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Home Decorating Design Dilemma

Staircase and balcony banister help please!

last month

Hello! I will be having caret removed and hardwood or LVP flooring installed . I will need to replace the balcony banister so the balusters are to code. I am thinking of sanding banisters and installing black metal spindles and painting the wood risers white. Wondering if I should keep the balusters white. Any input welcome!I

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Comments (5)

PRO
HomeScapes Home Staging San Diego
last month
I love the look of black metal spindles with a dark wood handrail.
Claire duffy thanked HomeScapes Home Staging San Diego
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last month
If the choice is hardwood or LVP, please choose hardwood. It's so much more attractive, and it's a natural product that you can refinish over and over. It will outlast most anything else. LVP is plastic and made with petrochemicals, which are horrible for living things and the environment and a disaster in case of a fire.

As for the stairway, it depends on the look you want whether you use wood balusters or metal. Either can be very nice--what look are you going for in your home?
Claire duffy thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
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The building code for stair guards and handrails and traditional good practice are both often misunderstood or forgotten by designers, builders and building inspectors. The IRC requires a Guard and a Handrail at a residential stair but they are allowed to be the same element if it obeys certain height rules. Nevertheless, the guard/handrail must follow the rules of each element. The primary difference is that the handrail should be continuous (ie, not interrupted by newel posts) but the guard can be discontinuous (ie, interrupted by newel posts). This is not only safer but more elegant in appearance. However, the height above the tread nosings of the handrail is allowed to exceed the maximum height at transitions (ie, a drop is allowed) and special endings are allowed at the bottom of the stairway (for instance, a handrail may turn outward and end against a newel post on the bottom tread). code text: "When handrail fittings or bendings are used to provide continuous transition between flights, the transition from handrail to guardrail, or used at the start of a flight, the handrail height at the fittings or bendings shall be permitted to exceed the maximum height. "The use of a volute, turnout or starting easing shall be allowed over the lowest tread."
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Comments (17)
I'm not going to give you a vote, but rather have you look at what feel you want. I don't think you can go wrong with either. One thing though if you do stained and change your mind later you can always paint it vs. the other way around. The first pic reminds me of a Swedish style and all white would be the way to go then. Your floors do give me that feeling. The second pic reminds me of an older style American home with the stained part. The only thing is the floors in the 2nd pic has a darker stain than what you're going for. Although I like the contrast of dark stain on items with light flooring (have it in my current house with furniture and my old house with light floors and dark stained trim). Just something to think about if you like it.
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Comments (4)
Worked many of those things here in a borough of NYC. In your case I would recommend that you leave the finish as is and clean those areas that will show. I have used solutions of various cleaning agents on them and essentially washed and 'picked' the offending paint off the finish (don't mix the cleaners...as that could give you a dangerous chemical soup). I simply experimented until I found stuff that works. Armstrong New Beginnings floor stripper works well; it is not recommended for painted surfaces...and that is why it worked for me many times; helps to soften the paint somewhat. Some cleaning solution and a nylon pad, such as that called a "dobie", may be what you may want to try. That and plenty of "elbow grease"...and patience.
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Comments (10)
Thank you all! I’m not there to measure but I feel like almost all of the wall will have to be built back in order for the railing to die right into it. It just seems a shame to build it all back! But we are still under construction so it won’t be that big of a deal. I’ve been trying to find pictures where it’s done well. Thoughts on this solution? If we just build the wall back over a little bit and curve the handrail to finish going up the stairs…? I’d still need some diminishing balusters (I just learned they’re called :) )
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Claire duffy
Original Author
last month
Thanks for your reply. I completely agree about the hardwoods and I am leaning towards them. This is a townhome a block from the beach so I'm concerned about sand etc. If I do the floors the banister needs to be updated so I am wondering should I replace with the same (closer set balusters) paint them white or black.
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PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last month
I also have a home very close to the beach, and the hardwood floors look beautiful even after 30 years. We've had dogs, kids, tenants, grandkids, and guests for all that time, and it's really a non-problem.

This is the look we have on our stairs, black handrail and white newel posts and balusters. It's the original staircase that had handrails and newel posts the same color as the flooring. We changed it up about 4 years ago. If I were starting from scratch now, I'd use plain square balusters and simpler newel posts.

black handrail staircase · More Info

Like these:
MEADOW HOUSE · More Info

Mountaintop · More Info
Claire duffy thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
Claire duffy
Original Author
last month
Thank you for the inspiration. Love that your floors are holding up!
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