How to end a staircase handrail?

SameOldRoundabout

I’ve tried googling this to no avail as I can’t think how to word it. Our Edwardian house seems to have been built using odds and ends from other jobs, and to compound things a previous owner has badly tried to restore things (including having all the doors dipped, now all badly cracked, and replacing 90% of the spindles with badly done, slimmer replicas) so we’re not sure what’s original or not. 

Our stairs run up from the hall, then there’s a split level landing with the staircase immediately returning on itself to go up the next few stairs. There is a newel post and the top but currently the main handrail butts into the string of the next set of stairs. Ditto for the attic staircase. It’s badly done and clunky, but I can’t find how a handrail is supposed to end when it’s running into a string not a newel post! Any ideas wise owls?

FreeBear

Was there a newel post there originally ?

There may be clues in the timbers forming the tread/steps in that area.

In the meantime, a couple of images, the first from https://www.littlehouseonthecorner.com/our-edwardian-house/

One more note - Having doors dipped & stripped is a lot easier and quicker than using a hot air gun or Nitromors. I'm waiting on a couple of doors to come back from being stripped - Whilst there may be a chance that the plywood panels will have suffered, these can be easily repaired if needs be.

SameOldRoundabout

The newel posts and hand rail are original. The issue I’m having is there is no return if you see what I mean....I’ll get a picture @FreeBear

This is the top of the stairs to the first floor. The stairs up again have the same feature except they’ve tried a different finishing tact of just running part of the handrail up across the front of the string. 

Mistral001

There is usually a gap left between the two flights precisely to avoid this situation and so that the handrail can continue to the top of the flight and connect with the handrail of the next flight or the newel post.    There is nothing you can do to get such a gap without completely remodelling your staircase.  

However, it might look better if you got rid of that piece of timber presently fixed to the side of the spindles and replace it with a plate of timber capping the spindles.   The top of the capping plate would be in line with the underside of the next flight.  Then fix the handrail to the underside of this capping plate.  After that the half round timber piece of the next flight (presenting painted white) could continue down to the newel post. 

rach_k

I don't think I have a picture unfortunately, but our original 1900 staircase was similar to what you've pictured.  Unfortunately, the bit you're asking about was removed when we converted the loft (I'm still sad about it). 

I'm not sure of the correct terminology, but the handrail on ours was cut at an angle to join the bit along the underneath of the next flight of stairs (is that called a mitre joint?).  The piece underneath the next flight was made of the same handrail, but with the back cut out so it continued as if it was one piece and stuck out only as far as the handrail.  It was a slimmer handrail than yours, I think, too, with fewer grooves.  

Apologies for the terrible photo editing but this is what I mean:

rach_k

Wait, I am actually an idiot.  That bit on ours is still there, although desperately needs painting!  It was the lovely curved section we lost to the attic stairs.  

This is original from 1900 I believe (apart from the odd spindle), although the bad paint/varnish job is more recent.

ouraggie

Hi. Our staircase might hold the answer. I have PMd you.

FreeBear

ouraggie said: Hi. Our staircase might hold the answer. I have PMd you.

Please, do share. It is of interest to others who may be contemplating similar issues.

ouraggie

Hi . Sorry, am not very techno so don't know how to post pics but can just about manage to attach one to an email!

Le_Kirk

ouraggie said:

Hi . Sorry, am not very techno so don't know how to post pics but can just about manage to attach one to an email!

You see that box where you type your reply, there are some symbols/icons on there. If you run your mouse cursor over them slowly you will come to one that says attach file and then one that says attach image.  Use one of them.