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When buying a handrail, there are many factors you need to consider to ensure it’s the right one for your staircase. This includes the aesthetic you’re looking for, the material, durability and the style you desire.
Some other important factors to consider, however, include the size of the handrail, the handrail groove, and regulations you need to be aware of. Here, we provide a full guide to handrail lengths, where they should be mounted, handrail grooves, and more.
Click on one of the links below to jump to that section:
Find out how to choose the correct handrail length for your stairs.
Find out how high a handrail needs to be mounted.
Read more about grooved handrails and how they are used.
Find out how to fit mopstick and pig’s ear handrails.
Read the benefits of shopping from Jackson Woodturners.
To determine the correct handrail length, you can hook a tape measure onto the bottom stair nose and measure up to the top of the staircase. A staircase handrail should run the entire length of the stairs to make sure it is safe and code complaint. Handrails are often sold in set lengths of 1.8m, 2.4m, 3.6m and 4.2m. Choose the best length that fits your staircase measurements.
Your handrail should run the full length of the staircase to ensure it is a secure and supportive as possible.
According to Part K Building Regulations - in a domestic property, the top of the handrail must be no lower than 900mm from the nosing of the stair tread to the top of the handrail. This 900mm height rule also applies to handrails on landings.
Your handrail should be fitted at a height between 900mm and 1000mm from the pitch line of the stairs, or the floor for landings. The pitch line is a virtual line that sits on top of the nosing at the edge of the stair treads. You can find out more about measuring the correct handrail height here.
Read our full guide to handrail sizes to find out more.
There are two main types of handrails available for your staircase - grooved and ungrooved. Grooved handrails are designed to be fully integrated on top of spindles, or glass panels. Ungrooved handrails, on the other hand, are designed to be fitted to metal or wooden spindles, or to glass panels via brackets and clamps.
Grooved handrails with wide, shallow channels are designed to be used primarily with wooden spindles. The groove must be the same width as the spindles you intend to use to achieve a secure fit. The groove runs along the full length of the handrail so that spindles can be spaced as often as necessary. Timber infill, also known as spacer or filler, is normally provided with these types of grooved handrails. It is worth noting that although Jackson Woodturner's handrails and base rails will come with infill, you will need to buy silicone separately.
Metal spindles can also be connected to grooved handrails designed for metal, which have a smaller groove.
On the other hand, glass grooved handrails are designed to be used alongside glass panels. They have a narrow, deep channel running along the full length of the handrail into which the glass panel slots. Usually, clear silicone is used to help secure the glass in place. The grooved handrail eliminates the need for any metal brackets to connect the glass panels to the handrail.
Find out more about grooved handrails here.
If using a grooved handrail with glass panels, check the width of the glass panels and look for a handrail with a groove of the same depth. For example, our 8mm grooved handrails are compatible with the following glass panels, which are 8mm thick:
Our Immix glass panels are also 8mm thick, but they should only be used with other Immix stair parts to ensure a secure fit and unified finish. You should therefore choose one of our Immix Oak Handrails which are available in 2.4m, 3.6m and 4.2m.
When using grooved handrails with wooden spindles, check the width of your spindles and choose a handrail with a groove of the same width. Our 32mm grooved handrails fit all of our 32mm spindles, including the Forge range of brushed nickel spindles. Our 41mm grooved handrails are compatible with our 41mm wooden spindles.
Read our full guide to grooved handrails here.
Aside from their simple appearance, flexibility and cost, pig's ear handrails are a very popular choice of handrail because of their affordability and versatility. One of their key advantages is that they do not need brackets to be attached to the wall, which saves a lot of space.
Mopstick handrails are attached to the wall with the help of wall handrail brackets, making them a popular option for buyers searching for a handrail that might be more ornamental.
When installing a mopstick handrail, you'll need to select some handrail brackets that are complementary to your handrail's style and finish. Mopstick handrails also often require accessories such as end caps and wall patrices – so pigs ear handrails can save you time and money in this sense.
They can screw directly into the wall, using cross grain pellets to fill the holes and hide the screws. Before installing a handrail, you should measure the length of your staircase to check the size you require.
Read our complete guide to fitting a pig’s ear handrail here.
Both mopstick and pig’s ear handrails are both fitted onto the wall, but in different ways. Mopstick handrails require brackets and patrices that work with the handrail to attach to the wall.
How you fit your handrail to the wall bracket all depends on the wall bracket you choose. Brackets like this wall-mounted chrome option below allow the mopstick handrail to slide into it easily before being attached to the wall. Others, such as this brushed nickel wall bracket, will need to be screwed into both the handrail and the wall patrice.
It is important to fit your handrail in the correct position to ensure it is in the most optimal height for your staircase. You should measure the length of your staircase to determine the exact length of handrail that you’ll need. You can find out more in our handrails guide here.
Forge Wall Mounted Mopstick Handrail Bracket in Chrome | Jackson Woodturners
As renowned experts in the field, there are several benefits associated with purchasing your brand new mopstick handrail through us. For example, we offer our customers:
At Jackson Woodturners, our team aims to offer you a service that goes above and beyond when helping you pick out your new mopstick handrail. This could be either in person at one of our showrooms or when browsing through our specially crafted brochures. Although, if you have any additional questions, feel free to contact a member of our team on 0114 272 1228.
There's no 'one fits all' solution when it comes to choosing your ideal mopstick handrail. Your house is your home, and you want every inch of it to both look and feel the part - whether this is a pig's ear handrail or a mopstick handrail. This is why at Jackson Woodturners we offer a variety of different materials and styles - ranging from oak to chrome - so that you don't have to compromise.
At Jackson Woodturners, we also offer you competitive prices on all of our products. For example, we endeavour to beat any like-for-like quote on all stair parts (including mopstick and pigs' ear handrails) so that you don't have to compromise on your dream home.
Whether you're shopping online or via one of our showrooms, our bespoke stair parts are ready and waiting to be the finishing touches to your brand-new handrail. This includes art deco designed brackets or sleekly modern end caps, we've got it all!
Contact us today for more information.
