Staircase Balustrades
Pear Stairs
Balustrades and Bannisters Available From Pear Stairs
BALUSTRADES AND BANNISTERS AVAILABLE FROM PEAR STAIRS
Not only are balustrades an essential safety feature – lining your staircase and preventing people from falling and injuring themselves - but the right balustrade can completely transform the look and feel of your entire staircase.
Here at Pear Stairs, we design, manufacture and fit the most stylish staircases across the UK.
Mixing and matching materials, we can create the perfect staircase for your home or workplace and bring your visions to life.
. If you want to discuss your plans or ideas, please contact our friendly team on 01938 553311. You can also try out our StairCreator, a free online planning tool that lets you experiment with different designs and produces an instant price estimate.
Key components of a stair balustrade:
- Handrails or bannisters – railing at the top of the balustrade, supported by newel posts.
- Baserail – railing at the bottom of spindles which supports the steps.
- Spindles – decorative uprights running between the handrail and base rail.
- Newel posts – strong, structural support for the handrail
- Newel caps – decorative top of the newel to enhance the final look.
You can find more details about the different parts of a balustrade below.
Parts Of A Balustrade
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Balustrades; Handrails and Post-To-Post Or Over-The-PostThe term ‘balustrade’ refers to the combination of the handrail, spindles (or ‘balusters’), baserail and newels, which together form the balustrade system that encloses one or both sides of a staircase. The handrail is the part of the balustrade that sits on top of the spindles. This is the part that you hold as you climb up and down the stairs. According to UK building and safety regulations, the minimum acceptable handrail height in a domestic dwelling is 900mm on both stairs and landings. For a public staircase, the minimum height handrail on a landing is increased to 1100mm, while the minimum handrail height for stairs remains at 900mm. If desired, the handrail can be continuous, passing over the newel posts (known as an over-the-post system), as opposed to the standard handrail which is interrupted by newel posts and caps (a post-to-post system). |
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Spindles and BaserailsThe spindles in a balustrade support the handrail and prevent users from falling through the space between the handrail and the stairs. UK building regulations state that all spindles must be fitted close enough together to prevent a 100mm sphere from being able to pass through any openings in the balustrade. This is to avoid small children becoming trapped. A baserail sits on top of the string (or ‘stringer’) on a closed string staircase and holds the spindles. The baserail is grooved on the top and bottom to accommodate the base of each spindle, and the top of the string. Where excess space remains between the base of a spindle or the top of the string, infill strips are used to fill the remaining area, ensuring that the string or spindle is wedged tightly into the groove. |
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Newel Post, Cap and BaseNewels support the strings, handrails, treads and risers on a staircase, and are themselves comprised of three separate parts: The newel base provides the structural support required and is the part into which the newel post is fixed. The newel post is the central section of the newel. This connects the newel base and newel cap and supports the baserail and handrail. These in turn support the spindles. The newel cap (or ‘finial’) is the ornamental top section of the newel. It can be produced in a number of shapes including flat, pyramid and acorn. You can also get highly decorative, hand-carved designs. Most newel caps are made from wood but metal ones are also available for a more contemporary touch. The balustrade enclosing the staircase itself is called the ‘rake balustrade’; one which encloses the edge of a landing is called a ‘return balustrade’. You may be interested to know that the word balustrade originates from the 17th century French word balustre, which itself originates from the Latin balustra, ‘wild pomegranate flower’, referring to the decorative, curved shafts of early balusters (spindles). |
We would not recommend fitting a baserail that is grooved on the top to an exterior staircase - this could allow rainwater to collect in the grooves, causing the wood to rot. Instead, exterior spindles can be fitted to the baserail using either screws or dowel joints. A cut string staircase doesn’t require a baserail; here, the spindles are fixed directly to the steps using a dowel joint.
As one of the leading staircase and stair parts manufacturers and suppliers in the country, Pear Stairs sells every balustrade component in a range of designs to cater for all tastes.
Balustrade Examples From Pear Stairs |
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GRAND OAK BALUSTRADEFor this stunning European oak balustrade, our client chose a square cut newel design with carved artichoke-style newel caps (finials). Because the client wanted their stairs to make an impact, they ordered large 70mm turned Heritage spindles, as opposed to the standard 35mm, for a grand, imposing effect. The handrail is our pear design, unique to Pear Stairs. |
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OAK AND METAL BALUSTRADESFor this central staircase, our client opted for a balustrade of Boston metal spindles with American white oak newels, baserail and handrail. This staircase incorporates a return balustrade on the left-hand side, finished in the same style as the rake balustrade. The newels are plain square cut with square caps, while the handrail is a unique pear design. All wooden components were finished with Fiddes hardwax oil after fitting. |
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STAINLESS STEEL AND GLASS BALUSTRADESThis display staircase shows what can be achieved by mixing stainless steel elements with glass panelling. The result is ultra-modern, clean and truly stylish. The handrail and glass clamps are stainless steel, which has been brushed to a satin finish. The panels are made from 10mm toughened glass, featuring pencil polished edges. To complete the look, redwood newel bases have been drilled to accommodate stainless steel tubing, giving the appearance of a stainless steel newel post. |
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FRAMELESS GLASS BALUSTRADEFrameless glass balustrades need no handrail or other kind of support and rely on a sturdy baserail and the strength of the glass itself to support the rest of your staircase. With no glass clamps, handrails or any other obstacles associated with traditional balustrades, a frameless glass balustrade offers uninterrupted views and allows light to flow freely through your hallways – all whilst maintaining the same level of comfort and protection. Frameless balustrades make the perfect choice for balconies, mezzanines or other outdoor decking areas if you want to create an invisible barrier between yourself and the view. |
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STAINLESS STEEL BALUSTRADEStainless steel balustrades are an excellent way to modernise your property, and they work well with a range of different materials - including both glass and wood. Not only do stainless steel balustrades look great, but they'll last you for years and are incredibly budget-friendly – what's not to love? |
How much does it cost to replace a balustrade?
The cost to replace an old balustrade varies and depends on a few different factors, including:
● Materials – Glass panels and stainless steel staircase parts tend to be more expensive than wooden alternatives.
● Design complexity – Curved or other intricate staircase designs will cost more than straight flights.
● Installation complexity – Difficult angles or access points can increase labour costs.
Here at Pear Stairs, we’re proud to offer some of the most competitive prices and would be more than happy to offer a bespoke quote for your renovation.
Give us a call today, or head over to our online Stair Creator tool to get a better idea of how much it’ll cost to replace your old stair balustrade.
Can I replace my own stair balustrade?
Absolutely!
It can be a super quick and easy DIY job, especially if you’re working with wood and have basic carpentry skills.
Just make sure you have all the tools you need, a spare weekend and an extra pair of hands to help, and your new staircase will be ready in no time.
Just keep in mind that some materials and systems are more difficult to work with. In these instances, it may be better to consider a professional installation to save costly repairs and replacements down the line.
What can I use instead of spindles on my stair balustrade?
If you’re sick of your old spindles, and want an entirely new look, glass balustrade panels are the way to go.
In place of your old spindles, a glass panel will sit between the handrails and baserail, to create a continuous railing that’s easy to clean, offers uninterrupted views, and allows more natural light to flow freely through your hallways.
Glass panels pair perfectly with a variety of different staircase materials, like stainless steel handles or wooden newel posts, for example.
Need help designing the perfect glass balustrade?
Get in touch with our staircase specialists for expert ideas and inspiration today!
Do I need planning permission to replace my balustrade?
For most interior renovations, including installing a new staircase or simply replacing the balustrade, you will not typically require planning permission.
However, this depends on the project as a whole, and if you’re unsure, you may need to contact your local council to get the definite go-ahead.
Some factors that may affect whether you need planning permission or not include:
● Project scale – Large projects in which you plan to make major changes may require planning permission.
● Property location – If your property is a listed building or in a conservation area, you may need planning permission to alter your staircase.
Planning permission aside, you will need to ensure your new balustrade installation conforms to all relevant building regulations and safety standards. Current guidelines can be found in the Approved Document K.
DESIGN YOUR DREAM STAIRCASE WITH PEAR STAIRS
We believe our clients deserve the tools to design the staircase they want, regardless of budget.
So, whether you like the look of wooden balustrades, or want something more modern, like a stainless steel or glass balustrade, our experienced team can help here at Pear Stairs.
Get started designing your own staircase with our FREE staircase design tool or give us a call to discuss your ideas with our team!
We can help with all areas of your staircase transformation – from the initial design to the manufacture and installation – and would be more than happy to help bring your visions to life.
Or, if you’re in need of staircase design inspiration, take a look at our database of over 700 case studies.
