How to Attach Metal Stair Rail to a Concrete Wall

Tom built this metal handrail for a stairway that leads to the basement of a new home. Stairways should have handrails and the handrails need to be strong and attached properly in all commercial and residential locations. In this article Tom will show you how to attach a metal handrail to a stone or concrete wall while still allowing for a nice look. When handrails need to be bolted to a stone or concrete wall, the best thing to use is a concrete anchor.
First, drill out a hole for the concrete anchor and then pound it into the wall. The anchor is tapered at the end so that a small metal collor allows it to catch into the concrete as it is set.
The rest of the bolt, or stud, ends up hanging out on the finished side of the handrail mount. Rather than simply grinding it off flat to the mount piece, Tom suggestion is to leave a nut on and grind off just enough of the bolt to attach a small acorn nut on the end.
It is easy to see in a side by side comparison that the handrail hung with a rounded acorn nut leaves a more polished look than the handrail hung from the stair wall with the bolts ground off flush to the handrail fasteners.