Dear Apartment Therapy,
When we renovated our apartment (5th floor walk-up on the UES), we decided to leave the staircase open and not install a banister/balustrade. The bottom of the staircase is open on both sides and all our guests are nervous about taking those first few steps.
Now, we're preparing to sell. I'm afraid that potential buyers will not like--for safety reasons--our choice to keep the staircase open.
I cannot find anyone who will custom-manufacture a stainless steel railing that matches the one we installed on the wall....
That railing is actually random stainless steel pipe that our handyman cut and installed. We want to put the railing on only one side of the steps. Everyone we're spoken to will not do it because "it is too small of a job."
Any suggestions? Ted
This is a tough one indeed. There is a high road and a lower road. The high one requires a fabrication company (and possibly an architect), while the lower one would have you using SpeedRail instead. Also, if you are willing to switch to regular steel, it gets a lot easier.
High End: Studio 40 specializes in stainless steel fabrication (718) 246-7484 - ask for Rick
High End: John Berg AIA is an excellent young architect who can draw a picture up if needed
Middle End: Hollaender manufactures SpeedRail hand rail that would provide a much easier solution and maintain the look.
Musa Sangare is a good carpenter/handyman
Josh Swiller is a good carpenter/handyman
That meets code? Mind Boggles.
Re going the non-stainless route-- You can keep regular steel shiny & free of fingerprint corrosion by wiping it down once every couple of weeks with a tiny bit of mineral oil (available at drugstores.) Its fast, easy, and cheap-- you just have to remember to do it periodically.
While cool-looking and airy, your staircase is most certainly a building code violation, and I would question any real estate agent who would show it without an "as is" disclaimer.
My suggestion-- go get yourself some simple lumber and a carpenter and put up a non-descript railing to get it to code (and not look too ugly) and explain that the buyer can "customize to taste."
Why? First, you won't get your money out if you spend big on custom steel work. second, there's no accounting for taste, and the buyer may very well not like the cool thing you install. Third, I think a number of buyers would actually like the opportunity to put their own stamp on the place with their own custom rail. Finally, I've not once but twice had my heart broken by doing lovely work on a place I was about to sell and regretted selling as a result...
wow, what fun dezigns this project puts in my mind. but, at least put down some no-skid runners of some sort. just looking at the shiny steps makes my tummy feel like i am falling!
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