In article ,
Cranky writes:
Hi

I realise this will make me seem a bit daft, but I'm stuck.

We bought a pup a couple of years ago and, true to form, it chewed
everything in sight, and I'm only now able to put things right again.
the problem is that I need to replace our bannister - except that I
don't know what the parts are called. It isn't a handrail with
uprights (spindles?), it's 3 planks of wood set diagonally down the
angle of the stairs and at the edge of the upstairs landing.

Does this make sense? If so, I'd appreciate knowing what they're
called and if they are available in standard lengths in diy stores.

You aren't allowed to build bannisters like that any more.
You have to use balustrades so there's nothing children can
get a foot hold on to climb over the bannisters. The regs
require a vertical distance (something like 900mm from memory)
between the top of the highest possible foot hold and the
hand rail, which in practice means you can use them. Also
the balustrades have to be close enough together that you
can't get a 100mm ball between them.

A shame really. My brother and I spent hours climbing all
over my parents' banisters when we were young like they were
a climbing frame.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]