Handrails Direct Staircase and Handrail Terminology Guide

This staircase and handrail terminology guide is here to help you understand the key terms you'll come across, from identifying your staircase type to ordering the handrail and following installation instructions. There's a good chance you'll encounter a couple of technical terms you've never heard before, but we're here to help. Below, we've listed all the staircase terms you'll need to help make your installation process run much more smoothly.

Related blog: Handrail Systems Explained: What’s in the Box & How it all Fits Together

Why Is Terminology Important?

Understanding staircase terminology can make a huge difference. As a tradie, it helps make communication with suppliers easier, and as a DIY newbie, it just helps you understand your finials from your risers. As well as this, staircase designs must meet certain building regulations, so knowing your terminology makes the requirements easier to follow. And obviously, actually grasping what the words are means that you don't have to take time out of your busy schedule to sit and waste time googling terminology... we've all been there. So, let's get into the Handrails Direct Staircase and Handrail Terminology Guide.

Staircase and Handrail Terminology Guide

To make things easier, let's break our staircase into multiple sections and dive deeper into the keywords.

Staircase Types

Whilst at Handrails Direct, we have our 6 staircase types listed, some people actually do use different wording. So it's crucial to know every version.

• Straight Flight - The most common and basic staircase type, a straight incline. Also known as Straight Stairs.
• Single Winder - Either at the bottom or top of the stairs, a slight bend that doesn't need a landing and is narrower on one side than the other. Also known as Winder Stairs.
• Quarter Landing - From a bird's eye view, they make an L shape. The stairs turn 90 degrees at a landing or set of winders. Also known as L-Shaped Stairs.
• Half Landing - 2 parallel flights of stairs that join by a landing and create a 180-degree turn. Also known as U-Shaped Stairs.
• Double Winder - Two consecutive wedge-shaped steps that allow the staircase to change direction smoothly without the need for a flat landing. Also known as Two Winder Staircase. 
• T-Shape - One central staircase that then splits into two separate flights of stairs. Usually continuing in opposite directions. Also known as Bifurcated Stairs.

There are also a few other staircase options not available on Handrails Direct:

• Cantilever Stairs - Floating stairs, each step looks like it's floating in mid-air.
• Curved Stairs - Have a slight curve going up the stairs rather than a sharp bend.
• Spiral Stairs - Stairs that wind around a central column or pole.
• Split Stairs - Similar to bifurcated stairs. Split stairs are used to connect different levels in a split-level building where floors are staggered.
• Twin Stairs - 2 parallel flights of stairs, usually mirroring each other and separated by a landing.

The Stairs

• Nosing - Slightly extended section of the step tread to improve safety and foot placement.
• Pitch - Angle/slope of the stair rail.
• Risers - The vertical surface between each step. In a floating/cantilever staircase, this section doesn't exist.
• Stair Rise - The height between the consecutive treads.
• Stair Run - The horizontal difference covered by a staircase or flight of stairs.
• Stair Stringer - An inclined support that runs along the side of a staircase where the steps are attached.
• Stair Tread Return - A slight extension at the side of the staircase that overhangs the staircase. Opposite aspect of the Nosing.
• Step - The term for the treads and risers. 1 tread and 2 risers are classed as a step. Found on the stairs.
• Treads - Horizontal surface where you place your foot.

The Handrails

• Banister - A handrail and its supporting framework that runs alongside a staircase.
• Baluster - Upright support that minimises the gap underneath the handrail.
• Guardrail - Often combined with handrails, typically used for safety and fall protection.
• Handrail - Narrow rail made from various materials, grasped for support.
• Newel Post - Main support post at the start/end of the handrail, typically found on staircase handrails.
• Powder-Coating - Protective finish applied to metal rails.
• Return Handrail - End of the handrail that turns back around and curves itself to eliminate exposed ends and provide a finished and aesthetic look.
• Termination - End of the handrail that can be returned or capped.

Accessories

• Brackets - Attaches the handrails to the walls.
• Finial - Decorative cap or orb on top of the newel post.
• Runner - A strip of carpet that runs down the middle of the stairs but leaves the sides of the staircase exposed.
• Spandrel - 'The closet under the stairs'. It's the small, triangular space under the stairs that usually offers a door to use for storage.

Staircase and Handrail Terminology Guide: Conclusion

Bet you didn't realise there were so many ways to say 'stairs'? Did any of these words sound familiar? Next time you take a look at our website or blogs, make sure to look out for any of the new terminology.