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#1
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Stair rail - which side?
I'm finaly getting around to putting a rail up the stairs to the second
floor I added to my home several years ago. Question is, which side is the standard for a rail? I seem to recall seeing then on either side, however for my application I think having it on the left side as you go up makes better sense. Any rules on this? Thanks! Mark |
#2
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Stair rail - which side?
mwlogs wrote:
I'm finaly getting around to putting a rail up the stairs to the second floor I added to my home several years ago. Question is, which side is the standard for a rail? I seem to recall seeing then on either side, however for my application I think having it on the left side as you go up makes better sense. Any rules on this? Thanks! Mark Regulations are likely to be local. You will need to contact the local authorities. -- Joseph Meehan Dia duit |
#3
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Stair rail - which side?
Both sides are better and safer too.
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#4
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Stair rail - which side?
Both sides are better and safer too.
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#5
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Stair rail - which side?
Handicap compliance to the ADA:
"Hand railing must be securely anchored, have a smooth surface and easy to grasp, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter Mounted between 34 and 38 inches high. Handrails projecting from a wall must have a space of 1-1/2 inches between the wall and the handrail. The railing ends rounded off, returned to the wall or terminate at the posts." http://www.adaptiveaccess.com/grabbar_handrail.php |
#6
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Stair rail - which side?
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#7
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Stair rail - which side?
"mwlogs" wrote in message . .. I'm finaly getting around to putting a rail up the stairs to the second floor I added to my home several years ago. Question is, which side is the standard for a rail? I seem to recall seeing then on either side, however for my application I think having it on the left side as you go up makes better sense. There are no standard rules. Local codes may apply. It is suggested on the right hand side as you go down the stairs. I read that somewhere in a Government standard but can not site the source. The ADA info in another post was also a part of the post I read. |
#8
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Stair rail - which side?
"Colbyt" wrote in message It is suggested on the right hand side as you go down the stairs. I read that somewhere in a Government standard but can not site the source. The ADA info in another post was also a part of the post I read. In my house there is a split entry. The upper half has the rail on the left going down as it is not practical to have in on the right. The lower half has it on the right. -- Ed http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/ |
#9
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Stair rail - which side?
"Colbyt" wrote in message news:1H9Lf.784455$x96.299858@attbi_s72... "mwlogs" wrote in message . .. I'm finaly getting around to putting a rail up the stairs to the second floor I added to my home several years ago. Question is, which side is the standard for a rail? I seem to recall seeing then on either side, however for my application I think having it on the left side as you go up makes better sense. There are no standard rules. Local codes may apply. It is suggested on the right hand side as you go down the stairs. I read that somewhere in a Government standard but can not site the source. The ADA info in another post was also a part of the post I read. If you have the room, why not do both sides? Very few stairwells are full walled on both sides, so the wall-mount rail is usually same side as the banister rail. Stairwells in public buildings are almost always railed on both sides. Make the rails removable if getting furniture up and down is a problem. aem sends... |
#10
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Stair rail - which side?
On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 23:56:29 GMT, "mwlogs"
wrote: I'm finaly getting around to putting a rail up the stairs to the second floor I added to my home several years ago. Question is, which side is the standard for a rail? I seem to recall seeing then on either side, however for my application I think having it on the left side as you go up makes better sense. Any rules on this? Rules, as of 1999 BOCA: If the stairway is otherwise normal, and this is a single-family dwelling, not subject to special local codes or ADA requirements, then no, there is no regulation as to which side it should go on. Opinion: From a useability standpoint, its better if you can make the stairway handrail continuous with the bannister at the top, where there is one, but traffic patterns may militate against that. The idea is that, when you're starting down the stairs, you should get to the railing before you get to the steps. (Which means that, if you can approach the stair from both sides of the upper landing, you need two railings) --Goedjn |
#11
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Stair rail - which side?
On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 23:56:29 GMT, "mwlogs"
wrote: I'm finaly getting around to putting a rail up the stairs to the second floor I added to my home several years ago. Question is, which side is the standard for a rail? I seem to recall seeing then on either side, however for my application I think having it on the left side as you go up makes better sense. Any rules on this? Thanks! Mark I recommend both sides. If not, you'll have a "trail"on one side of the stairs, especially if they are carpeted. |
#12
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Stair rail - which side?
Thanks to all for responding. I don't think I need to go both sides at this
point. The walls do go all the way from the 1st floor to the second. with the wall on the rigtht side as you go up ending as a 1/2 wall between the stairs and the room at the top. For this reason, difficult to describem I think I'm going on the left side with the rail. That puts it in our right hand as we go down, more natural for us since we are both right handed. "mwlogs" wrote in message . .. I'm finaly getting around to putting a rail up the stairs to the second floor I added to my home several years ago. Question is, which side is the standard for a rail? I seem to recall seeing then on either side, however for my application I think having it on the left side as you go up makes better sense. Any rules on this? Thanks! Mark |
#13
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Stair rail - which side?
As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed
-- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm |
#14
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Stair rail - which side?
On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote:
As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. |
#15
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Stair rail - which side?
After serious thinking Thomas wrote :
On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. That sounds like a nice solution. Somehow I am reminded of the old 'rope tow' when going skiing back in the day. I would want something bulky like that, stable and tight, even if it is mostly a psychological aid. If suffering with the lasting results of a stroke, I don't think a rope would be enough though. A little play in the rope could spell disaster. |
#16
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Stair rail - which side?
On 1/10/2021 7:10 AM, Thomas wrote:
On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. Depending on the stair design you could have a rail on both sides. |
#17
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Stair rail - which side?
On Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 10:32:59 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On 1/10/2021 7:10 AM, Thomas wrote: On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. Depending on the stair design you could have a rail on both sides. My stairs are so narrow I have to remove the rail for large furniture. Two rails would be a problem. Mine is on the left going down or right going up. Assuming right handed and elderly (I am both) I would put the rail on the right side going up. In the morning before the joints loosen I go down the stairs backwards anyway, so I use my right hand on the rail both directions.. Backing up stairs is not going to happen but backing down them is much safer anyway. |
#18
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Stair rail - which side?
On 1/11/21 8:06 AM, TimR wrote:
On Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 10:32:59 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 1/10/2021 7:10 AM, Thomas wrote: On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. Depending on the stair design you could have a rail on both sides. My stairs are so narrow I have to remove the rail for large furniture. Two rails would be a problem. Mine is on the left going down or right going up. Assuming right handed and elderly (I am both) I would put the rail on the right side going up. In the morning before the joints loosen I go down the stairs backwards anyway, so I use my right hand on the rail both directions. Backing up stairs is not going to happen but backing down them is much safer anyway. I saw a couple elderly women exercising by walking up and down stairs of a monument over the Christmas holiday. They were using some sort of walking stick in each hand to stabilize themselves. Amazon is selling pairs of them for under $40. |
#19
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Stair rail - which side?
On 1/11/21 9:06 AM, TimR wrote:
On Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 10:32:59 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 1/10/2021 7:10 AM, Thomas wrote: On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. Depending on the stair design you could have a rail on both sides. My stairs are so narrow I have to remove the rail for large furniture. Two rails would be a problem. Mine is on the left going down or right going up. Assuming right handed and elderly (I am both) I would put the rail on the right side going up. In the morning before the joints loosen I go down the stairs backwards anyway, so I use my right hand on the rail both directions. Backing up stairs is not going to happen but backing down them is much safer anyway. Going down stairs backwards sounds pretty dangerous to me. You might want to try to come up with Plan B... -- Why is it that the people who want more government control over your life are the same ones who want you to be disarmed? |
#20
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Stair rail - which side?
On Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:20:09 AM UTC-5, Wade Garrett wrote:
On 1/11/21 9:06 AM, TimR wrote: On Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 10:32:59 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 1/10/2021 7:10 AM, Thomas wrote: On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. Depending on the stair design you could have a rail on both sides. My stairs are so narrow I have to remove the rail for large furniture. Two rails would be a problem. Mine is on the left going down or right going up. Assuming right handed and elderly (I am both) I would put the rail on the right side going up. In the morning before the joints loosen I go down the stairs backwards anyway, so I use my right hand on the rail both directions. Backing up stairs is not going to happen but backing down them is much safer anyway. Going down stairs backwards sounds pretty dangerous to me. You might want to try to come up with Plan B... .. It doesn''t seem that way. If you fall, you fall forwards, but not very far. If you're going down stairs forwards and fall, you topple forwards and take a tumble. The results are painful. But also, stiff joints inhibit your ability to flex the hips, so your torso tends to lean forward and overbalance you. When you get to my age you'll understand. smiley |
#21
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Stair rail - which side?
On 1/11/21 8:03 PM, TimR wrote:
On Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:20:09 AM UTC-5, Wade Garrett wrote: On 1/11/21 9:06 AM, TimR wrote: On Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 10:32:59 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 1/10/2021 7:10 AM, Thomas wrote: On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. Depending on the stair design you could have a rail on both sides. My stairs are so narrow I have to remove the rail for large furniture. Two rails would be a problem. Mine is on the left going down or right going up. Assuming right handed and elderly (I am both) I would put the rail on the right side going up. In the morning before the joints loosen I go down the stairs backwards anyway, so I use my right hand on the rail both directions. Backing up stairs is not going to happen but backing down them is much safer anyway. Going down stairs backwards sounds pretty dangerous to me. You might want to try to come up with Plan B.. . It doesn''t seem that way. If you fall, you fall forwards, but not very far. If you're going down stairs forwards and fall, you topple forwards and take a tumble. The results are painful. But also, stiff joints inhibit your ability to flex the hips, so your torso tends to lean forward and overbalance you. When you get to my age you'll understand. smiley Yeah, I know. You had to walk five miles to school and it was uphill both ways. |
#22
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Stair rail - which side?
On 1/11/21 9:03 PM, TimR wrote:
On Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:20:09 AM UTC-5, Wade Garrett wrote: On 1/11/21 9:06 AM, TimR wrote: On Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 10:32:59 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 1/10/2021 7:10 AM, Thomas wrote: On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ️Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. Depending on the stair design you could have a rail on both sides. My stairs are so narrow I have to remove the rail for large furniture. Two rails would be a problem. Mine is on the left going down or right going up. Assuming right handed and elderly (I am both) I would put the rail on the right side going up. In the morning before the joints loosen I go down the stairs backwards anyway, so I use my right hand on the rail both directions. Backing up stairs is not going to happen but backing down them is much safer anyway. Going down stairs backwards sounds pretty dangerous to me. You might want to try to come up with Plan B... . It doesn''t seem that way. If you fall, you fall forwards, but not very far. If you're going down stairs forwards and fall, you topple forwards and take a tumble. The results are painful. But also, stiff joints inhibit your ability to flex the hips, so your torso tends to lean forward and overbalance you. When you get to my age you'll understand. smiley FDR was president when I was born...how about you :-) -- Why is it that the people who want more government control over your life are the same ones who want you to be disarmed? |
#23
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Stair rail - which side?
On Tue, 12 Jan 2021 12:33:06 -0500, Wade Garrett wrote:
On 1/11/21 9:03 PM, TimR wrote: On Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11:20:09 AM UTC-5, Wade Garrett wrote: On 1/11/21 9:06 AM, TimR wrote: On Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 10:32:59 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 1/10/2021 7:10 AM, Thomas wrote: On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ??Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. Depending on the stair design you could have a rail on both sides. My stairs are so narrow I have to remove the rail for large furniture. Two rails would be a problem. Mine is on the left going down or right going up. Assuming right handed and elderly (I am both) I would put the rail on the right side going up. In the morning before the joints loosen I go down the stairs backwards anyway, so I use my right hand on the rail both directions. Backing up stairs is not going to happen but backing down them is much safer anyway. Going down stairs backwards sounds pretty dangerous to me. You might want to try to come up with Plan B... . It doesn''t seem that way. If you fall, you fall forwards, but not very far. If you're going down stairs forwards and fall, you topple forwards and take a tumble. The results are painful. But also, stiff joints inhibit your ability to flex the hips, so your torso tends to lean forward and overbalance you. When you get to my age you'll understand. smiley FDR was president when I was born...how about you :-) Had dirt been invented by then, or did that come later? |
#24
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Stair rail - which side?
On Mon, 11 Jan 2021 11:20:01 -0500, Wade Garrett wrote:
On 1/11/21 9:06 AM, TimR wrote: On Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 10:32:59 AM UTC-5, Ed Pawlowski wrote: On 1/10/2021 7:10 AM, Thomas wrote: On Monday, January 4, 2021 at 12:35:06 AM UTC-5, Donna wrote: As an older individual I need rail on right sight to help going up down is simply to stay stable ??Up is harder than down oh and Im right handed -- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm Old post. I have the standard left rail in basement. What I did for the right is boat deck cleats and heavy rope for the rail. My jungle gym. I feel safe. Depending on the stair design you could have a rail on both sides. My stairs are so narrow I have to remove the rail for large furniture. Two rails would be a problem. Mine is on the left going down or right going up. Assuming right handed and elderly (I am both) I would put the rail on the right side going up. In the morning before the joints loosen I go down the stairs backwards anyway, so I use my right hand on the rail both directions. Backing up stairs is not going to happen but backing down them is much safer anyway. Going down stairs backwards sounds pretty dangerous to me. You might want to try to come up with Plan B... I was thinking the same thing, but I just saw his explanation for doing it that way. I'm not old enough to argue. In my case, we sold the house with stairs and bought a single story to replace it. Besides no stairs to deal with, it's much more comfortable, temperature wise. I always found it very difficult to maintain an even temperature between the various floors. The worst was the house in Kansas, with it's beautiful wide open staircases. In the winter, with all furnace vents closed except in the basement, it would be 50-55 in the basement, 70 on the main floor, and 85 upstairs in the bedrooms, not to mention the fact that we were stressing the heck out of the furnace by having most of the vents closed. |
#25
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Stair rail - which side?
On Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 3:37:49 PM UTC-5, Jim Joyce wrote:
Going down stairs backwards sounds pretty dangerous to me. You might want to try to come up with Plan B... I was thinking the same thing, but I just saw his explanation for doing it that way. I'm not old enough to argue. Really, you should try it both ways. I do it that way in the morning, not so much to avoid falling, but because until the joints loosen a bit it's much easier to go down backwards. There are more joints that need good range of motion forward. I have arthritis developing from old injuries and they're stiff in the morning. I spend the first half hour stretching while I drink my morning coffee. I will grant that backwards can be dangerous if someone has left clutter on the stairs that you didn't notice. Especially roller skates, hate that. When the children were toddlers I made them do "tummy in" on steep stairs. It was clearly safer. Similarly coming down a ladder frontwards is a mistake most people only make a few times, although I've run into some stubborn knuckleheads who got hurt more than they needed. |
#26
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Stair rail - which side?
On Friday, January 15, 2021 at 8:07:36 PM UTC-5, TimR wrote:
On Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 3:37:49 PM UTC-5, Jim Joyce wrote: Going down stairs backwards sounds pretty dangerous to me. You might want to try to come up with Plan B... I was thinking the same thing, but I just saw his explanation for doing it that way. I'm not old enough to argue. Really, you should try it both ways. I do it that way in the morning, not so much to avoid falling, but because until the joints loosen a bit it's much easier to go down backwards. There are more joints that need good range of motion forward. I have arthritis developing from old injuries and they're stiff in the morning. I spend the first half hour stretching while I drink my morning coffee. I will grant that backwards can be dangerous if someone has left clutter on the stairs that you didn't notice. Especially roller skates, hate that. When the children were toddlers I made them do "tummy in" on steep stairs.. It was clearly safer. Similarly coming down a ladder frontwards is a mistake most people only make a few times, although I've run into some stubborn knuckleheads who got hurt more than they needed. Do this simple experiment. I think you will find backwards feels safer. Stand on a flat floor. Balance on one foot. Reach forward with the other. Notice it can't touch the ground? It will hover maybe 4 inches above the floor. When we walk or run, we do it by falling forward. Our center of gravity moves forward. On a stair, that 4 inches gets added to the 7 inches of the tread, so the fall is larger. Try it on a stair paying attention, and probably want to hold the rail. Now repeat on a flat floor, but reach backward. To put that foot on the ground, the natural instinct is just bend the supporting knee, with the center of gravity stable. Yes, you can theoretically do that forwards as well but that's not the way we learned to walk so most of us don't or can't. |
#27
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Stair rail - which side?
Looking for some thing on the left side for stability.
-- For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ide-92200-.htm |
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