Table of Contents
What is code for deck stair railing?
Stair rails on decks should be between 34 inches and 38 inches high, measured vertically from the nose of the tread to the top of the rail. Treads must be at least 10 inches deep, measuring from front to back. The rise, or the vertical distance from one tread to the next, can be no more than 7 1/4 inches high.
How high should deck stair railings be?
Deck stair railing should stand at least 34 inches high, measuring vertically from the nose of the stair tread to the top of the rail. The IRC specifies that deck stair railing should measure between 34 and 38 inches high, so homeowners may wish to use railing that is even higher than 34 inches for their deck stairs.
Do I need a railing on both sides of deck stairs?
You don’t need a handrail on both sides, but you may need a railing if your deck is higher than 30″. Many contractors construct a combo handrail and stair rail system, installed on both sides, to cover all safety requirements.
Do you need a railing on both sides of stairs?
Handrails are required on both sides of stairs and ramps. They are placed between 34 inches and 38 inches above the leading edge of a stair tread, the ramp surface, or the walking surface. Where children are the primary users of a facility, the ADA recommends a second handrail for children.
Are handrails required on both sides of stairs?
Handrails are required on both sides of stairs and must be continuous within the full length of each stair flight.
How do you measure for an outdoor stair railing?
Overall length is determined by measuring the horizontal distance from the edge of the nosing on the first tread at the bottom of the staircase to the edge of the nosing on the floor/landing at the top of the staircase. The final measurement to acquire is the distance along the nosing.
Can I use a 2×4 for a handrail?
According to the IRC (2018), you can use a 2×4 to make a handrail, but you must cut finger recesses along both sides of the board and position the lumber lengthwise on its end. Using a 2×4 as a handrail laid vertically is not allowed. Porch and deck guardrails made from 2x4s laid horizontally are permitted.
How much do outdoor stair railings cost?
How much do stair railings cost? A 25-foot railing can run anywhere from $700 to $6,000 or more. Costs depend a lot on the type of material. For example, the price to install stair railings made of aluminum is between $3,500 to $6,000; a wooden railing is between $750 and $1,250.
What is code height for stair railing?
Handrail height on the stairs should be no less than 34 inches and no greater than 38 inches. The way this is measured is to begin at the leading edge of the stair nosing and run an imaginary vertical line upward until it reaches the top of the railing.
Does deck railing need to be pressure treated?
As long as there’s a good chance that moisture can reach the wood, it should be pressure treated. This is why the International Building Code requires that siding and structural lumber used for the last six inches of the structure above the ground is pressure treated.
How do you fix a wobbly stair railing on a deck?
Ways to Repair a Loose Wood Deck Railing Tighten any loose bolts or screws. Mount extra blocking between rim joists. Remove and replace any loose post-to-rail hardware. Remove and replace any rails with signs of bowing, warping, or rot. Remove any rust from the loose railing. Tighten any loose post-mounting hardware.
What is Shoe rail?
Shoerail is plowed bottom rail of a balustrade system into which the bottoms of wood balusters fit. Fillet is decorative wood strips used to fill the plow between balusters in plowed handrail and shoerail.
How do you secure a 4×4 post to a deck?
The quickest and most secure way to mount a wooden 4×4 or 6×6 deck post to an existing deck surface is via an OZCO Post Base Kit or a Titan Post Anchor. Both of these items provide a solid, powder-coated steel connection point for your wooden post to attach to surface below.
What angle do you cut the end of a handrail?
Start by cutting a 45-degree angle on one end of the stair railing and rest this end on the floor. This cut is for the short return to the wall.
What side of the stairs should a handrail be on?
In general, handrails should be continually mounted on the open side of the stairs. Also, there is an extensive construction and safety code written explicitly for handrail installations.
How many risers before you need a handrail?
Building Codes The building code does not refer to the number of “steps” but it does require a handrail when there are two or more “risers”. For clarification, a “riser” is the vertical portion of a stair. The “tread” is the top of a step. A two riser minimum would translate to two steps.
What is code for stair landing?
The minimum recommended stair landing length is 36″ (or a length and width sufficiently greater than the swing of the door if a wider door is present). This stairway landing or platform dimension is often also expressed as “a minimum of 36-inches in the direction of travel.
Does my deck need a railing?
If your deck is below 30 inches, a railing is not required. With that said, if you choose to build a deck, even if it is only 24 inches off the ground, that is still high enough that even an adult could injure themselves. When you take your kids and pets into account, the risk is even higher.
How many deck steps require a handrail?
So whether you’re constructing a residential composite deck, lumber deck or a deck made from other decking material, you’re typically required to install a graspable secondary handrail on one side of the deck’s stair railing when there are four or more stair risers present.
