Back to Stair System Index

Consider the following steps in choosing the staircase that is right for your home.

Step 1. Choose A Material

The first step in making the stairway unique to the home is to choose a material from which your staircase will be constructed.  For example, do you want a wood staircase, or a wood and forged iron combination?

Step 2. Select A Style

Step 3. Select An Appropriate Baluster Style

Pin Top Balusters	Square Top Balusters	Forged Iron Balusters

Step 4. Choose a Handrail

Select a handrail that corresponds to the baluster choice.

Unplowed

Plowed

Profiled Bending Rails
Bending rails and moulds are an affordable and practical way to create a curved balustrade system on the job site. If the instructions are followed accurately, profiled bending rails can be glued to a 30" radius on the rake and a 36" radius on the level.

Seven-Piece Bending Rail & Bending Moulding	Nine-Piece Bending Rail & Bending Moulding

Shoerails and Fillets
Shoerail is used with balusters on kneewall stairs and on level balconies. Fillet is used to fill the plow between the balusters in shoerail and plowed handrails.

Shoerail Examples

Step 5. Choose a Starting Fitting

If you selected an Over-The-Post System in Step 2, you also should select a starting fitting.

Step 6. Select a Newel Post

There are two styles of stairways in all of our collections. Over-The-Post features a continuous handrail that tops the newels and balustrade throughout the stairway. Post-To-Post utilizes finial-topped newels that intersect the handrail at intervals.

OVER-THE-POST NEWELS	POST-TO-POST NEWELS

Box Newels
This is an upgrade option compatible with most collections. Box Newels are constructed rather than a solid piece.

Factory-primed Box Newels are an affordable upgrade from the industry standard look. 

BOX NEWELS	PRIMED BOX NEWELS

By following these six steps, you will be well on the way to making smart staircase decisions!