Handrails are standard in commercial buildings, but they can often be overlooked when designing a home. Private homes aren’t subject to ADA requirements, so handrails are sometimes an afterthought rather than an integral part of the design.
Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case. With many options to choose from, home handrails are a stylish way to improve home safety without compromising design style and aesthetics. Different types of handrails work in different situations, and multiple options create lots of design flexibility. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know to choose the types of handrails to improve home safety.
17 Types of Handrails for Your Home
With these seventeen types of handrails available, you can definitely find the perfect handrail to improve the safety of your home. Let’s dive in!
1. Aluminum Handrails
There are many types of handrails to choose from. However, aluminum offers the most benefits when it comes to materials. Aluminum is corrosion- and rust-resistant. This durability leads to a long handrail life and no need to paint, refinish, or replace it. It’s also as easy to trim as a 2×4 wood stud.
2. Wood Handrails
Wood handrails bring warmth and natural beauty to any space. For an authentic wood look indoors, TrueWood™ finishes by Promenaid are available, offering the appearance and feel of real wood—because they are real wood!
A thin veneer of genuine Oak or Walnut is permanently bonded to the handrail’s aluminum core, combining the aesthetic appeal of wood with the durability and strength of aluminum. This makes TrueWood™ handrails a versatile option that blends style and function, perfect for adding elegance to indoor spaces.
3. Glass-Mounted Handrails
Glass-mounted handrails are the ultimate in modern handrail design. Using Sprocketlock L-brackets with a stylish round base, Promenaid handrails can be mounted to glass walls. For a glass divider, a top-mounted handrail is made possible by positioning the glass inside the railing channel and sealing it with a bead of silicone.
4. Pinch Grip Handrails
Pinch grip handrails feature a narrow profile, designed to be easily grasped between the thumb and fingers. These types of handrails are perfect for spaces where extra grip is needed, such as staircases with steep inclines or areas used by individuals with mobility challenges.
5. Circular Grip Handrails
Circular grip handrails, often referred to as round handrails, are a popular choice due to their ease of use and comfort. Their smooth, continuous design allows for a comfortable grip, making them a practical option for stairways or ramps.
6. Wall-Mounted Handrails with Traditional Brackets
Wall-mounted handrails with conventional brackets work well for simple, single-level applications. Traditional brackets must be screwed directly into the handrail and into a wall stud. If the bracket placement is off, even slightly, the bracket will have to be removed and repositioned, leaving holes in the handrail itself.
7. Post-Mounted Handrails
If a wall isn’t available, post-mounted handrails create free-standing handrails that go where they are needed, even without a support structure. Post-mounted handrails use T-brackets that mount on the post pipe and clamp into the extrusion channel, making post-mounted handrails easy to install.
They can be mounted almost anywhere, including horizontally, a slight 5-degree slope for a ramp, a greater slope, and everything in between.
8. Wall-Mounted Handrails with Pivoting Brackets
Twist-lock brackets make positioning brackets quick and easy with no tools required. Simply find the location of the stud, find the correct spot on the handrail, lock the bracket into place, and mount the handrail to the wall. If you mismeasure, repositioning the brackets is quick and easy, and you don’t leave any unsightly screw holes behind.
9. Continuous Handrails
Continuous handrails provide seamless support by extending along the entire length of a staircase or ramp, without breaks or interruptions. This design is especially useful for individuals with mobility impairments, ensuring that they can maintain a steady grip from start to finish. It also adds an elegant touch to the overall aesthetic of the space.
10. Wall-Mounted Handrails with Sprocketlock Brackets
At Promenaid, we offer wall-mounted handrails with our innovative Sprocketlock brackets, which are super easy to use and more secure than standard brackets. This is the perfect option for seamless design, trusted reliability, and accessibility you can count on!
11. Interior Entryway Handrails
Handrails in an entryway aid people as they enter and exit a space. Whether the entryway includes a stairway or ramp, positioning a handrail adds support for the transition over a threshold.
12. Outdoor Entryway Handrails
Outdoor entryway handrails are designed to withstand the elements while providing essential support for stairs and ramps leading into a home. Typically made from durable materials like stainless steel, aluminum, or treated wood, these handrails enhance both safety and curb appeal.
13. Guardrails
Guardrails are essential for preventing falls from elevated areas like balconies, decks, or staircases. These are often combined with handrails to provide a complete safety solution. Guardrails can be made from metal, glass, or wood, and they not only offer protection but also contribute to the architectural style of a home.
14. Secondary Handrails
Secondary handrails are often installed alongside guardrails, providing an additional point of contact for safety. In staircases or ramps, these handrails offer extra support and ensure ADA compliance in many cases. Promenaid’s modular systems allow for easy integration of secondary handrails, enhancing both safety and design.
15. Grab Bars
Grab bars are primarily used in bathrooms or other areas where individuals might need extra support, such as next to toilets or showers. While they are often thought of as separate from handrails, grab bars serve a similar function by offering stability and preventing slips and falls. Available in stainless steel or aluminum, grab bars are a critical feature in creating accessible and safe spaces for all occupants.
16. Midrails
While it is unlikely to be used in a home, a midrail is a type of handrail that is placed between the walking surface and the upper handrail to increase the level of support available, especially for children or those with disabilities. Children too short to reach the standard handrail can benefit from midrails.
In facilities where children are primary users of the handrails, a midrail can be incorporated no higher than 28” from the walking surface or stair nosing. Midrails also provide additional support for those in wheelchairs at a more comfortable height than a standard handrail.
17. Illuminated Handrails
Illuminated handrails or handrails with lights are a type of handrail that significantly raises the level of safety provided by a handrail. Incorporating LED lights into a handrail makes them easier to locate and more accessible.
At Promenaid, we offer Promenaid’s Channelux™ LED modules to add illumination anywhere it’s needed. Our patented channel creates a natural path to run the wires and LED lights. The wires are then hidden behind the vinyl extrusion that fits into the channel in order to complete the round profile.
The Best Types of Handrails & Design
There are many types of handrails to choose from, but the most important thing to consider is whether or not the handrail meets or exceeds safety standards. After all, that is its primary job. Ensuring that a handrail meets ADA standards makes it the safest option available. Here’s what you have to keep in mind when buying a handrail for your home.
ADA Compliance
Although your home isn’t subject to all of the ADA requirements for handrails, choosing a handrail that exceeds ADA safety standards means you are making the safest choice to support the people you love. Handrails are most effective in preventing falls when they adhere to ADA standards, meaning they:
- Are round with a diameter between 1 ¼” and 2”.
- Are installed between 34” and 38” inches above the stair nosing.
- Are continuous from the bottom to the top of the stairway.
- Include an additional 12” beyond the upper stair nosing.
- Include an extension equal to at least one tread depth at the bottom of the stairs.
- Provide at least 1 ½” clearance between the handrail and adjacent wall.
- Provide at least 1 ½” clearance between the handrail and mounting bracket.
Continuous Design
Promenaid handrails exceed the ADA standards for compliant handrails. Our Sprocketlock™ bend and collar system ensures a continuous handrail that can turn corners or change elevations seamlessly. Handrail lengths can be connected together or cut with a standard miter saw to create a run that is perfectly customized to your needs.
Clearance
Our brackets were created with ADA standards in mind, and they provide 1 ½” of clearance between the handrail and the wall. This allows hands to follow the handrail, gripping it without obstruction.
Sturdy, Easy-to-Mount Brackets
Handrails should be mounted to studs to ensure they can support a person’s weight, and our brackets can withstand 500 lbs. of force. However, mounting to a stud requires precise measuring and sometimes calls for repositioning.
Our easy-to-mount brackets simply clip into our patented channel and can be repositioned as needed without leaving holes in the bracket itself.
The Perfect Types of Handrails to Improve Home Safety
At Promenaid, we strive to make your home as safe as possible. To discuss your options for types of handrails for accessibility and fall prevention, contact us today.
