A stair railing like this one is typically comprised of at least a handrail and posts.
If you're remodeling your staircase, you should learn the names of all the parts of your staircase so you can order new items. The parts of the staircase needed for a staircase remodel depend on the depth of your remodeling project. If you're only replacing a single tread on your stairs and painting it, you probably don't need to learn much about balusters. Does this Spark an idea?
Treads
The treads on your staircase are the part of the stair where your foot falls and you step. You can have a wide or narrow tread, depending on the design of the staircase. Treads are made from a wide variety of materials, including wood and metal. In most cases, you can get replacement treads in the size you want from your local home improvement store or a specialty store.
Risers
The visible part of the stair that holds the treads in place is the riser. In some cases, such as in many metal staircases, a riser is not required. Risers are common in wood stairs. You can often replace a riser if needed with a simple piece of wood. Unlike treads, which may have decorative edging, risers are typically basic in style and form.
Rails & Balusters
The rail on your staircase, which you hold onto as you come up and down the stairs, is typically comprised of a handrail and balusters. Any type of pole that holds the handrail up is usually referred to as a baluster. You can have simple straight, dowel-like balusters or more elaborate wrought-iron options. If your stair rail is a simple rail attached to a wall, it's a handrail.
Posts
The large vertical elements between rail section are called posts. Like fence posts, rail posts are used to connect multiple sections of rail together. The most commonly known post is the post at the bottom of a set of stairs, which is called the newel post. Newel posts are often decorative and are frequently larger than any other post featured in a staircase railing.
Hardware
Your staircase or staircase railing can include a wide range of hardware options. From shoes, which hold wrought-iron balusters in place against the floor, to handrail brackets, which attach simple handrails directly to the wall, staircase hardware comes in many forms. You may not need them once your remodel is complete, depending on the items you use in your remodel.
Floor Covering
The final piece to any staircase is the floor covering. You can simply paint or stain your stairs, or you can apply a flooring cover option, like tile, laminate or carpeting. Before you begin tearing anything else on your staircase apart, remove the flooring. Hidden problems, like adhesive treads or a cracked riser, are often lurking under old flooring, and you'll need to know about the problem before you pick up supplies.
Tags: your staircase, part stair, staircase railing, that holds, typically comprised
