Installing Concrete Treads With Rails

Installing the Treads

• 1

  Line up the bolts on the concrete treads with the bolt holes on the metal angle tabs and lower the tread into place. The treads are precast with the bolts in the concrete, so there is no need to drill and add bolts.

• 2

  Hand tighten nuts onto the bolts from the underside of each stair tread. The nuts should be the same size as the bolts used, usually 3/8 to 1/2-inch nuts.

• 3

  Tighten each nut with a wrench until secure, but do not over-tighten the nut. Over-tightened nuts put too much pressure on the concrete treads, increasing the risk of cracking the treads.

• 4

  Continue installing concrete treads, working from the bottom to the top, until all treads are installed.

Installing the Rail

• 5

  Assemble the handrail according to the manufacturer's instructions. The pieces usually bolt together for easy assembly.

• 6

  Hold the rail in place on the concrete treads and adjust until plumb. Measure to ensure the base plates are in the same position on each tread and that all vertical posts in the rails are level.

• 7

  Trace each base plate with chalk to mark their positions.

• 8

  Drill pilot holes with a hammer drill directly through the holes in the base plate. Drill down at least 1 inch for each hole. The goal is to ensure the proper position for each hole. Set the handrail aside.

• 9

  Drill out each bolt hole further until the depth is 1/2 inch deeper than the length of each bolt. Brush or vacuum away the dust periodically to ensure the holes are clean.

• 10

  Set the rail back in place, lining the base plates up with the pilot holes in the concrete.

• 11

  Insert an anchor bolt in each hole and tap them down with a hammer.

• 12

  Tighten the bolts with a wrench until snug, but do not over-tighten.

• 13

  Check each vertical post of the rail for level. If a post is not level, loosen the anchor bolts and insert washers under the base plate to level. Retighten each bolt in the base plate.