The City of Asheville requires that all deck stairs with four or more risers (3 Steps) must have a handrail. In the past, many deck builders used a 2x6 or 6" deck board to form the handrail. This created graspability issues and the codes were changed to allow a 2x4 (i.e.-no larger than 3-1/2" wide). Now, this is no longer permitted in the City. The code requires that deck handrails must meet the same standards as interior stair handrails.
This raises an issue. If you need an approved handrail for interior stairs then you can go down to your local home center and buy one. However, these handrails are not suitable for exterior weather without taking step to seal them.
Fortunately, code provides for non-circular hands rail because reproducing circular hand rails in the field is difficult and time consuming. Now the challenge is to create a handrail that meets codes and looks good.
Here is one method we use that not only meets code but looks good and can be made quickly from material on site.
(1) Make the handrail top piece. Use one of the deck boards (5/4 x 6") which are typically 5-1/2" wide and rip in down the middle. One edge will have the factory bullnose on it while the other edge will be square from your rip. Use a router to give this square edge a bullnose so that both edges have rounded sides. Make sure the overall width of this piece is not more than the 2-1/4" max allowed. See illustration above.
2) Make the handrail base. Rip a pressure treated 2x4 to 1-1/4" wide. Install this piece on top of the existing handrail with deck screws. In this example, the existing handrail was a 5/4 x6" deck board. Make sure you pre drill the holes so that it doesn't split. Align this piece and the screw locations so that the screw will drive into wood below the handrail.
3) Place the handrail piece you created from the deck boad and attach it to the base. Use whatever method you would like to make the connection. Usually, we use deck screws but you may want to use exterior finish screws or other fastners that are better concealed.
In this example, we continued our handrail on top of the guardrail because the guardrail terminated into the screen porch after about 4'. However, you can terminate the handrail wherever makes most sense for your situation.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions or other have other examples of handrail designs, please let us know.
This raises an issue. If you need an approved handrail for interior stairs then you can go down to your local home center and buy one. However, these handrails are not suitable for exterior weather without taking step to seal them.
Fortunately, code provides for non-circular hands rail because reproducing circular hand rails in the field is difficult and time consuming. Now the challenge is to create a handrail that meets codes and looks good.
Here is one method we use that not only meets code but looks good and can be made quickly from material on site.
(1) Make the handrail top piece. Use one of the deck boards (5/4 x 6") which are typically 5-1/2" wide and rip in down the middle. One edge will have the factory bullnose on it while the other edge will be square from your rip. Use a router to give this square edge a bullnose so that both edges have rounded sides. Make sure the overall width of this piece is not more than the 2-1/4" max allowed. See illustration above.
2) Make the handrail base. Rip a pressure treated 2x4 to 1-1/4" wide. Install this piece on top of the existing handrail with deck screws. In this example, the existing handrail was a 5/4 x6" deck board. Make sure you pre drill the holes so that it doesn't split. Align this piece and the screw locations so that the screw will drive into wood below the handrail.
3) Place the handrail piece you created from the deck boad and attach it to the base. Use whatever method you would like to make the connection. Usually, we use deck screws but you may want to use exterior finish screws or other fastners that are better concealed.
In this example, we continued our handrail on top of the guardrail because the guardrail terminated into the screen porch after about 4'. However, you can terminate the handrail wherever makes most sense for your situation.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions or other have other examples of handrail designs, please let us know.
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