How to choose a railing for different types of stairs

According to safety rules, any staircase with more than three steps must have a railing. Our tips site will tell you what such fences can be, in which case you can refuse them. We will prove to you that stair railing can also serve as an excellent decorative element..

First, let’s define that all stairs are of two types:

1. Closed. They are sandwiched between the walls, as in the first photo. It is clear that they do not need a fence – there is simply nowhere to fall. On such stairs, they often make just a railing, without balusters. The railing runs along the wall and serves as a support for everyone who finds it difficult to climb, for example, small children and elderly residents of the house. By the way, some homeowners make two rows of railings at once – from 90 centimeters – for adults, about 68-73 centimeters – for children;
2. Open. Do not adjoin walls. Here they need a full-fledged fence, without it it is simply dangerous to use the stairs. Today, many designers are opting for open staircases with a safety railing, but no support rails. They can look very interesting..

Here are two more illustrative examples of two types of stairs – in the first case, only the railing was required, attached directly to the wall, without support from below. And in the second, a solid fence was used, going from the floor of the first floor to the second. Protective barrier made of metal rods.

If the staircase is adjacent to the wall only on one side, then the fence, of course, is installed only on the opposite, open side..

If the staircase has a short lower span, then it is on it that you can do without railings and fences. In this case, the whole structure seems a little lighter, does not clutter up the space. And the absence of handrails does not affect safety, since there are not many steps on the lowest span. Often they are made slightly wider than on the rest of the stairs..

Sometimes you can do without railings and fencing if the staircase is very flat, goes at a slight angle upward and has wide steps – from 1 meter.

You can do without railings in the case of a closed spiral staircase located in the corner and adjacent to two walls. If there is a central support – a metal pole that goes along the entire height of the stairs, then you can hold on to it during the descent and ascent.

Now let’s move on to the choice of material for the stair railing:

• Wood. Inexpensive pine, larch, elite oak, beech, alder, ash, maple – the choice is very large. In the case of a wooden staircase, this is a logical choice, but there are also combined options, when wooden fence slats are adjacent to a base made of another material;

• Glass. Of course, hardened, safe. Such a fence literally dissolves into space. And if completely glass stairs, about which the portal has already written, are a rarity, then glass fences are used more often. They are loved by designers for the opportunity to make the stairs less massive visually, but at the same time safe;

• Metal. Strong fence, which can be very different – forged openwork, steel pipes, thick wire, metal profiles. The choice is also great.

Of course, combined fences are often found. For example, metal balusters and wooden railings on top. Or glass base with metal tube.

In many ways, the choice of a fence for a staircase depends on the style of the interior of the house as a whole. Agree, a brutal staircase made of concrete and metal will look out of place in a classic interior. As well as a solid wooden staircase in a room designed in a laconic minimalist style..