Concrete stairs with block built handrail

castleking1

Hi Folks,

I am installing concrete stairs in my new build and planning to build a block handrail one metre high on them which will be clad with a timber handrail.
I intend putting a matching timber step on stairs with everything else plastered.

Anyone else done this, how successfull is it and any pics etc.

Donegal selfbuild.

Leadership

Mines nearly done and I will send pics to you if you want however I used a stud rather than block. It just needs finishing now.

It looks stunning! My plan is concrete stairs, stud hand rail topped with a chrome/wood hand rail. The stairs will be painted and have a wallnut treadplate and the walls plastered.

castleking1

Thanks that would be great. Would love to get talking to you. Same idea as myself. My stairs are going up and around (doubling back on themselves). There probably an official term for that. Getting builder to build blocks on top of stairwell. Maybe I should be doing the same as you, using plasterboard instead.

Mossie27

Im also hoping to do the same on a new build, any chance of a pic?

Mellor

castleking1 wrote: »

My stairs are going up and around (doubling back on themselves). There probably an official term for that.

Dogleg
As for the handrail, I'd prefer stud over block.

Victor

Mellor wrote: »

Dogleg
As for the handrail, I'd prefer stud over block.

Agreed, the timber stud would have better strength in tension and can be built in a more slender form.

You'd find the block would be grand for ages only for one of the blocks to then come off.

Make sure all the corners are solidly built - stairs get lots of abuse.

Leadership

castleking1 wrote: »

My stairs are going up and around (doubling back on themselves).

Exactly the same as mine.

Penn

Did the person designing the stairs know about the block handrail? That could add a lot of loading which may not have been accounted for and could cause problems. You should check with the engineer or company who designed it. The stud wall might be your best option

TheMammy

Hi...Leadership...thinking the exact same thing....would you mind sending me a pic please??

thanks

cork2

hey ive framed thes out a few times. i wouldnt go down the block route its a lot of extra weight to be putting on the stairs and theres no real need for it. the way i do it is to build you wall up to handrail height out of studwork, sheet both sides with plywood and then slab over. make sure theres plywood used, this is a gaurdrail so the more strength it has the better.

Leadership

I have added some photos, if anyone wants a larger one let me know and I will PM them.

Just to add the cables in the stud work are for LED lights that will line the stairs.

castleking1

Thanks again and thank you for the pictures. I have now reconsidered the blocks and will go for the stud wall now instead.

sas

Leadership wrote: »

I have added some photos, if anyone wants a larger one let me know and I will PM them.

Just to add the cables in the stud work are for LED lights that will line the stairs.

Possibly pushing my luck here but any chance you have some pics before it was slabbed. Trying to picture how the rail was fixed to the stairs.

cork2

make your studwork and fix it down with express anchors into the concrete.make sure all the studworks between flights of stairs and landings are nailed together

Leadership

sas wrote: »

Possibly pushing my luck here but any chance you have some pics before it was slabbed. Trying to picture how the rail was fixed to the stairs.

I do have some and I will dig them out but the stud was attached using "express nails" to the concrete stairs.