Beverly, I agree I love the black wrought iron. But where would you mount them? Those stairs are so narrow.

Great house! i think you are going to need something totally custom so I would look around and see if there is a firm in the area that could so it - I wonder about starting wide on either side of the stairs and then swooping the railing up each side (not on the stairs themselves) -sorry for the terrible drawing lol - in any case I think a local pro/artisan could do it

We are in the process of getting a wrought iron rail. We also have a similar set up.

My husband came up with a plan.

A small piece of metal will be installed in the brick, then the rail attached that.

A piece will be attached where that mark is. It will go out then up.

We didn't want anything drilled in the blue stone.

I live it as is and its been this way forever, but we are now older and thinking

Also this was never up to code.

No need to do two rails.

Thank you all!!!

It doesn’t look like your steps (inside the side walls) are more than 42” - 48” wide? If true, you may want to mockup various railing solutions. A railing mounted on the inside of the wall will narrow the inside step width even further. A railing mounted over mid-wall may not have enough clearance for the bottom rail due to the squared-off side wall.

This being Maine you really need something that people can grab the moment they step out the door but also something to grab at the first bottom step. You might need to get a local iron smith to do a design for you. I'd be thinking in this direction for the right side of the steps, but with longer rails and perhaps 2 poss

I would give the mailman a break and have a box at the foot of the steps or elsewhere within non-stair climbing reach.

Someone could make you something prettier than this but this is a good safe concept, and you wouldn't need the swingout section at the bottom

Great idea! Thank you.

Find a wrought iron specialist in your area so you're adhering to local code. I'm sure in Maine that isn't hard to do with all the old architecture. This guy for example does interesting stuff. Just google, there's a lot of them out there. I think you'll find folks who do this work are super creative and love a challenge.

How long have you been in the house? Having a top step even with the floor isn't code in New York, and I think that is common in northern states. It's too easy for rain, snow, leaves and who knows what else to get in. You'll notice the posted examples have the top step a few inches below the door sill. That's standard.

The narrowness of the steps doesn't really make that much difference in this case because you are funneled right into the door opening which is 36", actually a little less including the stops and the edge of the door unless that door swings completely back against the wall.

I would do something completely plain. It does not need any pickets because it's only three steps, I think. Nothing you can get your sleeve caught on.

Following

I like Palimpsests rendition above with two rails. When I get to slipping and falling the more grab bars the better!

Agreed!

The grab is too low on the rendering. In real life it can be corrected but don't make people reach forward and down on an icy day to get hold of a rail leaving the house. Hand rain should be level reach coming out door.

You only need one

Exterior iron railings · More Info

rail not two.