Here we share indoor stair railing design ideas for inspiration.
Stair railing, in particular, comes with many options of materials and designs that you can use to set the tone for you house. As a staircase is one of the first things a guest or family sees when entering the home via the foyer it makes perfect sense that the stair railing makes a great impression. Below, we are going to share our stair railing ideas and interior design guide to help you understand and choose from the best options.
Stair Railing Height
When it comes to measuring your stair railing, you should take a look at the building codes for stair rails. While many of your home projects such as simple paint jobs or changing the flooring don’t concern building codes, jobs like installing stair railing or plumbing do. So, here’s a quick guide to help you get started.
The first thing that needs to be defined here, though, is stair railing versus stair guards. Simple stair railing has to do with the railing that works on an incline that you might hold onto to help go up and down the stairs safely. Stair guards or guard railing, on the other hand, is usually installed on flat flooring such as a landing.
As far as height, the handrail should be 34 to 38 inches high. This measurement is from the stair nosing to the railing. The stair nosing is the typically defined as the front of the stair step or tread on the edge of the step.
The railing shouldn’t protrude from the wall more than 4 ½ inches. This is important because you don’t want your railing to take up space in the walking path of your stair railing. This can prove to be a safety hazard, especially in instances when someone is carrying items with them up and down the stairs.
However, the stair railing should be no less than 1 ½ inches from the wall either. This number comes from the fact that you have to make sure that someone using the stairs could run their hand up the railing the entire way. Once again, this is to ensure safety on the stairway. While it isn’t a part of building code, most homeowners choose to place handrail brackets in such a position that they get in the way of hand movement on the railing.
If you have railings on either side of your stairs, you should make sure they are no closer than 27 inches apart. This, much like the conditions for railing distance from the walls, is to ensure that the stairway does not become too narrow for safety. The minimum railing distance if you have one railing and an opposite wall sits at 31 ½ inches.
Finally, the guard railing height has a minimum of 36 inches. This measurement is to ensure that people on the landing of the stairs don’t fall and injure themselves. If the landing on your stairs is more than 30 inches off the ground, a guardrail must be installed.
Types of Indoor Stair Railings
Wood is a classic choice for railing but the market has expanded over the years to include materials such as glass and different metals. Below we will take a deeper look into each of these materials.
Metal Stair Railing
The first option you have is wrought iron railing. These are a popular option as wrought iron is often used in ornate designs. The price paid for that is literal – wrought iron is more expensive than stainless steel or cable stair railing. You can depend on wrought iron to stay well-kept throughout the years, though, since wrought iron is often coated to keep our dirt and moisture.
The next option is stainless steel railing. This is popular because it is one of the most inexpensive types of metal stair railing. Despite it’s relatively lower price, stainless steel is still strong and stylish.
Black powder coated aluminum stair railings is another cost effective option that looks stylish in the home. Aluminum railings also come in bronze color or a champagne silver to match just about any interior style.
Cable stair railing is another commercially leaned upon option thanks to its durability. This type of railing is characterized by its horizontal “cables” instead of vertical posts like traditional stair railings.
Wood Stair Railing
It is important to note, though, that wood railings don’t have to be ornate in their styling. If you would prefer a simple wood railing, they can be made without excessive detail or superfluous design. The material they are made of is usually what sets a regal tone, not a complicated design.
As far as the materials used in wood stair railing, oak and cedar are most popular. Behind that, teak and mahogany are popular substitutes. Wood railing can be painted to achieve a different look. for instance painting wood a darker color can match a more contemporary design while white will be more traditional.
Glass Stair Railing
These are an interesting choice because they are often used to give the appearance of there being no railing while still providing the same safety features of other materials. The major drawback to this type of railing, though, is the cost.
Spiral Railing
Spiral staircases are frequently used in tight spaces that would not accommodate a normal staircase. They can be purchased as a kit.
Stair Railing Designs
Modern stair railing follows the same prospects of other pieces of modern design. It is focused on a sleek, minimalist design. These types of railings usually aren’t very ornate and they don’t take up any more room than they absolutely need to.
Contemporary
This home’s foyer with staircase has a wrought iron staircase railing with wood hand rails.
Modern
Rustic
Craftsman
Many people choose a railing that is pre-made by a manufacturer, this isn’t your only choice. You can also work with a contractor to create a custom railing that complements your home specifically. In doing so, it’s important to note that you will be accepting an extra cost.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Stair Railing?
The rest of the cost of replacing a stair railing is dependent on what material you use and how much of it you need for the railing. A wood stair railing is on the lower scale of costs with the cost of 50 feet of material being as low as $750. Glass railing is the most expensive choice for stair railing with the same amount of material being up to $42,500 at its highest cost.
Stair Railing Kits
If you are interested in DIY stair railing, you might want to consider a stair railing kit. These are particularly good for homeowners who are interested in installing their own stair railings but aren’t interested in or don’t know how to build your own from scratch. Each kit comes with everything you need to install and instructions. We will take a look at some simple instructions to install stair railing below.
Stair Railing Installation
When you want to install stair railing, the first thing you will need is measuring tape. This is, of course, because you want the stair railing to run the length of the stairs. The best way to do this is to hook the tape measure at the bottom of the stairs and measure the distance following up the steps. Since railing doesn’t usually stop and begin exactly at the end of the stairs. It is best to add 6 inches to your measurement so you have a 3-inch buffer at each end of your stairs.
You will also need a stud finder. This is because to hold your railing up, you will need to install handrail brackets. These handrail brackets should be, at most, 48 inches apart but you can usually find a specific recommendation on the hardware you are using. Make sure to mark where you find these studs.
Next, you will want to find the bracket height. To do this, you will want to lean the railing upside down up the stair. This way, you can line the railing up with the stud marks. Then, you can use a carpenter’s square to make sure you line up the screw holes on the bottom of the railing correctly. Be sure to measure the length the bracket and mark that many inches below the handrail height so once you screw it in, you’ll have the height you desire. If you use single-hole brackets, you will have an easier time installing them.
When you are ready to put the railing on the wall, it’s important to make sure that everything lines up correctly. A good way to do this is to take each area you marked earlier and highlight it by using plenty of tape. This gives you a clear indicator to ensure that your measurements match up the way you need them to.
From here, you can simply start to drill the railing into the wall. Of course, this is only a basic guideline. If you are looking to install a customized railing, for instance, the process might differ. Your best bet is to double check with any manufacturer’s notes that might come with your stair railing before you get started.
How Many Stairs Before a Handrail Is Required?
As a general rule of thumb hand rails should be between 34” and 38” inches. To get this measurement you can measure from the edge of the stair straight up to the rail. Measuring further in toward the step may provide an improper result.
The stair rail should also project no more than 4 ½ inches from the wall that it is mounted on. The minimum distance a rail should have for clearance between the rail and wall is 1 ½ inches to provide adequate room for holding the railing.
Furthermore the minimum distance between two railings should be no less than 27 inches. This provides adequate room for a person to climb the stairs while carrying items without hindrance. If your staircase only has one outside rail and a wall on the other side the minimum distance should be no less than 31 ½ inches.
For outdoor landings, balconies, porches or decks it’s necessary to have a minimum height of 36” inches for guardrails when a drop off is more than 30” inches in height. For exterior decks or landings with less than 30” of height it is up to the builders discretion as whether or not to build railings. However, it is advisable that guardrails are added to avoid potential injury.
Painting Stair Rails
The first thing you should do when you are painting indoor stair railing is to put primer on it and let it dry. Then, you should sand the railing down to ensure a smooth surface for the paint. Make sure to clean the dust from sanding before you paint.
Once you start painting, you should be as thorough as painting anything else and just as careful – using drop cloths and taping any exposed surfaces to prevent messes and getting paint where you don’t want it.
For more information read about how to stain stair railing without sanding here.