Stair rail

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Author Message   themp Citizen Username: Themp Post Number: 478 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Saturday, February 7, 2004 - 2:17 pm:        I am installing a railing alongside our stairway on the second floor. This rail will be supported by balisters and a newel post. It will be at the edge of the landing, to prevent someone from falling down the stairwell. What is the required height for a railing like this? Trying to decide whether to saw everything off a little. I bought the longest, but they look very long now. Also, I bought 27 balisters for a 9 foot rail, but that seems like too many. What is the standard for placement? Also - I understand how to seat the newel post and balisters into the floor, but how do you afix the top end of the balister to the underside of the rail? It is a non-capped, plain type rail, and the balisters are square on top. Rail came with a long strip for spacing between balisters.   bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4575 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Saturday, February 7, 2004 - 3:39 pm:        A 36 inch floor to top of top rail should meet code and ballisters are usually placed no more than four inches apart, so 27 for a nine foot run sounds right. I would strongly suggest talking to the code guys down on Valley Street to make sure. Most places, even the Despot, that sell railing parts have instruction sheets available for installation. With most systems you have to nail through the top rail to secure the ballister, although toe nailing is also possible. Renting a finish nail gun will greatly speed up the process. Also assemble everything on a workbench or floor before you instal the railing assembly if you can.   themp Citizen Username: Themp Post Number: 482 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Monday, February 9, 2004 - 3:58 pm:        FYI - 36" seems to be the code height. Unfortunately, we bought 42" baluster. Some guy at the lumberyard convinced us it's better to be safe than sorry. I cut 2" off each one. I guess I could cut another 2".