inches all the way up to 94 inches.

As mentioned in our post on the 3 main types of handrails and railings, our double-post handrails can be customized to fit different stair structures. A good example is the custom handrail we made for a customer below.

What Impacts the Style of Ground-mounted Handrails

Outside of the obvious differences in style between double and single-post handrails, what else impacts the style?

 There are a couple of things, such as:

• The finish (color) of the handrail
• The handrail dimensions
• The handrail design such as curvatures

Let's cover some examples of each of these.

Handrail Finish (Color):

The finish (or color) you can order your handrail in depends on the type of material. You will see the available options for each product on our product detail pages. If you desire a finish we don't appear to offer, please contact us and we may be able to accommodate you.

• Standard Finishes
• Matte Black (most popular)
• Semi-Gloss Black
• Grey Primer
• Raw (unfinished)
• If you desire the handrail unfinished, please contact us to let us know

• Premium Finishes
• Vintage Gold
• Aged Bronze
• Aged Silver
• Classic Copper

• Finishes for Stainless Steel
• Satin Brushed Nickel Finish
• Chrome Mirror Finish

Handrail Dimensions:

 Common handrail dimensions we offer for the ground-mount handrails are:

• 1.5" x 1.5" Square
• 2" x 1" Rectangle

Our other ground-mounted handrails have unique dimensions due to their design, such as our Molded Cap Volute Fist Single-post Handrail below:

You can see the dimensional shape of this volute single-post handrail is not so straightforward because of the molded cap design.

Handrail Design (such as Curvatures):

Handrails have very distinct features that make them unique. Sometimes, even a small, subtle difference can have a huge impact on the aesthetics of a handrail.

For example, take our Opti Single Post Handrails. We have a 1 to 2 step version and a 1 to 3 step version. But, outside of the length of the handrails, there is a distinct difference in their curvatures which make them unique.

Our 1 to 3 Step Opti Handrail (left) has a curve that angles into the handrail slope before the post, whereas our 1 to 2 Step Opti Handrail (right) has a curve after the post. 

Because of the design of the 1 to 2 Step Opti Handrail, it would not look as nice if you extended the length to make it work for 3+ steps. So pay attention to small details like this as they make a huge difference and can easily be overlooked at first glance.

One last example of a unique handrail design is the Volute Scroll Single-Post Handrail for 1 to 3 Steps we previously shared. Not only does the curve, molded cap design, and scrolls of the handrail give it a nice look, but even the post itself has a unique design feature; there is a cover plate in the middle of the post, which believe it not, makes a huge difference and is like the icing on the cake for this handrail.

As you can see, the small details really matter. The handrails you choose for your home or office will be a reflection of your keen eye and exquisite taste.

Longevity of Metals Our Ground-mounted Handrails Are Made From

 We currently sell our ground-mounted handrails in the following materials:

• Steel
• Stainless Steel
• Wrought Iron

Below, we will cover the longevity of these materials in outdoor conditions.

• Outdoor Life of Steel
• Without Galvanization:
• Outdoors without protection & mild rain: 5 to 10 years
• Outdoors near the ocean: ~ 5 years
• With Galvanization:
• Outdoors without protection & mild rain: 10 to 20 years
• Outdoors near the ocean: 10 years
• If you would like a steel handrail from us galvanized, please contact us.

• Outdoor Life of Wrought Iron
• Without Galvanization:
• Outdoors without protection & mild rain: 10 years
• Outdoors near the ocean: 5 to 10 years
• With  Galvanization:
• Outdoors without protection & mild rain: 20 years
• Outdoors near the ocean: 15 to 20 years
• If you would like a wrought iron handrail galvanized, please contact us.

Up Next: Installing Your Ground-Mounted Handrail

One of the last considerations you need to make (ideally) before you purchase your handrail is who is going to do the installation.

It is good to have an understanding of how the installation works so you know what you are getting into.

Below, we have shared a guide that will help you with this step.

• How to Install a Double-Post Handrail Into Wood Steps
• This guide will also be sufficient for you to understand how to install a single-post handrail