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Design Dilemma The Old House

Stairway handrail placement advice

3 years ago

After living here two years, it is past time to install a handrail from my main floor to the second floor. The space was originally a walk up attic that a previous owner converted to a master suite about twenty years ago. There has never been a handrail for these stairs and I need to determine how and where to put one.

My partner and I can install the railing but I haven't figured out a good placement. My original thought was to place it on the right wall but there is a light switch just about the same height as a standard railing. On the other side, the lower placement is easy but I don't see how to finish out the top placement. The newel post is the height for the upstairs hall railing, not for the stairs ending in a landing. If it matters, the door at the bottom closes against the bottom stair. The doorknob is only for looks as it is a friction fit closure, just requiring a slight push to open.

Any ideas on handrail placement for this space? For better function, the handrail probably should be on the newel post side. We are both right handed and the railing would be more useful for going down than going up.

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Comments (6)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
We put ours on the opposite side
kudzu9
3 years ago
Forget about whether you are right-handed, that is a non-issue. Either wall would be fine. Typically, code requires the top of a handrail to be no less than 34" above the stair nosing and no more than 38" above it. Check how that relates to the light switch location.
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User
3 years ago
If you put the handrail on the side that has the door it would be continuous the length of the flight. For me, that would be more comfortable to use.
rwiegand
3 years ago
Move the light switch if necessary, sliding it up a few inches is easy.
Lyndee Lee
Original Author
3 years ago
The center of the light switch is at 34 inches above the nosing. Moving the switch is not nearly as easy as it might be in many houses.

This is a 4 inch square metal box with a single device mudring, fed from above with conduit. If the box is moved, it will be a challenge to patch the plaster and get a reasonable close match to the surrounding wall texture.

I am thinking my approach will be to put up the railing at 32" high, just under the switch. I am vertically challenged, so a shorter handrail works for me. Inspectors here typically don't fuss about height or closed ends in older houses as long as there is a railing in place.

I was hoping someone might have a really interesting way to connect to the existing handrail. One advantage of using the opposite wall is I don't need to match the stain too closely.
houssaon
3 years ago
I would pit the railing on the right wall. I think there are simple railings you can buy at a home supply store. Put it up ASAP.

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