Question regarding wainscot running along stairwell

[Spike!]

Hi Guy's,
A very good friend of mine is giving me a substantial amount of work to help us out. Among all the work I'm doing frame and panel wainscot on both walls of stairwell going to 2nd floor. The width from wall to wall is 36". Presently there is only a wooden handrail at 36" on the right side wall when walking up the stairs. The handrail just due to it's ugliness alone is going. Question?? Do I need a handrail at all on a 36" wide step (probably) right? And if so what is a good way to tie in the railing to the wainscot. The wainscot will have a 2 1/4" cap.

Thanks a ton.

[tjbnwi]

Yes you need the rail.

If you can, keep the cap height where you can incorporate the rail and cap into one piece.

If not a nice rail and bracket will have to do.

If it is painted make sure you cover the rail paint with urethane to make it easier to clean and longer wearing.

Tom

[archmolding]

Build the wainscoting higher than the rail. Then incorporate the hand rail so it centers into the top rail of the wainscoting. Have the mounting brackets fall onto the muntins or end stiles. Then have cap be high enough so that it doesnt interfere with the hand rail. It shouldnt because of the brackets. That way it looks really custom. Then post pics for us to see!

[Born to Build]

I'm with Jesse on this. Have the new railing brackets handy when you lay it all out and I would even grow the width of the top rail so that the brackets and the railing coincide,meaning level with the chair rail cap, or centered, Mock it up first. Sounds like a great project!! Good luck!

[Spike!]

Thank you guy's...Knew I could count on expert feedback here.
Will post pics when done.

[Dave R]

Spike,
NC building code requires a handrail.
It has to be not less than 30 inches and not more than 38 inches high as measured vertically from the sloped plane adjoining the the tread nosing.

Handrails have to be continuous for the full length of the flight, from a point directly above the top riser of the flight to a point directly above the lowest riser of the flight.

Handrail ends have to be returned into the wall or terminated in a newell post. Handrails adjacent to a wall shall have a space not less than 1 1/2 inches between the wall and the handrail.

You don't want your customer or their children falling down the stairs and sueing you because you took down the handrail.

[Spike!]

Spike,
NC building code requires a handrail.
It has to be not less than 30 inches and not more than 38 inches high as measured vertically from the sloped plane adjoining the the tread nosing.

Handrails have to be continuous for the full length of the flight, from a point directly above the top riser of the flight to a point directly above the lowest riser of the flight.

Handrail ends have to be returned into the wall or terminated in a newell post. Handrails adjacent to a wall shall have a space not less than 1 1/2 inches between the wall and the handrail.

You don't want your customer or their children falling down the stairs and sueing you because you took down the handrail.

Thank you Dave,
It's a beautiful home in Myers Park. The handrail will be replaced. I'll tie it into the stiles of the frame and panel wainscot and the top of the handrail will be about 4" below the chair rail but at least 30" from nosing.

Thanks for your input.
Where are you located in Charlotte?

[MitreIt]

This is how I handled a similar situation awhile back.
Did pretty much exactly what was described.

[Dave R]

Thank you Dave,
It's a beautiful home in Myers Park. The handrail will be replaced. I'll tie it into the stiles of the frame and panel wainscot and the top of the handrail will be about 4" below the chair rail but at least 30" from nosing.

Thanks for your input.
Where are you located in Charlotte?

South Charlotte, near Matthews.

[archmolding]

You could make some really trick custom newel posts that build into or break through the wainscoting! Now your talking custom! Then connect your railing to the newel posts. That also will help eliminate that slope transition. Or do a radius'd Hunting miters on that transition. If you have GaryK's wainscoting DVD in the special features there is a converstation with Gary and Dan Parish and they talk about how to make them and layout. I really want to do this on the next stair wainscoting job. Its really not all the hard.

Here is a Perfect picture showing both ideas! Of course its from My favorite book "The Elements of Style" This is a colonial detail so perhaps it would work for you.
You may even be able to make the wainscoting cap the handrail. I say that... but I know modern codes probably wont allow that...oh well. Perhaps look at historical options if there are any other types of brackets that could mount differently? But again, maybe the budget isn't there for all this detail. Next time perhaps...

I'm always excited about different details. The meantioned way from myself and others is how its typically done, and seen every where...Perhaps put your own twist on it. Make the newel posts! ;)

[Spike!]

Thank you Dave,
It's a beautiful home in Myers Park. The handrail will be replaced. I'll tie it into the stiles of the frame and panel wainscot and the top of the handrail will be about 4" below the chair rail but at least 30" from nosing.

Thanks for your input.
Where are you located in Charlotte?

South Charlotte, near Matthews.

I live in Southpark right near Charlotte Country Day School on Carmel Road.

[texastutt]

I live in Southpark right near Charlotte Country Day School on Carmel Road.

With all those strange looking people and do they sing that annoying song all the time? ;)

[kreg McMahon]

With all those strange looking people and do they sing that annoying song all the time? ;)

Took me a minute but I got it. Lol

spike. You will do a great job and I concur with the others to tie the railing into the top board. Good luck