Choosing A Stair Railing Kit
Whether you're building a new home or simply renovating, your staircases need railings. Custom professional installation can be very costly, and working with individual railing pieces could become very complicated or lead to safety issues. Another DIY option for replacing or adding railing is using a stair railing kit, which packages all the necessary pieces together in pre-measured and pre-cut lengths, ensuring a safe and beautiful railing. It's easy to choose the right railing kit for your home -- just choose a style, ensure safety and compliance, take some measurements, and install it.
Step 1: Choose a style.
Stair railing kits are available in many different designs and styles to fit any interior design scheme. When choosing a kit, it may be helpful to limit your search to models that have a similar style to your stairs and ultimately, the rest of your home. Stair railing kits are available in a wide variety of materials (such as different types of wood, metal, or even composite materials), and some are designed so that you can finish them before or after installation, so your railing can truly be a part of your home design.
Step 2: Make sure it's safe.
It's always important to consult building codes when replacing or installing a new railing system. You may have special considerations, as well, such as children or pets, that may be a factor in your final choice of railing kit.
Step 3: Determine how much railing is needed.
Using the rise (height) and run (depth) of your stairs, determine how much railing you'll need for your staircase. Most manufacturers provide tables to use as a guide for figuring out what types of kits and add-on accessories will work best for your staircase. Most commercially-available stair railing kits come in pre-measured lengths and heights, making it easy to figure out how many kits will be necessary for your job. Some kits are even designed to be shortened to exactly match staircase length.
Step 4: Installation
Railing installation can vary depending on manufacturer and model, so it's very important to thoroughly read any directions included with your kit.
In general, each kit should include newel posts, balusters or infill, and a handrail. Some kits come pre-assembled, but it's still helpful to know a little bit about these pieces. Newel posts are the vertical pieces at the beginning and end of a rail length, which provide an anchor point for the railing system. The handrail is, of course, the top railing section. Balusters are the smaller vertical posts that sit underneath the handrail. Some railing kits will include an infill material instead -- something like glass or acrylic panels. These pieces are what provides a barrier underneath the stair railing.
Stair railings can add safety and a little aesthetic flair to any staircase. Instead of paying for a custom professionally-installed staircase or piecing a railing together from individual parts, consider using a railing kit. You can also get more information at sites like http://www.staircaseandrailingstore.com.