B52 Anodized Handrail Aluminum Stairs Kit Stainless Steel Look 5 Ft and 1.97"Diameter

I’m not sure if I was missing some instructions, but I discovered some very useful things that you should know before trying to install these handrails:1. There are two Allen wrench slots. One to keep the entire handle stable and tight that is on the backside, and another on the front that allows you to adjust the angle or pitch of the bracket that holds the rail.2. Tighten the Allen wrench on the BACK as much as you can BEFORE you install! If not, the bracket will be wobbly. This is especially important if you are using toggles to attach to Sheetrock. I learned this the hard way!3. You can remove the bracket from the arm that attaches to the wall by unscrewing the Allen slot on the front side. This is very helpful if the handrail bracket is in the way of your screw or toggle bolt.Unfortunately, this basic info was not included, so I had to redo and work around this until I figured it out. That’s the reason for taking a couple of stars off my review.Finally, installation is a lot of work. If you’re not sure of your DIY skills, I don’t know if it’s something to take on.I’m terms of appearance, they look fine. Personally I think the tubes are too big and it’s not as elegant as I would prefer, but an improvement on the old, outdated wood handrail it replaced.

I ordered this railing in 12' length. It was cut into 2 equal 6' sections. This came with 5 mounting brackets and the small self tapping screws to attach the railing to the brackets. As the ad indicates, you will need to purchase your own screws to mount the brackets to the wall. Despite others commentary, self tappers go in very easily. I would purchase this railing again for any application and I am very pleased with the finish.

The look and feel of the installed railing is great. I’m happy with the finished product. This would be 5+ stars if not for some workmanship issues, wrong hardware supplied and weak instructions.The self tappers I received were #8 x 1”- too big to seat into the countersunk bracket holes. I bought some #6 screws which fit perfectly and were easier to install. (You can see them in the photo of the installed bracket). Regarding workmanship, my complaint is the sharp burrs on some of the bracket holes. Easy to fix but easier to do right at the factory.The install looks great, however, and I would buy this again.Install Tips: mount the brackets to the wall first, starting from the center where the railing joint meets. Line them up using the railing nested on the brackets (I taped the railing to the brackets to hold in place). Last op is drilling and screwing into the handrail with the self tapping screws. To make the drilling into the railing clean and easy, use a #3 center drill to start the hole.

These handrails are quality items. I am happy with my purchase and would probably buy them again. There are, however, some things for others to consider: color, screw hole covers, installation, and metal hardness. Color: the item is pretty 'true' to stainless steel color (even though it is aluminum). This means it has a bit of champagne color to it -- its not as silver as, say, a chrome. Screw hole covers: I was hoping the hardware would include fascia / cover plates to slide over the three screw heads which go into the wall for each mounting post. Some of the pictures show these cover plates, but according to the manufacturer they are no longer availablle and not included. Installation: is a little tricky. You need to drill the holes for each mounting plate for each post. The metal is soft and drilling into it isn't hard, but you really need to use a drill press (and also need to hold the pipe tightly) to drill each post's holes (2 are required per post) with the necessary precision. The end caps will not stay in place on their own -- you need to use some sort of glue or caulk (and something to hold them in place while the stuff cures). Metal hardness: there isn't much of any, so be careful how you handle the pipes -- they scratch/gouge pretty easily.

I purchased the 13 foot hand rail and I am totally dissatisfied with it. You need power tools to screws provided by the manufacturer to the the rod. It is not as easy as they describe it and it cost me time and money to buy what I though would be the solution: an electrical powered drill instead of my battery operated drill. Not so, even with a more powerful drill I am not able to make a dent in the rod. Now I read from one of the reviews that I will need a Press Drill to make the holes. This is not explained by the manufacturer, so I deem this to be false advertising. The other problem I have with Aress is that in order to return the item, I will have to pay for shipping . Considering the weight and size of my 13 feet handrail, that could be costly. My other option is to call an handy man in, and that will cost me easily at least $150.00Terrible experience.