Handrails crafted
in timber, steel
& stainless

Under the National Construction Code (NCC) as applied in Victoria, handrails on a staircase must be between 865mm and 1000mm above the nosing of the stair tread. For landings and walkways, the required height is between 1000mm and 1100mm. For balustrades above a fall of more than 1 metre, a minimum height of 1000mm is required. These are the most common requirements, but specific requirements can vary depending on the building classification and when the building was constructed. We design all of our handrail systems to comply with the current NCC, and we can advise on the specific requirements for your project during the consultation.

In many cases, yes — replacing just the handrail is a practical and cost-effective upgrade. If your existing balustrade posts and balusters are in good condition and compliant, we can often simply remove the old handrail and install a new one in timber, steel or stainless. We'll assess the existing structure during the measure-up visit and advise you on whether the existing balustrade is suitable to retain. If it isn't — for reasons of compliance, condition or aesthetics — we'll give you a quote to replace both elements together.

Yes — curved, helical and spiral handrails are a regular part of our work. Timber curved rails are shaped using laminated bending or steam-bending techniques depending on the species and radius. Steel curved rails are bent on our in-house machinery. For spiral staircases, we fabricate a continuous helical handrail that follows the staircase geometry precisely. Curved sections are priced at a higher rate per metre than straight sections, reflecting the additional fabrication time — we'll include this in your fixed-price quote.

For outdoor applications, we recommend 316-grade stainless steel for most situations — particularly in coastal areas or environments with high humidity. 316 stainless has a higher molybdenum content than 304, which significantly improves its resistance to chloride corrosion (salt air). Powder-coated mild steel can be used outdoors but requires a high-quality primer and coating system and will need repainting if the coating is damaged. In practice, 316 stainless requires almost no maintenance outdoors and is our standard recommendation for deck and balcony applications within 10 kilometres of the coast.

The on-site installation of a standard straight handrail typically takes half a day. A full staircase with multiple flights, curves or returns may take a full day. The fabrication lead time in our workshop is generally 2–3 weeks from deposit. The total timeline from our first visit to completed installation is typically 3–5 weeks, depending on our current schedule and the complexity of your handrail. For new builds with a fixed builder programme, we ask for as much lead time as possible and will work with your builder's schedule wherever we can.

We do both — but our preference and recommendation is supply and install by our own team. Our installers know how our handrails are made and how to fix them correctly, which means the finished product performs and looks exactly as intended. We do supply-only for builders and contractors who prefer to manage their own installation, and in these cases we provide detailed fixing instructions and are available to answer questions. Supply-only orders are priced separately from supply-and-install; contact us to discuss your requirements.