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Stair rail height

15 years ago

Ok, we have a wrap around staircase that we are redoing. Problem is the railing on the wrap around part. There are four triangle shaped steps. Before it was an old iron post railing. Now we are using newels and wrought iron ballisters. The first 2 steps worked out OK, but the last two are a problem. The newel is in the middle of the run and the railing is 40" from where it starts, but then you go up a step and now it is only 32". I think we need to angle the railing up to the next newel, so it isn't too low.

Here are a few pics.

This is the old railing

This is the new railing so far

Another view

So it is the last picture that you can really see it. The last piece of railing on the left, is fine when it leaves the newel, but I think too short when it reaches the next newel.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Laura

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Comments (3)

snoonyb
15 years ago
Just the opposite.
The fact that the railing is for a "winder" and not a fixed landing requires the height to fall between 32" and 35" above the plane described by the continuous height of the tred nose.
laurmela
Original Author
15 years ago
See I knew there was something I didn't know!

I still think I need to have him raise up the edge on the far side, and lower it on the opposite newel. There is still another piece that goes from the newel to the wall, which should be higher.

Thanks,

L
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Be sure to sell or give away that beautiful old railing and not throw it on a heap. I happen to like it. But indeed, it might look better in black. The railing you have posted instead gave me some shudders. Quite a contrary style and not one I'd welcome in my home. Way too modern for a ranch home, is what comes to my mind. If you are really going to get a new railing, I like the one Judy proposed, although I wouldn't want it in white at your place. Perhaps in black and the railing that matches the wood of the stairs? Or maybe something like this?
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I’m not the OP but this question relates to my current dilemma. We are replacing treads on stairs and the “discussion” is stuck on the risers. Should they be stained to match or painted white. I have seen both but it seems more recent design is going with stained risers. Since the last time we tried to redo these stairs was 13 years ago and we couldn’t agree on a lot of things and scrapped the project, I don’t want to get stuck again. The pics are of our staircase ripped out carpeting, a pic with stained risers, and a pic with painted risers. Since we are going through the work and expense, I want to make sure we aren’t putting in dated design from the get go. The other point we are discussing is wood spindles vs metal.
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mightyanvil
15 years ago
The IRC requires that a guard rail along a stair run be a minimum of 34" above the nosings.

Since the guard occurs across the path of travel (and is not continuous) I would consider it to be substantially the same as a balcony or"raised floor area" in terms of safety and would make it at least 36" high. The 34" minimum height assumes the path of travel is parallel to the guard rail and this is obviously not the case for your stair. Codes are minimums and often do not anticipate dangerous conditions that are not typical so you should follow your own judgement.

I take it the winders are grandfathered. They would not be allowed by modern codes. Be very careful how you detail them especially the inside railing where the winders provide little to no foot space and falls are highly likely.

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