My house was built in the 70s and has a metal spiral design under the handrail instead of typical spindles you would see on a normal set of of stairs. The stairs do not meet the regs in relation to the 100mm gap nor the 900mm height.
I don't like the spiral design and want to replace with standard wooden spindles and newel posts along with a handrail. The stairs are cut / open string so there is no baserail - the spindles would need to just go into the tread. The metal spirals are simply screwed into the treads.
I bought some 900mm wooden spindles but to meet the current building regs I would need them to be much longer than 900mm as I understand the measurement is taken by drawing a line along the treads of each stair. As a spindle will need to sit towards the 'back' of each step they would need to be more like 1000 - 1100mm to get the elevation to meet the 900mm condition.
I know there will be someone who has come across this before - I would be really grateful if you could let me know whether it is a requirement that I meet the 900mm regs or whether due to the age of my house and / or the fact I want to simply replace the spiral design with new wooden spindles and handrail it means that I do not need to meet them.
I have seen comments that the replacements "must not be worse" than the previous. This will be the case as I will look to adhere to the 100mm gap rules but the height would only be 800mm or so in places.
If I need to meet the 900mm then I would have to go and source some longer spindles I guess....
Many thanks in advance and let me know if need more info.
I don't like the spiral design and want to replace with standard wooden spindles and newel posts along with a handrail. The stairs are cut / open string so there is no baserail - the spindles would need to just go into the tread. The metal spirals are simply screwed into the treads.
I bought some 900mm wooden spindles but to meet the current building regs I would need them to be much longer than 900mm as I understand the measurement is taken by drawing a line along the treads of each stair. As a spindle will need to sit towards the 'back' of each step they would need to be more like 1000 - 1100mm to get the elevation to meet the 900mm condition.
I know there will be someone who has come across this before - I would be really grateful if you could let me know whether it is a requirement that I meet the 900mm regs or whether due to the age of my house and / or the fact I want to simply replace the spiral design with new wooden spindles and handrail it means that I do not need to meet them.
I have seen comments that the replacements "must not be worse" than the previous. This will be the case as I will look to adhere to the 100mm gap rules but the height would only be 800mm or so in places.
If I need to meet the 900mm then I would have to go and source some longer spindles I guess....
Many thanks in advance and let me know if need more info.
