Railing stairs drawing. How to fix balusters and railings: a wooden staircase with your own hands. Methods for attaching the handrail of the stairs to the wall

  1. Definition
  2. Types of fences
  3. Calculation of fences
  4. Height
  5. Width
  6. Distances

Stair railings ensure the safety of movement on the stairs during ascent and descent. Railings and balusters complete the design of the march, emphasizing the style. Railings and railings can be ordered from ready-made or make them yourself.

Definition

The railing is vertical structures installed along the edge flight of stairs. They ensure the safety of people during ascent and descent. The railing consists of several elements:

  • Handrail - top part on which a person's hand rests when moving.
  • Balusters are vertical posts that support a handrail. Extreme stand - curbstone. Handrails are attached to it in the lower and upper parts of the march.
  • Horizontal strips (string) - fences under the handrails - are located parallel to the movement of the march. Replace balusters.
  • Fixing system - elements for fixing the fence.

The main functions of railings and balusters

Guardrails must be installed on flights of stairs longer than 4 steps. From the side of the wall, the railing on the stairs may be absent, from the free side there must be. The elements are fastened securely so that the structure can perform its main functions:

  • Support. Stair lifts have a different angle of rise. People with different physical fitness overcome these obstacles. Stair railings should help people climb different ages, weight and physical capabilities to distribute the load on the legs during ascent and descent.
  • Security. Properly designed ladders not only ensure the stability of the climber, but also prevent falling in case of loss of balance.
  • Decor. Stair railings decorate the march and emphasize the style. It is important when choosing the design of wooden and metal handrails to combine them with the surrounding space.

Types of fences

Stair railing can be made from different materials and have a different shape, therefore, these structures are classified according to several criteria.

Fences can be:

  • metal;
  • wooden;
  • polymeric;
  • glass;
  • concrete;
  • combined.

metal railings and fence posts are made of aluminum or forged steel. The former are distinguished by impeccable brilliance and smoothness, the latter have decorative properties because they are custom made.

Wooden railings are most often found in private houses: they are warm to the touch, smooth, fit into any interior, and are affordable.

Polymer fences are made of rigid plastics, which are installed on special fasteners. Compared to other materials, polymer is the cheapest.

Glass railings are installed in public buildings: in shopping and office centers. They are made from tempered glass.

Concrete railings are suitable for entrance buildings, on grand staircases. Elements are cast from concrete in the factory, sometimes right on the construction site.

Combined fences combine several materials. The most common option is to mount wooden railings on forged or aluminum balusters.

Handrails differ in the method of installation:

  • A separate profile (tube, curly profile, rectangular) is a product that is attached to the fence structure with special parts.
  • Balusters and railings are a classic option for arranging a stair railing. They are attached to each other and fixed on the flight of stairs.
  • Modular ones consist of ready-made blocks (baluster or railing + handrail + fasteners). They are collected in accordance with the march plan on the spot.

By location, metal, plastic and wooden railings can be:

  • external, they are equipped on the street. The main requirement for materials for manufacturing is resistance to weather conditions;
  • internal fences in the premises can be made of any materials.

Calculation of fences

To make reliable railings, they must be correctly calculated

Height

The height of a wooden handrail is the main value that must be determined to ensure safety. According to regulatory construction documents, the height of the railing should be:

  • 0.9 meters for public buildings and residential buildings;
  • in areas where a fall from a height of more than 5 meters is possible, it is necessary to mount fences 110 cm high;
  • the railing of the stairs in a house or building with special requirements can be located at a height of 0.7 meters;
  • in children's institutions, handrails are installed at a height of 0.5 meters.

For institutions where there is a flow of children (schools, kindergartens), double fences of 0.9 and 0.5 meters are usually installed parallel to each other at a distance of up to 10 cm. This ensures comfortable movement for children and adults.

The height of the railing in a private house may not correspond to the norm; an individual determination of this parameter is allowed. To calculate your ideal height, extend your arm forward as you descend the march. Then measure the distance from the palm to the step. This is the ideal height for you.

Width

The width of the railing should be such that the handrail can be grasped. According to the standard, they are produced with a width of 30 to 70 mm; large sizes are also used for front stairs.

How to determine the handrail width that is comfortable for you: in case of a possible fall, it should be comfortable to grab onto the railing without the risk of injury.

Distances

The reliability and strength of the structure largely depend on the distance between the balusters.

  • The number of balusters and their parameters are determined by the size and weight of the handrail. When using flexible or heavy railings, balusters should be installed on the stairs so that there is no sagging of the profile or excessive loading of the supports. If spans of more than 15 cm are formed, it is necessary to install a protective bowstring parallel to the railing.
  • Balusters in classic version a wooden staircase is installed on each step, sometimes several at once.

  • For children's institutions, it is necessary to install supports on each step every 15-20 cm to prevent children from falling.

Production of wooden fences

For a summer residence or a private house, you can design and manufacture fences yourself. This will allow you to get an individual railing that matches the intent of the owner of the house. The cost of a homemade product is much lower than that of a purchased product.

A step-by-step plan for making a structure with your own hands.

Step 1. Drawing up a plan-scheme

If the house already has a finished staircase without a fence, the design must be made on the basis of its plan. If construction is just beginning, and interesting idea there are already railings, then the flight of stairs can be adjusted to these wishes.

A plan is created that takes into account:

  • ladder railing height;
  • type and step of balusters;
  • railing width.

Step 2. Choosing wood for the manufacture of constituent elements

For the production of balusters and handrail profiles, different types of trees are used:

  • The most durable wood is beech, ash and oak. It has a pleasant structure, expressive cut.
  • Wood is common and inexpensive. conifers- spruces, pines, larches.

It is undesirable to use soft hardwoods to create fences - the products shrink and deform when dried, covered with cracks.

The normal moisture content of wood that can be used for the manufacture of railings and balusters is 12–18%.

Step 3. How to make balusters

The method is determined by their shape.

They may be:

  • flat;
  • voluminous.

For the manufacture of flat balusters, processed boards will be needed. Hand saws and with a carving tool, a pattern is made on them. There are many examples, some ideas can be gleaned from the presented photos.

To make a volumetric baluster, you need a lathe. On rotating equipment, various chisels and knives cut out the desired pattern. A milling machine will help you get a deeper asymmetrical pattern that cannot be done on a lathe.

Step 4: Making the Handrails

To make a handrail, you will need a rectangular or rounded blank of different lengths:

  • corresponding to the span, if its length is small.
  • the span length can be divided into 2-3 parts for ease of manufacture and installation of the fence.

For spiral staircase the workpiece needs to be rounded by turning or split the length into many elements, in order to then connect them adhesive method. You can only round the end of the handrail.

Workpiece processing:

  • We grind a beam with a square section, round off and smooth the corners. The width of the railing should be convenient for gripping with a brush, the average is 6 cm. Relief can be given to a rectangular blank: grooves can be carved along the beam to facilitate gripping, decorate them with small details, but everything should be smooth, without sharp corners and burrs.
  • To obtain a round handrail, we grind the workpiece square section with cut edges lathe. You can give a slight relief, but it should be smooth.

There is another way to make handrails - gluing boards, if not suitable material. To do this, take boards of the same length, glue them together and, after the glue has completely dried, process the resulting semi-finished product using the methods listed above.

Step 5 Attaching the Balusters to the Steps

Installing balusters on a wooden staircase can be done in two ways:

  1. Self-tapping screws and bolts.
  2. glue method.

We will not consider the second option due to its dubious effectiveness, masters use it in special occasions. Glue will definitely be needed if the railing was made from separate fragments that need to be connected.

Before proceeding with the installation, markings are made on the steps where the balusters will stand. The wizard tells more about this process in the video:

To attach the balusters to the handrails, you will need screws or self-tapping screws 80 mm long, 10 mm in diameter and washers.

For fastening you need:

  1. Drill a hole for the screw in the step according to the marking.
  2. Prepare the same hole in the baluster.
  3. Put a washer on the screw and drive it from the bottom of the step.
  4. Attach and secure the stand.

The upper and lower end posts are attached in the same way to the screw, but welded to the embedded part on the landing.

When the installation of the balusters is completed, the guide is attached to them with clamps at the level of the handrail. Corresponding marks are made on the columns with a pencil, according to which the cut will be made.

In order not to damage the fixed wood, wooden linings should be installed under the clamps of the clamps.

Marked cuts can be made on a miter saw, other tools will not give an even cut at the right angle.

This process can be clearly seen in the video:

After installing the balusters, we prepare the handrail. According to the previously installed guide, we measure the angle of contact of the handrail to the extreme rack, cut it off on the prepared product. Then we make a groove for the mounting plate. Its width is taken as the diameter of the ends of the balusters, and its height is 5–10 mm. We attach the bar to the balusters fixed with clamps and the beam with self-tapping screws, sinking the hat in the material of the bar.

In the handrail with a jigsaw, we cut a recess under the bar. It will have a depth of 5–10 mm and a width equal to the width of the rail attached to the balusters. How to do it, look at the video:

It remains to fix the handrail on the rail. To do this, we launch the fastening elements from the bottom of the rail, attracting the prepared product with a little force. Stair railing done! We invite you to watch a short video.

The second floor in the house involves the presence of stairs. It is not enough to decide where it will be located, what type of steps will be, you also need to choose what type and type of railing for stairs will be. This enclosing structure defines appearance and style, which is very important for creating a harmonious interior.

Design, distances, dimensions

Railings for needed for more safe use, as they are a protective structure that prevents injuries. There are models of stairs that do not provide for the presence of any fences. They look, perhaps interesting, but using such a ladder is scary. Usually stair railing consist of several elements:

Such simple design and it has a lot of options. And it is the railings for the stairs that give them a special charm and originality, they set the style.

materials

The main structural elements of the railing for stairs - racks - are made of wood different breeds and metal. Handrails can be made of metal, wood and plastic. In the case of filling, additional materials such as glass, plastic, ropes, textiles and many others are added. But even more often, railings for stairs are combined - combining two or three materials in one product.

Wooden stair railings

Wood for the manufacture of railings on stairs has been used for a very long time. It is good because you can make elements in any style. It is possible with a variety of carvings, patterns - for interiors in classical style. Can be simple geometric shapes- for more interiors strict style. There is still the possibility of decorating / painting / varnishing in different ways.

Wooden railings for stairs can be not only traditional design….

What is even better is that you can make wooden railings for stairs with your own hands. If there is little experience in carpentry, you can find simple decor. Wood itself - due to color, texture - is quite aesthetic, so even simple products look great.

In this case, “simple” does not mean “bad”. The main thing is that the design of the railing fits into the concept of interior design. concise styles- minimalism, modern, loft - simple design fits better Figured balusters and decorations of supporting pillars - traditional forms of decorating stair railings

If we talk about what types of wood it is better to make railings for stairs, then harder varieties are preferable, with a pronounced structure: beech, oak, cherry. From conifers - cedar, larch. They make stair railings from pine and spruce, but pine products are too soft, you have to be careful, and spruce is hard to process. The rest of the breeds listed above, in principle, are also not a dream in processing, but they are very beautiful, so they usually turn a blind eye to complexity.

Metal railings for stairs

Metal railings are perhaps even more diverse. There are three ways to make metal railings for stairs: welding, forging, assembling from pipes and fittings.

Metal railings made of pipes and fittings and forged… style and… price difference

Moreover, “forging” is not necessarily a hot process. There are, which make it possible to make a wide variety of twisted and bent elements. Plus, there are possible “hot” processes. This in itself gives a lot of room for imagination. Also you can use different metals and rental:

  • Round or square bar.
  • Round or profile (square or rectangular) pipe.

In this case, the metal can be: ordinary black or structural steel, followed by painting with the most different colors, stainless, nickel-plated, chrome-plated pipes of various sections. There are even options with bronze or copper elements.

Floral motifs - not only flowers and leaves Geometry, which is emphasized by color ... Metal railings for stairs can be different style Complex, simple, geometric...

Since the metal is more ductile, they don’t make anything from it. Floral ornaments, geometric, fantasy, those that are even difficult to define.

Glass

In the usual sense, glass is a fragile thing, but a special one is used for stair railings - tempered or laminated. Laminated glass - duplex or triplex. This is a sheet of glass glued with a transparent polymer film. The technology is such that the transparency of the glass does not suffer at all, and the strength increases significantly. Similar material is used for cars. Even if at strong blow it will break, not scatter, and the fragments will hang on the film.

There are two types of glass stair railings: base frame (glass only) and when glass is infill only

Tempered glass is made using a different technology. It is heated to high temperature, then, blowing air from both sides, quickly bring to normal temperature. After such processing, it becomes many times stronger, withstands shock loads well, breaking, crumbling into fragments with smooth, not sharp edges.

In general, both types of glass are safe. In addition, they look good, since such structures do not look massive and heavy. Glass can be transparent, tinted, colored. If desired, you can make a drawing according to the type of stained-glass window. Since the filling is solid, this species fences can be considered absolutely safe. The remaining technological gaps of a few centimeters are not dangerous even for small pets.

And the staircase does not seem so heavy and cumbersome... There may also be a drawing on the glass... Almost a classic...

There are glass railings that have wood or metal supporting pillars, there are also handrails. These models can rather be called combined. For the most part, glass is placed between the pillars, and a handrail is made from the same material on top. Such railings turn out to be almost weightless, they do not block the view. They can be used both indoors and outdoors. They are especially good for balconies, loggias or terraces, as they do not interfere with the view.

There are also "pure glass" railings for stairs, in which there is nothing but glass. An interesting option for non-standard interiors. For these structures, duplex or triplex with a thickness of 10 mm or more is used, which increases their cost compared to the “frame” options, where you can install cheaper strained glass.

Plastic in stair railings

In stair railings, plastic can be used as handrails. Round, oval, rectangular plastic handrails - budget and practical option. Budget - because such railings are inexpensive, practical - because smooth plastic is easy to wipe, and it does not wipe, does not require replacement paintwork. The only thing that can damage it is a significant shock load. But it is critical for all kinds of pearls.

Metal stairs with plastic railings are one of the most practical and durable options.

Balusters can also be made of plastic. In this case, a metal core is inserted into the plastic (usually PVC). She will carry the load, and plastic - only decorative element. Stairs with plastic elements cheaper, but no less durable. After all, PVC, of ​​which stair railings are usually made, does not rot, does not lose its properties over the years. The material is unnatural, but practical.

Combined railings for stairs: beautiful options

A lot of unusual and decorative stair railings are obtained by combining two or even three materials. The combination of wood and metal, wood and glass, metal and glass, all three of these materials give an unimaginable number of options and variations.

Welding frames, inserting transparent glass into them is simple and effective With patterned glass, it looks no worse ... Wood, forging and glass - everything is harmonious and emphasizes the advantages of the "neighbors"

Scope of use

According to the location of the stairs are internal and external. Both those and others are equipped with railings. Typically, railings for indoor stairs have a more refined infill than outdoor ones, but this is not always the case. There are very beautiful forged or wooden railings for stairs to the second floor.

Selecting the type of design

If the house has a balcony, a terrace, it is logical if their fence will exactly repeat the pattern of the railing for outdoor stairs. The exception is usually the stairs to the attic. They try to make them less noticeable in this case, most often they use a simple ladder, which can be removed or laid along the plinth.

If there is a need to make a stationary lift, you can beat it, make it spiral or with turntables, arrange beautiful railings. The second option is to make a simple vertical staircase by welding small handrails on the sides. How this option fits into the design of the house is a question of architecture, but it is definitely cheaper.

Plastic and glass for street railings

If we talk about materials for the railings of outdoor stairs, then you can use any: wood, metal, glass, and plastic. When choosing a plastic handrail or filling, it is necessary to clarify whether it can withstand operation under sub-zero temperatures and exposure to ultraviolet light. If yes, you can put it without hesitation.

With glass it is even easier - it does not react to temperature or ultraviolet light. The only thing that can stop is its fragility. But, if you use tempered or laminated glass, this fragility is apparent. But the glass railings on the porch, balcony, terrace absolutely do not interfere with the view.

Features of metal on the street

With metal, not everything is clear, but everything is clear. If railings for stairs made of stainless, galvanized or nickel-plated pipes are chosen, you must first inquire whether they are intended for use on outdoors. Yes, there is such a "stainless steel", which is only for internal use.

If the railing for the stairs is made of ferrous metal, they will have to be painted. And you need to use paint for outdoor work. Each element must be carefully, to bare metal, cleaned of rust or scale, primed and only then painted. So there will be a guarantee that for several years the street railing for the stairs will look normal. The bad news is that the paint will sooner or later give up its positions, you will have to clean it up, prime it again and paint it. But this is inevitable and not news to anyone.

Treatment of wooden railings for outdoor use

With wood, everything is both simpler and more complicated. As you know, she feels good on the street, but also like ferrous metal, requires careful processing. Before installation / assembly, the elements of wooden railings for stairs are impregnated with protective compounds for outdoor use. Please note that some of them stain the wood in an uncharacteristic color (red, greenish, grayish). If you plan to paint the railing with a covering paint, this is not so important. But if you are only going to change the tone, make it darker or lighter, such “highlighting” greatly interferes, especially for light tones.

After the protective coating dries, paint/varnish/wood oil can be applied. There are few questions with paints and varnishes: it is necessary that they be suitable for outdoor work. Tone, degree of gloss choose according to your own taste.

About oil for wood (it can be written "for terraces" and something like that) it is worth saying a few words separately. It does not create a protective film on the surface, but penetrates between the fibers, creating a protective barrier several millimeters thick. Good this kind protective coating the fact that when updating, there is no need to delete the old one. Simply applied over clean, dried wood new layer. Everything, no removal of old varnish or paint. Grinding - only if necessary, if some places are wiped or damaged during operation. The disadvantage of wood oil is that it is expensive. But it's worth it.

Not always fences for balconies and terraces are provided during their construction. Sometimes, the need for a fence on the terrace arises later.

For example, you have small children, you need to protect outdoor terrace from the wind, or you just decided to change the color of the recreation area and the area near the house or in the country.

Terrace fencing options

To begin with, you should figure out what kind of fences are for terraces and balconies in general and for wooden terraces in particular:

1. By appearance

  • closed, designed to protect the veranda from the wind or prying eyes.
  • open - bearing more decorative than functional load.

2. By material

The choice of material depends on the overall design of the estate.

Synthetic materials

Valued for their ability to withstand temperature extremes. They have increased strength, and also put forward a minimum of maintenance requirements.

  • Terrace railings made of wood-polymer composite (WPC). This modern combined material is visually similar to dyed white or Brown color wood. At the same time, it is more durable, not subject to swelling and fading. This means it requires a minimum of maintenance. Today, WPC terrace fences are gradually gaining their customers.

  • . Polyvinyl chloride has also found its application here. The main attractive feature of such fences is cheapness. However, they are quite fragile, which prevents their wide distribution.

natural materials

  • . Such fences must be very elegant in order not to overload the structure and not increase the load on the foundation. Example in the photo

  • . Metal/steel is rarely used on its own, more often integral part metal fencing. However, there are also such options.

  • . Here the main element is tempered or laminated glass. Suitable for those who want to prevent dust from entering the terrace, protect themselves from the wind, and at the same time not restrict their view.

  • . It is not advisable to use such material for wooden terraces, because. it puts a heavy load on the foundation. However, it is quite suitable for balconies.

  • Terrace railings made of polycarbonate honeycomb or monolithic. Lightweight and transparent are becoming more common. This is facilitated by low weight, low cost and ease of manufacture.

  • – a stainless steel cable or rope stretched around the perimeter of the terrace acts as a fence.

  • - look beautiful and unusual.

  • Wooden railings for the terrace. The device of wooden fences has not lost its popularity, despite the difficulty in maintenance. Several factors contributed to this: availability, relative cheapness of the material, the ability to make it yourself, the ease of installation and replacement of individual sections, the ability to give the fence any configuration. In addition, no species can be compared in the number of variations with wooden fences for terraces.

3. By type of execution

Each material has its own approach to execution.

A fence for a terrace made of wood can be made in one of three variations:

  • Horizontal (i.e. horizontal arrangement of lintels, supports, balusters)



  • Vertical (i.e. vertical arrangement of lintels, supports, balusters)



  • Cross (i.e. cross / intersecting arrangement of jumpers, supports, balusters)



Despite the wide variety of varieties, the photo of fences for a wooden terrace shows that they all fit into these three types.

When choosing the type and materials for fencing, you should consider:

  • material compatibility with overall design site;
  • the weight future design;
  • requirements for operation and maintenance;
  • the availability of the material;
  • material cost;
  • the possibility of replacing damaged structural elements;
  • the opportunity to carry out work on the arrangement and replacement of the fence with their own hands.

How to make a fence for a wooden terrace

For the device you will need the following components:

  1. supports;
  2. balusters;
  3. railing for wooden terrace.

If the supports and railings carry a functional load, then the balusters, in addition, also serve as a decorative decoration.

Balusters for the terrace - photo with varieties


If the terrace is more than 30 cm above the ground, one or more steps must be provided.

If more than a meter, you will need a railing for a wooden terrace made of wood.

Building a fence for a wooden terrace with your own hands

  1. The height of the fence is determined, for the terrace the optimal size is about one meter.
  2. supports are installed. For horizontally arranged wooden elements, this is the place of their fixation. The distance between the supports should not exceed 120 cm. The gap depends on the type of construction and the weight of the individual elements, as well as on the wind load in the region. Supports can protrude beyond the railing and act as elements supporting the roof.
  3. install balusters. The frequency depends on the size of the baluster. It is generally accepted that the distance between the balusters on the terrace should be no less than their width.
  4. install railings.

How to make a staircase to the terrace with railings and railings

  • Calculation of the angle of inclination of the stairs and the location of individual elements


If the angle is too large, the stairs will be inconvenient to use. If small, it will take up a lot of space in front of the terrace. The optimal angle of inclination of the stairs is 45 o.

  • Making a kosour - the basis for fastening the steps.

  • Installation of stringers. The stability of the entire structure depends on the reliability of the fastening of the kosour.

  • Terrace stairs installation. The installation process is shown in the picture.

  • At the end, the installation of balusters and railings.

Terrace railings - photo



Conclusion

We hope you have learned from this article. useful information on the installation of railings and fences for wooden terraces.

Hello Semenych! I really liked your story about how to equip the stairs yourself - very sensible and even without grammatical errors, which is simply amazing in our time. I am writing to seek advice. experienced craftsman. The point is the following. We built a 2-story extension to old apartment. Due to financial difficulties, a primitive wooden staircase was built (so far without a railing). A young family with a 9-month-old child lives upstairs, while we, the old people, live downstairs. The child is very active, and the question arose about the device of the railing to avoid trouble. For the same financial reasons, we cannot afford to invite specialists to make wooden railings ourselves - there is no skill and knowledge. On the family council decided to make a railing in the simple version: racks - from a "square" metal pipe, spaced 0.5 m apart, filling between the racks - transparent polycarbonate 6-10 mm thick. The technical characteristics of polycarbonate (strength) seem to allow its use in this capacity. The problem is in its attachment to the racks. What would you advise about this and the whole project in general?

Sincerely, Izmailov Vladimir, Ulyanovsk.

Hello, Vladimir from Ulyanovsk!

The question, as they say, is certainly an interesting one. My grandson has exactly the same number of months as your grandson (or granddaughter?). And he climbs where he can and where he can’t at all. For such guys, an eye, but an eye is constantly needed.

The issue can be solved radically by exchanging floors for living. Which, of course, will not save in a couple of months from the child's running up and down the stairs.

The idea of ​​​​using a profile pipe and polycarbonate sheets for mounting stairs deserves attention. No one will give a 100% guarantee that such a ladder will not be broken by a child (meaning polycarbonate). But you can try to foresee all sorts of incidents.

I am interested in the statistics of child injuries in our country. There are many incidents with children who are injured on a swing, especially metal ones. Sometimes "smart" constructors make the swing so that between the swing stand and the armature on which the seat is fixed, there is a distance of about 10 centimeters, which is commensurate with the child's head. With all the consequences. Or the mosquito net on the plastic windows of the loggia does not have a secure fastening, as a result of which it may end up on the ground with a child leaning on it. And much more.

Many years ago my teacher, Dr. technical sciences, Grigory Illarionovich Leskov said the words etched into his memory: "Any mechanism or design must be designed for a fool." It meant not that all people are fools, but that everything should be like that, or strive for such perfection, so as not to provoke a person to any trouble in any case.

If you reached into the electrical panel, then when you open the door, the electricity should turn off. If you walk up the stairs concrete stairs, then ceramic tile they should not be slippery in any weather. If there is a staircase, then the more landings and turns it has, the less likely it is that a person "crashing" on the upper step should not reach the lower step.

This means that with any design of your stairs, it should not be steeper than 45 degrees, but it is better to have a slope of about 30 degrees. Have wide and low steps. And platforms two or three steps wide every meter, a maximum of one and a half, will not let you roll far.

I will not bore you with the calculations that must be made before you start building a staircase, especially since you don’t ask about it. Nevertheless - optimal in the individual housing construction steps are considered to be about 150 millimeters high and about 300 millimeters wide. At least such dimensions are in the old merchant and manor houses, as well as in monastic cells, or rather the stairs leading to them. And everything is made there from boards with a thickness of 50 to 70 millimeters. Racks-balusters on such stairs are installed, as a rule, at each step.

That is, if compared with your intention to install metal profile pipes every 0.5 meters, then their distance is slightly less. But since you intend to install a protective fence in the form of polycarbonate sheets between the racks, this is quite acceptable.

Thickness cellular polycarbonate it is better to take 10 mm, this is more reliable. They don’t argue about tastes, but I choose yellow from all the colors of polycarbonate, it even makes a joyful impression on a person even in cloudy weather and indoors, and there is a sheet of it (6 / 2.1 meters in size) only a couple of hundred rubles more than transparent.

For more economical use of the cut and reduction of material waste, the cell structure of polycarbonate sheets can be placed not strictly vertically with respect to the floor surface, but perpendicular to the plane of the stair string (unless, of course, you have stringers).

It is best to fasten polycarbonate sheets to metal racks from a profile pipe using self-tapping screws with a press washer. The self-tapping screw is taken with metal thread, not wood. Such a self-tapping screw has a point at its end - a kind of drill and can be wrapped in metal without first drilling a hole in this metal. However, first try to practice on the workpiece, which can then be thrown away. Otherwise, you run the risk, not commensurate with your efforts, to spoil the polycarbonate sheets and break them at the place of fastening.

If it doesn’t work out, then first drill holes in the places where polycarbonate sheets are attached to metal racks with a drill with a diameter a couple of hundredths of a millimeter smaller than the outer diameter of the self-tapping screw. And only then wrap the self-tapping screw. All this is done with an electric drill or a screwdriver and a bat or a head for a self-tapping screw.

So that the upper edge of the polycarbonate sheets does not spoil the hands when climbing and descending your homemade stairs, it is covered with a handrail (railing) from above so that the edges do not stick out. Better yet, cover this cut from below and above at the junction with the bowstrings with a wooden fillet. With fastening of fillets with self-tapping screws with a sunken head, so as not to tear the palms of the hands.

(By the way, about the railing. In your version with metal racks, of course, they can also be made from a metal profile pipe and welded with electrodes to the racks. Or from wood, purchased, but then the metal racks cut at an angle of the railing are fastened with self-tapping screws on wood with pre-drilling the racks at a right angle under these screws.

Polycarbonate sheets are best fixed from the side of flights of stairs. With a height of pipe-racks of about 0.9 meters, fastening is carried out with two to three self-tapping screws.

Country house - a multifunctional and important part ladder construction in general, which should not only ensure safety when lifting up, reliably protecting against falling, but also be aesthetically attractive, harmoniously and naturally fitting into the overall stylistic concept of the room.

A railing is a railing of flights of stairs, which, on the one hand, protects the person ascending (descending) from falling, and on the other hand, they serve as a support during ascent, which is especially important for the elderly. The design of the fence consists of the following elements:

  • balusters- these are the support posts to which the handrail is attached. They perform both a practical (bearing) function and a decorative one.
  • handrails - an element used when moving up the stairs as a support. They can be installed on two or one side of the flight of stairs, while they can be attached both directly to the wall and to balusters
  • fence fillers - an element that fills the space between the balusters. Often they perform an exclusively decorative function and in some designs, especially in modern styles, placeholders are generally discarded. However, if there are children in the house, they are mandatory for installation - their presence significantly increases the safety of moving up the stairs.

According to current regulations and standards, minimum height railings on the stairs must be at least 90 cm. If the width of the stairs exceeds 1.25 m, handrails must be installed on both sides.

Advice! If there is a child in the house, then the distance between the balusters is selected so as to exclude the possibility of sticking your head between them.

Railings for stairs: we select the material

If the design of the staircase is simple in execution and there are no special design requirements for the railing, then they can be made of simple materials. Another thing is a staircase of an exclusive design or which acts as a central detail, carrying the main decorative load in the interior - here the railing will have to meet increased requirements. Otherwise, the simplicity and unpretentiousness of the design of the railing will spoil the whole effect. Therefore, it is important to choose the right material from which the railing for the stairs will be made (photos provide an opportunity to compare various options). At the same time, it is important to observe two rules - compliance with style and unconditional compliance with security requirements.

metal railings

A very popular option, thanks in no small part to a large number execution options - from simple, minimalist, consisting only of posts and railings, united by welding, to very complex structures. They can be made of steel, iron, aluminum, as well as in combination with other materials - glass, PVC, wood. Any kind can be used metal profile- from fittings and simple pipes to profiles with complex patterns. They are very strong, resistant to dynamic and static loads - even the thinnest handrails can withstand a lot of pressure. They can be used both indoors and outdoors. At the same time, the railing for the metal staircase (the photo will serve as proof of this), in addition to the main one - the protective one, does an excellent job with the decorative function.

Wrought iron railing

They are often installed to emphasize the chosen style of decorating the room, so they are most often used in the style of rococo, baroque and traditional classics. In addition to elegance and beauty, forged elements look elegant and sophisticated, which is often lacking in wood fragments. Typically, such railings are easy to perceive, visually “transparent”, thus the staircase does not absorb space. Forged railings on the stairs will get additional charm if you use the finish in the form of gold, silver or platinum

Stainless steel railing

Perhaps the most reliable and durable, primarily due to manufacturing features. Such railings are usually made by welding, i.e. they are not collapsible, therefore they are able to withstand very large loads. In addition, they are durable stainless coating it will reliably protect the metal from corrosion, plus periodic tinting is not required. Stainless steel railings will harmoniously fit into modern (hi-tech, minimalism) interiors.

wooden railing

Wood remains one of the most sought-after materials in home construction. First of all, it is environmental friendliness, attractiveness and affordability of the so-called "non-elite" types of wood. It is also important - the tree is tactilely pleasant to the touch, so very often, even if the railings and balusters are made of metal, handrails are installed from wood. Even with minimal processing, the tree looks very attractive.

The natural beauty of wood makes it possible to obtain attractive combinations using various forms frame racks. The possibility of high-tech processing of wooden blanks provides an opportunity to get a handrail for stairs made of wood (the photo below will serve as confirmation) of an unusual shape. At the same time, the attractiveness of the design will in no way affect the fulfillment of safety requirements.

PVC handrails are indispensable if country railings installed on the street. They are very durable, do not rot, corrode, fungus or mold, wash well. Plastic can be chosen in almost any color, so that the railing fits into the interior / exterior as harmoniously as possible. In addition, they have a non-slip structure - in this case, this is very important.

Now glass railings are gaining popularity. Despite the outward simplicity and fragility, they are very reliable - only tempered glass or triplex is used. If you use absolutely transparent glass, it will help to visually enlarge the room - passing light through itself, it will create a feeling of lightness and weightlessness. Glass with a pattern, stained glass or tinted glass will add uniqueness to the interior, and the railings themselves will become a bright and attractive accent.