FAQ

Austainless is an Australia-wide supply-only business for our standard stainless steel handrail and balustrade range - as such we can't site measure or offer install. Our kits are modular and designed for installation by any competent DIYer or general handyman. If you can provide measurements / sketch / photos, we can quote a complete kit for simple installation. The only exception is that we can offer installation for our FlexMesh product.

316 "marine grade" stainless steel is used throughout our range. 316 grade offers significantly better corrosion resistance, which matters for coastal and harsh outdoor environments. Whilst 316 is marine grade, there are still important selection and maintenance requirements for coastal areas - please refer to our care & maintenance guide. 

We stock tube & fittings for two railing diameters; 50.8mm (standard, most robust - the default for posts and rail) and 38.1mm (lighter-duty, often preferred for grip - e.g. handrail intended for elderly or mobility-assist use). Both tube & fittings are available in mirror polish or satin finish.

Satin finish is our default option, with a nice, brushed look finish that doesn't show fingerprints easily. For coastal or harsh/high sea-salt exposure locations, we generally recommend mirror polish, as it has superior resistance to tea-staining and requires less maintenance.

MARS (Mobility Access Railing System) is our patented (AU2020210177), no-weld, DIY ramp handrail kit in 316 stainless steel, designed to AS1428.1 accessibility requirements. It is designed for post centres at a maximum of 1500mm. Currently available in 50mm satin finish.

Our standard DIY handrail kits are made by default to a 900mm overall handrail height. A different height can be accommodated on request — just let us know when you enquire. The standards for handrail height in Australia nominate a height range of 865-1000mm.

No — our standard post assemblies and handrail kits already include both bugle batten screws (for timber) and masonry plugs (for concrete/masonry), so any normal mounting surface is already covered. If you order individual fittings and require us to supply fasteners to suit, you can add one "INSTAPACK" to cart for every two post bases and we'll include the fasteners in your order for the bases and post-top fittings.

Generally, around 1200mm centres is appropriate, stretching up to a maximum of 1500mm only where site constraints make 1200mm impractical. This is based on 3.2mm balustrade wires spaced at 80mm centres.

For a fall height of 1–4 metres (where balustrade is required), our standard configuration is 11 wires at 80mm maximum spacing, giving a 960mm wire zone plus around 40–50mm handrail for a 1m total height — the typical minimum required.

We recommend keeping individual wire runs to roughly 10 metres or less (except system K2); longer runs are broken into sections using a centre post. Individual lengths of handrail tube run up to 2900mm before a joiner is needed on a straight run.

Grommets are only functionally necessary where stainless wire passes through a non-stainless metal post (e.g. aluminium or mild steel), to prevent galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals. On timber or stainless steel posts, grommets are purely cosmetic. Grommets do not seal or waterproof drilled holes — for sealing timber post holes, we recommend a clear silicone sealant (not supplied by us).

No — we do not supply into pool fencing applications. Our balustrade and handrail systems are designed for general fall-prevention use (decks, balconies, stairs, ramps & verandahs), not pool safety barriers, which are governed by separate compliance standards.

We supply hardware designed to help meet relevant Australian standards (including the NCC/BCA and AS1428.1 for accessible design). However, overall compliance for a given installation depends on the whole build — post spacing, fixing method, site conditions — which we don't control. We're happy to reference the relevant standard as a guide, but we're not able to provide a compliance sign-off for your specific installation.

Same-day or next-business-day turnaround for standard balustrade/handrail quotes. MARS/FlexMesh enquiries typically take 1–2 business days. Turn-around time is dependent on receiving a legible plan/sketch with dimensions for your project. Site photos are also very helpful if available.

Yes, please refer to our terms and conditions for warranty info. It's important that you follow our care & maintenance guide to ensure your stainless stands the test of time.

Please contact us immediately via email should anything arrive faulty or damaged, including photos.

Yes, we regularly ship to all corners of Australia. We can ship internationally upon specific request via email (not via web-store).

Shipping charges are calculated based on the weight of the items in your cart.  If your total order weight exceeds 75kg, we will need to manually quote your order to ensure you receive the fairest rate.

Yes, this is certainly possible. Simply order online, send us an email requesting a pick-up and we will refund any shipping charges back to you via our webstore.

We can usually ship your order within 1-2 business days. Delivery usually takes another 1-2 business days for Eastern capital cities, while regional & other areas can take up to 7 days depending on location.