How to Fit a Balustrade
Please note that Building Regulations state that the gap between spindles / balustrades / glass panels should not be more than 99mm.
Stair balustrade
All handrail supplied with your staircase order will be pre-cut to the exact length and angle to suit your staircase.
To fit your balustrade, begin by measuring down 50mm from the top of your lower newel post and making a pencil line, this will determine the height for the top of your handrail.
You can then measure up from the top of your stringer to the pencil line, and transfer this to the upper newel on the run. The handrail will then run parallel to the stringer.
If your staircase has been supplied with spindles, the handrail height can also be determined by sitting the baserail onto the string and placing a spindle alongside the newel post. The Handrail will then be at the correct height.
Your spindles will already be pre-cut to the correct angle and length to suit your staircase. These are fixed into the groove in the handrail and baserail by gluing and pinning into position. The infill will need to be cut so that the spindles are equally spaced and with a gap of no more than 99mm between them, and also glued and pinned in position.
We supply a ‘washer head’ screw for you to pass through a pre-drilled hole in the newel post. We recommend drilling a pilot hole into the handrail before fixing.
Landing balustrade
Landing handrails supplied with your staircase order will be sent out un-cut, ready for you to fit them around the opening in your upper floor as required.
We recommend setting the height to the top of the handrail at 950mm above floor level.
We supply a RailFix - Handrail to Newel Fixing Kit to help you to fit your handrail on the landing areas.
Read our guide on Fixing a Handrail to a Newel Post to find out more.
Glass balustrade
Make sure you only dry fix the handrail in place until the glass arrives. With our 'embedded' system you will need to remove the handrail in order for the glass to locate into the groove. You can then finally glue it in place.
When installing the glass panels, please take care when handling glass. Once you have cut down and mitred your fillets (infill pieces) to the required length, you need to fill the gaps between the glass panels. Do not fit any underneath the glass panel itself. Insert both fillet pieces into the grooves of the baserail between the glass panels and slide to fit flush with the newel.
Apply a bead of silicone into the grooves of the handrail and baserail and slide the glass panel down to fit flush with your fillet. Once the glass is in place, the oak handrail will then fit down on top of the glass and be fixed into position.
