Stair rail kits - simplified

11.19.09

To:  Our customers, the Building Material Professionals, who make this industry work. And all the rest who enjoy reading 'The Southern Blog':
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A Virginia distributor spoke with ASK SOUTHERN recently about Southern’s vinyl stair rail kits.  Their customers had installation questions.  We thought we would share some of the ideas discussed.

Southern’s stair rail kits are very easy to install.  These kits are perfect for new home construction and for retrofit/remodeling applications, too.

Here are three short videos that answer the stair rail installation questions raised.

The new model code standard developed and published by the International Code Council recognizes 7-3/4” as the maximum rise and 10” as the minimum run or tread depth.  Your local code may be different.  We have seen some codes with a lower limit on riser heights, like 5.5”. Always check with your local building code official.  Southern usually has an answer to meet the official’s needs and to get you on and off the job quickly.

Stairs that are proportional to the human stride are best.  Residential stairs should ascend at an angle or pitch between 20 and 38 degrees to assure the most comfortable walk for the age range and abilities of the persons occupying the home.

Our standard brackets can be installed on slopes ranging from 28 degrees to 42 degrees. If your installation is outside these ranges, we have an answer for that, too. Our angle wizard brackets can solve the problem.

The rails in our kits are routed for slopes 36 degrees and below. These kits are perfect for new home construction, where the installer typically sees slopes with a 7/11 (32 degree) rise/run.  Because of our system’s adaptability, Southern’s kits work with many retrofit applications, too.

When the installer begins to see slopes exceeding 36 degrees, let Southern know.  We can customize the picket openings on a rail to accommodate a higher slope.  No extra charge for this service.

Likewise, we can reduce the size of the openings on the rail for lower slope applications. Again, no extra charge and the final result may be a tighter, cleaner installation appearance.

Southern also makes available angle wizard brackets for steep slope or very low slope applications.  These brackets work in 0 degree to 45 degree situations. An upcharge applies to these brackets.  We see angle wizard brackets used in beach houses on stilts, where there can be some dramatic angles.

Below is a quick look-up chart for stair rail slopes, measured in 1/8” increments. 

Southern suggests a rule of thumb for stair rail systems that will help you hit an ideal comfort zone: take the rise. double it. add the run.  If the number is between 23.625 and 25.625, your stair angle is at the most comfortable angle for the occupant of the home. For example, if you have a rise of 6.5 and a run of 11, our comfort zone rule produces a result = 24 (6.5*2+11), right in the middle of our range and a very easy ascending 31 degree slope.  If the rise were 7.5, our comfort zone rule would suggest a maximum run of 10-5/8", or a 35 degree slope.  Something to keep in mind if you are designing a set of stairs.

The numbers highlighted below in yellow mean a standard rail kit from Southern works fine right out of the box.  Standard brackets and standard routs are perfect for your application, given the rise/run of the job.

The italicized numbers in bold are rise/run combinations where our comfort zone rule of thumb applies. Consider this if you are able to design the slope of the application.  Of course, in a retrofit, you will deal with the hand dealt by the original builder.

Where the yellow highlighted numbers intersect with the bold italicized numbers, this is the bulls eye of the comfort zone.  Grab your Southern stair rail kit and go. It is ready to be installed without further ado.

The orange/butterscotch highlighted numbers in the top right corner mean that the standard rail kit can work in your application.  However, you will want to order angle wizard brackets for installations that fall in this category.

The pink highlighted numbers in the lower left corner mean that the standard brackets work fine.  However, because of the slope you will want to order rails with longer routed openings to accommodate the slope.  Southern modifies the size of these openings at your request at no extra upcharge.

As is quickly apparent from the chart, Southern’s standard stair rail kits are perfect right out of the box for most applications. And with a modest change in the hole opening, or the use of an angle wizard brackets, Southern's systems work in just about every situation you can dream of.

If you have special needs or questions about a job, please do not hesitate to call. 

For additional angle calculation, here is an excellent URL:www.primeshop.com/access/woodwork/anglecalc/

Additional information on stair rails can be found at:

www.stairways.org/codes_standards.htm  
www.stairways.org/staircase/using.pdf  
www.stairways.org/code_changes/A117%20Binder%20SMA%20Presentation%20090105.pdf  
www.stairways.org/pdf/2006%20Stair%20IRC%20SCREEN.pdf  
www.primeshop.com/access/woodwork/anglecalc/ 

Southern Vinyl. Setting the Standards.
 
Questions? Comments? e-mail Southern at svm@svmllc.com