Stair Railings Are Lovely Additions to Any Home

Can you imagine a flight of stairs without railings? It would be scary to go up without something to hold on to even if it's just three steps. Without railings, stairs would look incomplete and unattractive.

In a two-storey house, the stair railing is usually a major attraction as one enters the ground level. Whatever the material it is made of, this important component of the stairs adds beauty and value to any home.

But other than its decorative purpose, stair railings serve to hold up the balustrade of the staircase and as protection for people as well. For families with small children, these railings can indeed make your kids safe as they go up and down the stairs.

Homeowners and builders have a wide choice today when it comes to using stair railings. The materials available are of various kinds such as wood, iron and metal. Whatever the style you prefer, there should be one suited for you. Or, you can have one customized to fit your specifications.

Materials used

Wood stair railings are the classic choice for many homes. Since the olden days, wood has been a preferred material for railings because they're easy to work with. Oak is the most recommended type of wood for stair railings and it can be used as is or painted with a color to match the overall interior design theme of your home.

While wood provides a unique charm, other materials can be used to make more intricate designs and create a different appeal. Iron and metal railings are also common these days in residential and commercial structures giving the same protection and functionality to users. They can be made with special designs for an attractive look. Other options include glass, stainless steel, stone, aluminum and titanium.

Before deciding on a specific material for your stair railings, it's best that you consult an interior designer to give you an appropriate advice. Whether you're making a stairs indoors or outdoors, a professional can tell you which material would fit your home best. The metal railings are usually ideal for outdoors because of their strength and durability.

How it evolved

The use of stairs dates back to around 6000 B.C. The first known stairs was made of wood trunks and was used for survival. Its main purpose was to enable people to move to higher areas such as valleys and mountains where they would feel more secure.

It was years later that historians discovered the use of the stairs for religious purposes in China. The first stairs in China then was made of granite and led to the Tai Shan, a sacred mountain. Ancient stories say Chinese philosopher Confucius went up this same ladder in the year 55 B.C.

Peter Nicholson was credited for formulating a mathematical system for the construction of stairs and railings by the end of the 19th century. Eva Jiricna of London is recognized as the one who started using glass and stainless steel in designing stairs with a futuristic appeal.

For more information on Stair railings, please visit BuyRailings.com, a leading distributor of railings, hand and foot rails, curtain rods and more.

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Tags: Home, Railings, Stair

Proper Stair Parts For a Good Stairway

If you grew up in a home that has stairs you will most probably have the memory of playing in the railings of the stairs and sliding down the handrail.

This memory might not be possible if your staircase is not sturdy enough to support your weight. With this, you know that you will have to be careful in finding the right stair parts that you will use to create the proper staircase in your home.

If you have a home and it has two or more floors, then you should start considering the stair parts that you will need for your stairs. The stairs are present in your home for practical reasons. You will have to use the stairs to go to one floor to the other. For other homeowners, they use the stairs to add décor in their home. This is also an important aspect especially if your staircase is big and visible in your home. If this is the case, then you will have to ensure that your staircase is not only safe but it should also be pleasing to the eyes of your visitors. In achieving this, you will have to ensure that you will get the right pieces that will help you get a sturdy staircase and also one that has interesting designs to match the look of your home.

The stair parts that you need are easy to find but this does not mean that you will already stop searching once you find one that you like. It is possible that you can easily find one type that you think fits your home but it will be better if you will continue searching and compare the pieces that you see in the market. If you are able to compare the stair parts, you will have a bigger chance of getting the one that you will really like. This will also be a good way to avoid future problems.

You can start thinking of the design that you like and get a professional help when it comes to constructing it. The carpenters will do their job this time but you can instruct them on the kind of outcome that you want from your own staircase.

Now, your home will only get the right staircase if you will invest on the stair parts that you will use. It would be best to start the search now and continue with it so that you can cover more types in the market and really get the kind that you can enjoy having. You should remember that the staircase is not only important because you want to play with its railings. The safety of your family will depend on it and it will also have a big impact in the look of your home.

For more information about Stair Parts feel free to visit http://www.elegantstairsandwoodfloors.com/
Eliza Maledevic Ayson writes for Jump2top.com - SEO Company

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Tags: Stairway, Stair, Proper

Can You Buy a Two Person Stair Lift?

The answer to the title is 'NO'. Since the stair lift operates on a track along which it runs, it is limited to the weight it can carry at any one time. Therefore, for safety reasons, only one person should use the stair lift at any one time.

The stair lift is meant to help the people with disability or an impairment that prevents them from walking up and down the stairs on their own. Through the use of a stair lift, they can be free to move around as they wish without having to rely on someone in their family to help them all the time.

The stair lift comes in different varieties. The most common one is where a chair is mounted on a track, and it moves up and down between the various levels of the house when you press a button. This is easy to use and most recommended for people that can walk around on their own, but cannot walk up or down the stairs due to some other problem.

The other variety is where a platform is mounted onto the track. This platform can carry a person or a wheelchair upstairs. This is best for people who are wheelchair bound and cannot walk at all. This is also useful for people who can't sit comfortably or those who have the energy to stand on the platform while it moves between the levels.

Stair lifts also come for staircases that are curved. While these cost more than normal stair lifts, these are best for homes that only have one staircase, and that staircase is curved. These need more work to be put in to mount everything into place, which is why it costs more.

Stair lifts operate both through a battery and through regular power supply. The battery is used to power the stair lift at times when there is no power, due to a power cut, which means no one will ever be left stranded on a level. The electricity supply is normally used during the day, letting the battery charge till it is needed.

Stair lifts are wonderful for elderly people and people who are disabled. They allow the person to have mobility without being restricted to any one level on the house. With a stair lift, the person can move through the house freely and you don't have to worry about changing floor plans, moving homes or building new rooms to give the person more mobility. While these are very common in homes for the elderly, they are growing in popularity and can be found in many homes across the country.

When you start planning on getting a stair lift, you need to first look at the available companies and get all of them to come and take a look at your house. The representative will then give you a quote and you can then decide which company to get the stair lift installed from. It takes two people few hours to install it, so it is not a long process.

You can find more info about a stair lift at Churchills Stairlifts. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brinkmann_Hamer

The Beauty of Cedar Deck Railing

The Importance of Good Railings For Your Home

Stair railings are a necessary component of stairs that lead either to the upper or lower level of your home. This is the legal description of stair railings. They are, however, more than just that in your home. They offer protection from family members and guests accidentally falling off the stairs as well as being very complimentary to the overall décor of your home. Cedar deck railing is very popular for outdoor decks while wood or vinyls are both used inside the home.

If you're building or remodeling your home, you'll be amazed when you see the many different designs, styles and materials there are available for railings for deck stairs and staircases inside the home. The style you choose will depend on your personal taste and preference. There are simple and plain designs for a casual or country design, while artistic and elegant designs can be used for a real touch of style and class. Long staircases have always been popular in homes and continue to be popular. With the ever-popular decks being built all the time, you'll want to take the time to decide which style of railing you want on your deck. Although a little more costly than most woods, cedar deck railing always looks great, especially with proper treatment. The most important thing when choosing deck railing is to use a material that can withstand the elements of weather, which can be very hard on certain materials.

Building Safe Railings

Besides as home décor, the main reason for stair railings is to prevent people from falling off the stairs and injuring themselves. Make sure the handrail and baluster are both sturdy enough to withstand the amount of weight that they'll encounter. Another safety factor is the space between the balusters, which should not be more than 4 inches. Certain laws are in effect regarding stairways and railings. Any size larger than 4 inches may cause a problem with a small child slipping through or being stuck and being injured.

Materials For Stair Railings

Many different materials can be used for building your stair railings including wood, vinyl, composites and metal. Aluminum railings can have different finishes such as powder coated, brushed silky look or brightly polished. They all look great and are a matter of personal preference. Wrought iron, brass, bronze or cast iron are all used to make metallic railings, which are also popular. Many people choose to mix and match materials. For instance, they'll use wood on the floor and vinyl cap rails on cedar deck railings. The most important thing to remember is to use the materials that will last the longest and withstand the most perils like weather, rotting or insects.

Adam Peters is the author of many resources on stair railings related topics published at http://www.deck-porch-railings.com - Read additional info on wood railings or cedar deck railing

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