How to remove iron railing from a concrete staircase?

by admin on August 6, 2010

I am planning on havening my concrete stair case in front on my house redone in stone. I have some friends of the family who are masons that are willing to do the work but need me to remove the iron railings. The railings seem to just be bolted on with some type of square head bolt. They are rusted and have no idea how I will remove them. Fist off will they even screw off before I waste my time or is it some type of stake with a square top that just gets cemented? If it should screw off what tool would work best? I just tried for a second to use an adjustable wrench but when I pushed since the bolt head is so old and rusted the wrench just slipped off and started to strip the head. I don’t now what to do any pointers and how to approch this?

Get a reciprocating (Sawzall)saw and cut off flush with the cement. you will then have to deal with whatever anchors are imbedded in the concrete but you would have the same thing if the bolts would’ve came out.

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

sensible_man August 6, 2010 at 8:48 pm

The bolt may go into a lead anchor. Try a 12 point socket to prevent stripping the head. You may end up grinding the head off anyways if the lead strips out while turning the bolt.
References :

Bricky Local 9 PA August 6, 2010 at 9:24 pm

just go ahead and snap the tops off and remove the flange and pipe…you can re-drill for a new flange after they stone it…
References :

DAN Y August 6, 2010 at 9:53 pm

Get a reciprocating (Sawzall)saw and cut off flush with the cement. you will then have to deal with whatever anchors are imbedded in the concrete but you would have the same thing if the bolts would’ve came out.
References :

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: