New Handrail Costs

Want to know how much it will cost to install a new handrail?

The stairs are usually one of the first things you see when you enter your home. If you want them to look attractive and appealing, then you should choose a handrail that makes a statement. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but you might like to choose one that enhances your home décor.

But why do this?

We want to give you the average prices of buying and installing a new or replacement handrail for your staircase. When you know ballpark figures for a handrail you can get the job done at a reasonable price. We can connect you with local contractors to give you quotes for installing a new handrail.

How Much Does Buying and Installing a New Handrail Cost?

The costs depend on the type of handrail you choose. There are several choices between timber and steel and various design options.

If you want something that’s not too costly, then you can buy a new handrail from a DIY outlet. If you prefer to splash out, then there are specialist shops online.

Average Costs of Stair Handrails and Stair Handrail Installation Costs

Labour Costs and Timescales

The trades that install handrails are usually carpenters, builders, joiners, or handy- person. Who you choose depends on the complexity of the job. Installing a single handrail on a straight set of stairs will be a lot easier than having a curved handrail spanning a large staircase.

On average the time to install a new handrail is between 2 to 4 hours. But if the installation is complex then it could take much longer.

Here are the labour costs for the trades we have mentioned above for a handrail installation of between 2 and 4 hours.

Costs to Install a Handrail

Supply Costs

Whether you are replacing an old handrail or installing a new handrail you should first have a look at the costs involved. Have a look at the various materials and designs you can choose and pick one that suits your budget.

Here is a sample of the materials and sizes you can expect to see when you are looking for a new handrail.

New Handrail Prices (Wood is unfinished and a Mopstick design)

If you are having a glass balustrade, then you will need a Handrail that incorporates a groove so the glass will slot into the Handrail. The Handrail tend to be thicker, and the groove size will depend on the thickness of the glass to be installed.

Glass Handrails Cost

Additional Costs

Handrail Caps and Brackets

Some handrails don’t need end caps, but some do. They are cheap, but you still need to consider the cost. If you are installing the handrail onto the wall then you also need brackets, you can buy brackets separately or as part of a kit.

A New Staircase

Other costs might include the installation of a brand-new staircase with a handrail that sits on top of the balustrade.

If you want to install a straight one-storey wood staircase the cost will be on average between £950 and £1450 depending on whether you use a hardwood or a softwood. Softwood is the cheaper option. The time needed to install the staircase is around 2 days.

A double winding staircase in hardwood or softwood will cost on average between £2300 and £3500. Installation will take between 2 and 3 days.

On top of these costs, you may have the installation of the balustrade and the Handrail. You can see the handrail costs in the charts above. The price of a balustrade will depend on whether you use wood, metal, or glass. Prices vary between £30 per metre to £150 per metre.

Decoration

Painting and decorating is another factor to consider. You might want to repaint your hallway and staircase or hang paper.

The price of paint varies according to the type, colour, and brand you choose. You can pay between £10 and £30 per litre.

A painter and decorator will charge between £30 and £45 per hour, depending on where you are in the UK (London is always more expensive), It can take between a day and two days to wallpaper a hallway and staircase so you should expect to pay labour charges of between £240 and £480 for the job.

Wallpaper costs depend on the quality, design, and brand. A roll of wallpaper that covers around 35 m2 can cost between £9 and £75.

Lighting

Lighting might also be an additional cost. You can light a staircase in several different ways.

Wall lights come in a wide range of different styles and can add the wow factor to your stairs. The cost depends on the design of the wall light you choose but the average cost is between £30 and £150.

Pendant lights start at around £30 and can go up to more than £500 depending on the style and design you choose.

Ceiling spotlights are a cost-effective solution as they cost between £20 and £80 depending on whether you are buying an individual spotlight or a number of lights in a row.

Cost Factors of Buying and Installing a New Handrail

The cost factors of buying a new handrail for stairs are dependent on where you buy it, the quality you choose and the type of material the handrail is made from.

Installation costs will be influenced by the type of handrail you choose the ease of access and the complexity of the job.

You should also expect to pay more in labour charges if you live in London or the South East of England where prices are traditionally higher.

What’s Involved in Installing a New Stair Handrail?

Installing a new stair handrail on the wall of a staircase will probably need two people. It must also be done accurately to conform with building regulations.

A contractor will use the following tools:

Tools

• Spirit Level
• Drill
• Masonry Drill Bit
• Raw Plugs
• Phillips Screwdriver
• Pen and Pencil
• Cloth
• Measure
• Chalk line box

Steps

• The first thing the contractor will do is measure the width of the Handrail and the width of the bracket. Let’s say the Handrail is to be installed at a height of 90cm.
  
  The Handrail width is, for example, 4cm and the bracket is 8cm. These two measurements need to be added together and then subtracted from 90. So, 4 cm plus 8 cm is 12 cm and if you subtract 12 from 90 you are left with 78 cm.
  
  78cm is where you will screw in your brackets.
• Using the line tool measure all the way up the wall and mark the line from the bottom to the top of the stairs. If you have a stair rail that measures 3 metres, you will have 4 brackets.
• When the contractor knows the position of the brackets they can fix them to the handrail at intervals.
• Drill a hole in every bottom bracket and place them on the wall. Adjust the Handrail until it is level with the chalk line.
• Remove the Handrail and drill the rest of the holes for the bracket. Insert raw plugs and then put the brackets into the wall and screw them in tightly.
• When the Handrail is in place the contractor will put their weight on the rail to test that the handrail is properly installed.

Can I Install a New Handrail Myself?

Installing a handrail on the wall might be a DIY project you could take on as long as the installation isn’t too complex. You will need to check building regulations for the installation as a handrail needs to be between 900mm and 1000mm high.

If you do the work yourself, you will save labour costs of between £20 and £35 an hour. However, we do recommend that you have a staircase rail installed by a professional. We can put you in contact with local contractors to give you quotes.

You can buy unfinished wood handrails which means you can paint or stain the wood yourself before you install the Handrail. You will need a wood primer and a hard-wearing paint that you can wipe over.

A tin of quality wood or metal paint will cost between £11 and £19 per litre. Primer will cost you between £12 and £22 per litre.

Planning Permission

If you are changing your current staircase or adding one to your home, it is unlikely that you’ll need planning permission. But it is always better to visit your local planning department. Explain what you want to do and check to make sure that no planning permission is necessary.

If you live in a conservation area or your home is a listed building, then you might need planning permission to make changes to your home.

Building Regulations

There are two main regulations for residential dwellings, and these are:

• If your stairs are less than 1 metre wide, then you should have a handrail on one side. If your stairs are wider than 1 metre, you should have a Handrail on both sides.
• The handrail cannot be lower than 900mm or any higher than 1000mm.
• You don’t need a handrail on the first two steps.

There are different regulations for blocks of flats with common stairs or public buildings. If you are unsure about regulations, then visit your local authority building regulation department and they will explain the regulations to you.

The regulations above only apply to stairway handrails. If you are building a new set of stairs there are a number of regulations that must be followed. They include the headroom for stairs, the stair’s width and length and the landings for stairs.

Types of Handrail

There is a huge range of designs available from modern to traditional in wood or metal. Handrails come in three types. They can be:

• Wall mounted
• On top of a balustrade
• Grooved so that a glass balustrade can be fitted into it

Two of the most popular Handrail types are Mopstick and Pigs Ear.

Mopstick handrails are circular with a flat underside. They are used with metal spindles or glass balustrades. They can also be attached to the wall with brackets. A timber Mopstick handrail in Ash will cost between £65 and £153 depending on the size.

Pigs Ear Handrails are fitted directly onto a wall without the use of brackets which makes for easier installation. A typical Pigs Ear timber moulded handrail in Ash will cost between £75 and £175 depending on the size you buy.

Handrails are made from either wood or timber. Stainless, aluminium and chrome are popular choices. If you want a wooden handrail you can choose:

• Walnut Handrail – Walnut is a tough hardwood which makes it an ideal material for a stair rail. It is however an expensive choice.
• Ash Handrail – Ash is another hardwood, but it is a paler colour than walnut and slightly cheaper.
• Pine Handrail - Pine is a softwood. It’s a popular choice because it’s strong and it’s also a very affordable price.
• Oak Handrail - Oak is another hardwood which is reflected in the price. It is used in stair rails because it looks attractive and is very strong
• Hemlock Handrail - Hemlock is a softwood. It’s similar looking to pine and it’s reasonably priced.

Other Types of Handrails

Here in this guide, we have concentrated on Handrails for stairs. But you might also install a Handrail on stairs in your garden or a grab rail on the inside wall of your porch.

Handrails for steps outside can be wall-mounted, floor-mounted or mounted between the floor and a wall. Outdoor rails often come as a kit which includes the crossbars with the handrails and the fixings.

Grab rails for the porch or use in bathrooms can be installed quickly and cost between £15 and £45.

Here are some average prices for outdoor stair kits.

Removing An Old Handrail

If you are replacing an old or damaged Handrail, then it is likely that you will want it removed before a new one is installed. The time needed to remove a Handrail will be anything from an hour to several hours depending on the size of the Handrail and how easy it is to access.

A Handrail installer might remove it for you. They will add it to your quote. If not, a handy person should be able to do the job. A Handyman charges on average between £20 and £30 an hour. You can dispose of old wood or metal at your local tip although you must tell them if it has been treated.

If the Handrail is in good condition, you could also put an advert on one of your local second-hand websites or in a free newspaper and either sell it or give it away.

A Handrail that’s attached to the wall with brackets will be easy to remove. Simply unscrew the brackets from the Handrail, remove the handrail and then unscrew the brackets from the wall.

Checklist – Hiring a Contractor to Install a Handrail

It’s always a good idea to ask a contractor some questions before you decide which quote to choose. Here are some questions we recommend you ask:

• Do you have a lot of experience installing handrails?
• How long will the job take to complete?
• Can you paint my unfinished Handrail?
• Can you include the removal of my old Handrail in your quote? (if you have an old one installed)
• Do you have insurance?
• Have you got feedback you can show me from previous customers?

FAQs