What is a banister?

A banister or bannister is an essential component of any staircase, providing safety, structural integrity and aesthetic value. But with so many terms used for different staircase parts – including balustrade, banister, handrail, baluster, newel post, bottom railing, and more – what’s the exact definition of a banister, and why is it so important during staircase installation and staircase refurbishment? 

What is a banister for stairs?

The term ‘banister’ (also spelled ‘bannister’) refers to the part of the staircase you grip onto for safety and stability when ascending or descending. It’s also known as a handrail or staircase railing.

Not only do handrails or banisters serve a functional purpose, but they’re also a key stylistic component of your staircase. Handrails can be made from a variety of materials to either complement or contrast with the rest of the staircase – including softwoods, hardwoods and various metals – and can also be carved, varnished and painted to suit your exact artistic vision. 

The handrail or banister is typically held up and supported by a row of vertical posts called spindles or balusters. Like the handrail, the balusters can be made from a variety of materials, and sometimes balusters can come in the form of metal or glass sheets instead of vertical posts. Occasionally, the term banister is used to refer to the handrail and balusters together.

Balustrade vs banister

More often, the entire supporting structure along the side of the staircase, including the handrail/banister and balusters, is called a balustrade. The terms balustrade and banister are often confused with each other, but remember that balustrade is the correct term for the entire structure, which can include the handrail, balusters, newel posts and sometimes a bottom railing.

What is the end of a banister called?

The supportive posts at the ends of banisters are called newel posts, which can be topped with decorative newel caps. In a spiral staircase, the newel post is the central post that the staircase winds around.

Like balusters and handrails, newel posts can be made from a wide variety of materials to customise the overall design, and if you want to be really creative, you can mix-and-match timber spindles with a metal newel post (or vice versa). There are also lots of newel post styles to choose from – such as fluted posts, square posts, barley twist posts, and chamfered posts – or you can commission a completely bespoke newel post (or any other staircase component) from a staircase specialist like Handrail Creations to create a truly stand-out architectural feature. 

How tall should a banister be?

Whether you’re designing a staircase for a residential project or a commercial project, there are important UK building regulations to be aware of. These regulations dictate things like the minimum height for a banister or the maximum gap between spindles to improve health and safety. 

To learn more, make sure you consult Part K of The Building Regulations 2010, but here are some of the main regulations to be aware of when determining factors like the height of your banister:

• In both commercial and domestic properties, the banister or handrail must be a minimum of 900mm high, measured from the top of the handrail to the floor or pitch line of the stairs (the pitch line is the imaginary diagonal line running across the top of the stair treads).
• A sphere with a diameter of 100mm should not be able to pass through the gaps between balusters or spindles. This will minimise the risk of someone falling through the gaps in the balustrade. 
• Staircases must have handrails or banisters whenever there’s a drop of more than 600mm.
• Stairs that are wider than 1m should have a banister on both sides instead of just one.
• Banisters should be able to support a weight of around 200lbs or 90kg in case someone loses their footing on the stairs and falls against the railing.
• In commercial spaces, banisters should be fixed 50-75mm away from a wall to allow people to properly grip them.

How to install a banister

If you need a new handrail, you may be able to take care of this job yourself. First, you’ll need to purchase the right handrail/banister according to your material and style preferences. If a handrail isn’t quite right, remember that you can always cut it down to size and repaint it to create something you’re happier with.

Once you’ve got your new handrail ready, you can carefully remove the old one. If you have a wall-mounted handrail, you can simply unscrew the handrail from the brackets before installing your new handrail. If you need to attach new brackets to the wall, make sure you precisely measure the correct placements and draw reference marks before getting started. Use the guidelines listed above to work out the appropriate heights and spacing.

If you’re replacing a banister supported by balusters, you may need to replace the whole structure if the posts are fitted to the exact size and shape of the previous handrail, but if the handrail is attached with brackets or clamps, you can follow a similar process to the one above. As the name suggests, grooved handrails feature a groove on the bottom that’s designed to fit the balusters neatly inside for a fully integrated installation, whereas ungrooved handrails are fitted to the balusters with brackets or clamps. Determine which staircase parts you have before starting your installation project.

Whenever you undertake staircase installation or restoration work yourself, always keep yourself safe when using tools by wearing protective equipment like gloves and goggles. Working with wooden parts can create a lot of debris and sawdust, so you should keep the room well-ventilated, clear it periodically, and wear a dust mask.

Alternatively, you can make your life a lot easier by hiring professionals to handle installation for you. Here at Handrail Creations, we work with you throughout your entire project to design, manufacture and install your perfect bespoke handrail. We use precision CNC-machining technology to accurately measure all components ready for no-fuss assembly on-site – no need to worry about poorly fitting parts or imperfect finishes!

What is the best paint to use on a banister?

Whether you’ve just installed a new handrail yourself or are refurbishing an old staircase, one of the simplest and most effective changes you can make is adding a fresh coat of paint. The colour is entirely up to you, but we would recommend using a paint that’s specifically formulated for wooden surfaces (if you’ve got a wooden handrail) to improve durability and longevity. Since stairs are a high-traffic area, we would also recommend using a gloss finish, as this type of paint should make it easier to wipe your wooden handrail clean.

How much does it cost to install a banister?

The cost of installing a new banister will depend on your raw materials and whether you hire professionals or do it yourself. Softwoods are more affordable than hardwoods, but they’re not as durable and long-lasting as hardwoods like oak or mahogany.

Doing it yourself may seem cheaper at first – since you won’t have to pay for anyone’s time, labour or expertise – but the issue is that you’re more likely to encounter problems or make mistakes this way, which could be costly and time-consuming to fix. Sometimes it’s better to pay a bit extra for something to be done to your satisfaction from the start, and to ensure you’re totally happy with the final result. This is even more important if you’re hoping to sell your property in the near future, since poorly done DIY work could put off prospective buyers or affect the property’s value. 

Want to know more about handrails and the cost of installation? Get in touch with Handrail Creations today to arrange a consultation!