Rails and stairs
Rails, grab bars and lifts, anchored where they count
Falls happen on steps and in bathrooms. We fit rails and bars where hands actually reach, and blocking where they can hold weight.
A grab bar is only as strong as what it is screwed into. We anchor every bar into wood blocking or a stud, built for a 250-pound pull, and we photograph the blocking before the wall is closed.
Not in the usual scope: the lift itself. We install the model your doctor or therapist specifies and list the equipment on its own line.
What's included
Handrails on both sides of stairs and porch steps, 34 to 38 inches high
Grab bars at the toilet, tub and shower
Fold-up support arms beside toilets
Stair lifts installed to a therapist's specification
Lights at the stairs and the front step
Non-slip treads on steps
What changes the cost
What moves the price of rails and bars
Mostly length, material and what's behind the wall.
Length and count
A short rail at the front step costs less than both sides of a flight.
Material
Metal rails get hot in July, so on a sunny porch we favor rounded wood or coated rails.
What the wall is
Tile, drywall and brick each need their own anchoring.
Lift equipment
Bought from the maker and listed on its own line.
How it goes
How a rail job goes
- 01
Step 1: Site walk
We watch how you use the stairs or the bathroom and mark where a hand reaches.
- 02
Step 2: Estimate
Each bar and rail listed, with its height and what it is anchored to.
- 03
Step 3: Blocking
Where a wall is open we add blocking. Where it isn't, we find the studs.
- 04
Step 4: Install and test
We lean on every bar with you watching before we pack up.
Permits and rules
Rules for rails and lifts
Rails and grab bars rarely need a permit. A lift on a stair may, and the City of San Antonio sets the rules. We check for your address and tell you.
A lift is bought from the maker on your doctor's or therapist's order. We install it and show you how to use it before we leave.
Questions
Common questions
How high should a handrail be?
Between 34 and 38 inches above the steps, and on both sides where there's room. We set each one with you holding it.
Can a grab bar go into tile?
Yes, if there's blocking or a stud behind it. We find it first, and we never rely on a plug in tile alone.
Do you sell stair lifts?
We install the model your doctor or therapist specifies. The equipment is its own line, so you can compare it.
A step that worries you?
Text a photo of the stairs or the bathroom wall. We'll tell you where a rail or bar would go.