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Stair Supplies

Handrails

by Andrew Kozlov

Handrail systems are incredibly complicated to install, even for veteran carpenters. That said, some handrails are more difficult to put together than others. The so-called continuous handrails are composed of straight boards connected to one another. After you finish the wood and attach the rest of your stair system, the connected pieces will appear to be a single continuous piece.

The handrails get connected to the staircase system by several parts. The balusters (or "spindles") vertically attach the handrails to the flooring of the staircase, otherwise known as the tread. According to domestic staircase regulation, the distance between the handrails and the floor should be a minimum of 900 mm. If the balusters are any shorter, you run the risk of engineering a staircase that doesn't provide enough side protection.

Installing a Handrail

While the balusters add an aesthetic touch to your staircase, they don't provide adequate support for the handrails. Indeed, what really anchors your handrails in place is something called the newel post, which is the large post at the base of staircase. If the newel isn't properly anchored to the floor, your staircase will wiggle and fluctuate when used.

Engineering a handrail for a classic one-story staircase is tough enough. However, when you start getting into circular staircases, spiral staircases, and stairs with multiple right angle turns, the construction gets much more complicated. Even if you have real working experience as a carpenter or construction worker, it may behoove you to contract out handrail installation to a certified professional.

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