Replacing handrail (Pictures now added)

[PaulMcG]

Hiya,

We recently had to cut out the lower section of our handrail / banister on our staircase in order to get a new sofa into the living room (doh! and it's now time to replace the handrail / banister.

The only concern I have, is how it joins into the upstairs sections - as it seems to be integrated partly into the side of the landing floor upstairs, I'm guessing a picture would really help you give me some help here?

It's an open staircase, in that it has the usual railings and not boarded in etc - it's just the adjoining part upstairs seems a bit `odd`

I'm also looking to remove the undstairs cupboard (which seems to just be a wooden frame and panels over that (no brick walls) so should be quite safe to take out?

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/stairs1.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/stairs2.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/stairs3.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/stairs4.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/stairs5.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/stairs6.jpg

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/understairs1.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/understairs2.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/understairs3.jpg

The `ceiling` under the stairs is just simple boarding by the looks of it too so shouldnt be an issuing modifying.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[noseall]

i personally think you will need to remove the spindles and handrail up to the point where it first joins the horizontal section, then replace with new stuff from there.

it's an odd set-up, as the handrail does not continue up to the top newel. this means you have to grab onto the spindles as you first descend the stairs.

 

[PaulMcG]

Yeah well my plan for that part would be maybe to make it like this (edited image) as there's no way to make it run right to the top because that would mean resizing the hallway or stairs lol

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/newedit.jpg

Any concerns on taking out the frame below that makes the cupboard? in this picture you can see the base of the banister end (whatever you call it

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/stairs3.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/understairs3.jpg

Although I find it hard to believe that the frame would be there for support of any kind based on the wood its made from...

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dr3amz/stairs/understairs1.jpg

 

[noseall]

it appears that the head of your staircase has been fitted to a full width trimmer and i'm fairly confident you can remove all the framing below.

 

[PaulMcG]

it appears that the head of your staircase has been fitted to a full width trimmer and i'm fairly confident you can remove all the framing below.

Sorry, but what exactly do you mean by `head of staircase fitted to full width trimmer` ?

Sorry to sound naive

 

[noseall]

a trimmer is a piece or pieces of timber designed to span an opening where by sections of floor, stud wall or even roof have been omitted. these trimmers are often doubled up to handle the extra load.

the trimmer in your case is a piece of timber spanning the stair well walls, indicated by the lower ceiling in the downstairs passage leading to the bathroom. it may be built into the walls, in your case the downstairs bathroom and lounge walls.