Staircase Railings: Mistakes to Avoid-I forgot this one!

Hi! I just realized I forgot to mention an important mistake to avoid in my previous post.  Please forgive me!

Make sure the design of the staircase railing will allow you to install a child’s safety gate at both the upper and lower level of the staircase to prevent children from climbing the stairs.  Many parents and grandparents use a removable gate.  These gates are also used to prevent dogs from going up or down the stairs.

An alternative to the removable child’s safety gate is to have a custom gate made to match the staircase railing. When not in use and left open against the wall, this gate can be a decorative element to the staircase.

The custom decorative gate works well if you are hosting any type of open house or party and you do not want guests going upstairs.

Staircase Railings Part Five: Mistakes to Avoid

Welcome to the final post on staircase railings series. There are a couple of very important mistakes to avoid listed below. Many of the other mistakes listed are of an aesthetic nature. My goal is to present information that will prevent you from making any of these mistakes.

Most people do not realize the many choices they actually have when it comes to their staircase. One thing that is avoidable is for a homeowner to move into their home and be disappointed in the location of the newel post, the width of the staircase, the size of the tread, etc. These are all things that can easily be customized if the homeowners wishes had been known to the architect.

1. Make sure the distance between each spindle or baluster meets the requirement set forth by the building codes department. Also, the height of the railing must meet the building code requirement.

You do not want a child’s head to become stuck between two spindles or your pet’s head either.

2. Before deciding on an elaborate ornate design, consider the effort it will take to keep it clean. You don’t want a beautifully designed railing to be full of dust.

A good analogy is the wheels of a car. Some of the best looking wheels are intricate and to look their best need to painstakingly be cleaned by hand. Due to time and budget constraints a car owner will find they often drive around with somewhat dirty wheels.

3. If selecting an iron railing and adding a brass design element, keep in mind that the brass will occasionally need to be polished.

4. If any part of your handrail is attached to the wall, make sure there is backing in that wall for maximum support. See previous post on backing here. It is a good idea to add backing to  both walls so if an additional handrail needs to be added, it will be securely attached to the wall.

5. Be specific regarding the location of the newel post.

You have several options: Attached to the floor, on the first step, second step, third step, built into a step, etc.  Click here to see some of the options.

6. Be specific in stating whether you want an iron handrail or a wooden handrail (or other material).

If  your staircase railings will be iron, let your architect, designer, or builder know your preference on railing. You don’t want any assumptions. Click here to see iron handrails and click here to see wooden handrails.

7. Be specific regarding the circumference of the spindles or balusters and their shape.

You don’t want anyone making assumptions regarding what you want.

8. If your staircase will have a landing at a turn, make sure the width of that landing will accommodate any furniture you plan to move to upper floors.

9. Spend time noticing and measuring the width of your friend’s staircases so that you have an actual visualize on the width you desire.

10. Make sure the height of all rises is consistent from the first step to the top step.

I was in a home where the height of the riser changed at the landing midway up the stairs which throws off the cadence you have developed in your step thus having the potential to cause a fall. 

11. Specify whether you want an open sting(er) or closed one. Click here to see photos.

12. If you are a big footed family and need deeper treads, let your architect know before drawing the first floor plans so extra space can be allocated for the staircase.

13. If you want any type of lighting on the riser or tread make sure that is specified.  Often lights are placed in the staircase wall but in some cases the stairs have a lighting detail.

Feel free to leave a comment, I love hearing from you! …susan

Staircase Railing Series Part Four: Newel Posts & Other Design Elements

Whew! Did you realize up to this point we have climbed 52 sets of stairs! If each staircase averaged 20 individual steps, we have climbed over one thousand steps, (1,040 to be exact)!  Let’s quit climbing and take a look at some design element options you might want to consider for your own staircase.

I realize some of you reading my blog are architects, interior designers, and builders who speak a language and use terms that can intimidate others who read my blog. I tend to write my posts in descriptive layman’s terms so that all can understand. Quite honestly, there are times when I am puzzled by a term. I try to figure out why it is called what it is called and unsure of how to use the term. For instance, in the illustration below is a face string or face stringer as I have seen it also called. I am do not understand how the word string or stringer applies. If you know, please comment. There are times when I am not sure of the proper design term to use and do not have time to do the research. Scanning photos, then downloading them, then uploading to my post does take quite a bit of time, so please forgive me when I do goof. Feel free to leave a comment and correct me when necessary.

I happened upon a book I own titled The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture by  Rachel Carley which is full of illustrations showing readers how to identify and describe a given style. The illustrations also show different design elements and identifies the proper term for that element. Below are three illustrations found in Rachel Carley’s book which will help you identify the staircase terms. These are Queen Anne styles.

 

Besides the illustrations shown above, I came across two internet sites with illustrations and a glossary of staircase terms that may also be of help. Click here and here, too.

 

Isn’t the photo above a cool design. I think the staircase above looks like an optical illusion? How the heck is the “stack” of stairs supported?

 

^How do you like the design of this staircase? What a beautiful underside and the wood is divine. I think it is a grand architectural design element for a home.

Source: Veranda March/April 2007^

 

I am loving the distressed look of the face string and the outside of the riser on what appears to be a very traditional staircase in the two photos above. Also the finish on the spindles.

^The stained wood design on the outside of the tread above really stands out on the white paint.  Also, be sure to pay attention to the panels on the underside of the staircase.

^Yet another example of a design element on the outside of the tread.

The newel post above makes quite a design statement. It is hard for me to tell in this photo but it appears there is a design element that follows the design of the newel post on the face string of this staircase. Is it painted?

Source book titled Southern Style by Mark Mayfield

^More design elements for the outside of the riser.

Source: Traditional Home October 2006^

In the photo above is a combination of designs on the outside riser /face string.

^Instead of the staircase railing ending with a newel post as shown in the photo below, in the photo above, the railing makes a grand ending with a tapered wrap around design.

 

Above, the newel post ends up being just another spindle or baluster.

Photography by George Cott^

Source: Southern Accents March/April 2008

In the photo above, the newel post is located before the last step. Below it is positioned at the end of the last step on the floor with the entire post showing. In the second photo below even though the newel post is on the floor, it is positioned as part of the first step. As you can see, there are many options for newel post design and positioning.

Source: Beautiful Homes Winder 2005

Source: Traditional Home Holiday 2008

In these last two photos below, the bottom of the spindles or balusters are attached to a rake wall or knee wall cap (I have heard both terms).  In previous five photos the spindles or balusters are attached directly into the tread or step because it is an open       string(er) and there is no rake wall or knee wall.  You have the option of having an open string(er) in which the tread or step of the staircase is open on the side or you can have a closed string(er) in which there is a rake wall or knee wall or as I call it a “curb” on the side of the tread.  I know all of this lingo and terminology can be daunting. Often there are two terms that mean the same thing depending on what area of the country you live.  That’s why I like to present photos and illustrations which are a great tool in helping a client to explain what they want and then the experts can provide the correct terminology.

 

Photography by Lisa Romerein^

Thanks for visiting. I hope you have enjoyed the newel posts and other design elements. Please let me know what you think.  The final post of the staircase series will be the Mistakes to Avoid. My goal is to post it on Monday or Tuesday. 

The source of many of the photos shown is unknown. If you will contact me with the source I will add it or delete the photo.

Staircase Railing Part Three: Wooden railing and handrail

Welcome! Are you ready to see more staircases?

If you are building your dream home, remodeling an existing home, adding on to an existing home, or just dreaming about your dream home, the photos provided in my staircase railing series will help you see the many design, materials, and styles that are available. These will serve as good talking points when you meet with your architect, interior designer and builder.

So far in my series on staircase railings, I have shown you photos of iron railings with an iron handrail and iron railings with a wooden handrail. Now you will see wooden railings with wooden handrails.

Wooden staircase railing with wooden handrails gives you the ability to paint them any color, use a faux paint finish, or stain the wood. The railing and the handrail can be of the same paint color or finish or it can be different. Whatever works with your interior design scheme can be applied.

Besides the paint or type finish used, you also have a wide range of choices for the shape of the spindles or balusters. Perhaps you like a simple round spindle as shown in photo 1, 5 & 13 or a square spindle in photos 7 & 9.   The spindles can also be placed on a lathe and turned creating a custom design as shown in photos 2, 4, 8 & 10.  Yet another choice is a custom cutout in photos 3, 6, 11 & 12.

As you can see there is a multitude of options for you to consider in creating the perfect look for your home.  Please enjoy yourself as you scroll down. 

1^

2^

Beautiful Homes Winter 2005

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11^

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13^

So, please tell me in a comment which of the photos shown in this post is your favorite using the number shown below each photo.  Also, if your taste runs toward an iron staircase railing with an iron handrail, an iron staircase railing with a wooden handrail, or a wooden staircase railing with a wooden handle.  I would love to hear from you! 

BTW: I hope you enjoyed the napa cabbage salad.  If you have tried it, let me know what you think!   Blessings.  …susan

The source of many of the photos shown above is unknown. If you know the source, please contact me and I will add it or delete the photo if necessary.

Staircase Railing Part Two: Iron with Wooden Handrails

Welcome back to part two of my staircase railing series! Are you ready to climb twenty sets of stairs with me? Ok, let’s get going!

The staircase we will be climbing have staircase railings made of iron but with a wooden handrail.  There are lots of great iron designs as well as interesting types of wood used on the handrail.  My personal preference between the two is iron with a wooden handrail over iron with iron or brass handrail. That’s just me. What do you like?  

  

 

Southern Accents^

 

 

 

 

House & Garden June 19??^

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional Home November 2008^

 

 

House Beautiful October 2000^

Thanks for stopping by.  Next time, let’s climb some stairs with wooden railings. Please come back and join me.

The source for many of the photos used in this post is unknown. If you know the source, please contact me and I will insert it or remove the photo.