Porch railing height?
#1
06-16-14, 07:11 PM
Porch railing height?
I have a contractor putting in new railings and my wife thinks it's wrong.
Are the hand rails going down the steps suppose to match the same height as the rails on the porch?
The contractor is telling me that it's within code and is suppose to be waist high all the way down, but we measured the hand rails on each side and they are off by 1" or 1 1/2".
I have attached a picture for reference.
Are the hand rails going down the steps suppose to match the same height as the rails on the porch?
The contractor is telling me that it's within code and is suppose to be waist high all the way down, but we measured the hand rails on each side and they are off by 1" or 1 1/2".
I have attached a picture for reference.
#3
06-17-14, 06:45 AM
Thank for the reply. The contractor came back out and said that he measures the top of the hand rail and then at the bottom. Both were 36" in height.
My wife argued that the measurements in between should also be 36" on each step.
I somehow think the contractor is right.
My wife argued that the measurements in between should also be 36" on each step.
I somehow think the contractor is right.
#4
06-17-14, 07:24 AM
A phone call to your local building department will confirm, but 34"-38" is fairly common. As Chandler said, this is measured vertically at the nose of the step. Measuring farther back on the step will provide varying results, as will holding the tape measure anything other than vertical. If this measurement is the same at the top and bottom, yes, it should be the same at each step, BUT if this is not the case, the problem is most likely that the rise and/or tread measurements of the steps is not consistent as it should be.
#5
06-17-14, 07:32 AM
Exactly what I was thinking. She is concerned because the measurements of the steps in between the top/bottom railings are slightly off 36".
But the top/bottom railings match exactly, so to me the rest should not be an issue.
But the top/bottom railings match exactly, so to me the rest should not be an issue.
#6
06-17-14, 03:11 PM
If the top and bottom are identical, the middle can only be what it is - determined by how the steps were built. Some women [my wife included] have a hard time comprehending construction 
