Add a handrail to a staircase

Tom Hanks, owner, 24/7 Express Handyman Service · Updated September 2026

24/7 Express Handyman Service adds stair handrails in Salt Lake, Park City and Heber. 34 to 38 inches above the stair nosings is the ADA height range for the top of a handrail. (ADA Accessibility Standards: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (U.S. Access Board))

What stair handrail costs

Salt Lake City & Millcreek	from $205
Park City & Summit County	from $225
Heber Valley & Wasatch County	from $225

Stair handrail in Salt Lake City & Millcreek starts at $205: the 2-hour minimum at $95/hour ($190) plus the $15 fuel surcharge, with no dispatch fee. Time past 2 hours is billed in 30-minute steps. Larger parts are billed at cost plus 25%.

Full price sheet and estimator

Call now

(801) 999-0827 Text photos

Answered 24/7 by Tom or his dispatcher.

24/7 Express Handyman Service confirms the address, the zone rate and the dispatch fee, and takes a card, before rolling.

Quick answers

How high should a stair handrail be?

Between 34 and 38 inches above the stair nosings, measured to the top of the rail, under the ADA standard, which is a practical target for home stairs too. Keeping the height consistent along the whole run matters as much as the exact number.

Should stairs have a handrail on both sides?

For older adults or anyone unsteady, yes. Rails on both sides let a person hold on with the stronger hand going up and coming down, and give something to grab whichever way they start to fall.

How far should a handrail sit from the wall?

At least 1 1/2 inches of clearance between the rail and the wall, per the ADA standard, so fingers can wrap around it. Round rails between 1 1/4 and 2 inches across are the size range the standard allows for a good grip.

Carpeted house staircase with a dark wooden handrail — Photo: NPS, Public domain

What 24/7 Express Handyman Service does on site

Add a wall-mounted handrail to open or enclosed stairs, with every bracket fastened into a stud.
Install a second rail on the other side so both hands have support going up and down.
Return the rail ends to the wall so sleeves and bag straps don't catch.

How it works

Measure the stair run and mark a consistent rail height along the nosings.
Locate studs along the stairwell and set the bracket positions into them.
Cut, mount and return the rail, then check that it is continuous, rigid and easy to grip along its length.
Referred out: rebuilding failing stairs, stringers or a structural guardrail goes to a licensed contractor.

When to stop and call

If a handrail wobbles, has pulled a bracket out of the wall, or is missing on stairs someone uses every day, treat it as a fall risk now. 24/7 Express Handyman Service can re-anchor it or add a new rail into the studs.

What happens next

The written scope and price come first; rail length, sides, height and finish are agreed before brackets go up.
Photograph the damage before anything is moved and keep every receipt; 24/7 Express Handyman Service provides an itemised invoice your insurer may ask for. The dispatch fee and job cost are paid by you on the day.

Every job 24/7 Express Handyman Service takes on is under $3,000 including labor, materials and any change orders (Utah Code §58-55-305); a change that would push a job over that line is referred to a licensed contractor, not written up as a second job. plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas appliance / combustion system work is referred to a licensed trade.

Sources

ADA Accessibility Standards: 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (U.S. Access Board) — retrieved 2026-09-23

All sources