Glossary of Terms

Baluster
A narrow vertical member that helps to support the handrail. Usually set on a 4”.

Balustrade System
A collective term that refers to the newels, balusters and handrail on a particular stairway, also commonly know as a banister.

Banister
The system of parts that comprise the stairway. A banister is usually the combination of handrail, newels, stair treads, balusters and assorted trim pieces.

Box Newel
A large, square newel used in a post-to-post balustrade system. This type of post is used in Craftsman and Mission systems.

Box Stair
A stairway that is fully enclosed by walls and routed stringers on both sides. Also known as a closed stairs.

Bullnose
Edge details usually used on tread and landings.

Cap
Used in an over-the-post balustrade system. The part of the fitting that widens in order to sit on a newel.

Circular Stairway
A curved stairway that is mounted on stringers rather than a central pole.

Cove Molding
A trim piece that is usually installed under treads, the landing tread and wall cap.

Fillet
Strips, generally flat, that fill the plow between square-top balusters on plowed handrail and shoe rail.

Full Tread
A solid step, as opposed to carpet or tread ends with carpet. Also known as solid tread.

Fitting
Used where changing height or direction. For example: starting a balustrade (volute, turnout, start easing with cap), at a landing (landing fitting assembly), and at a balcony.

Gooseneck
A handrail fitting consisting of an up-easing, a vertical rail drop and a level cap. It is used at a landing or balcony to raise the rake handrail to the height of the balcony handrail.

Guardrail
A protective railing designed to prevent people or objects from falling into open well, stairwell or other pen spaces.

Handrail
The horizontal or rake member of a balustrade system. It sits on top of the balusters and is supported by newel posts.

Landing
A resting place, or wide step at the middle or top of a flight of stairs. Landings are often used to change the direction of stairs.

Landing Tread
Narrow tread nosing situated above the top riser or along the upper edge of a balcony or landing. This gives the appearance of a tread at the top of the stairway.

Level Quarter Turn
A level handrail fitting that turns by 90 degrees.

Mitered Return
A piece of handrail mitered onto a longer section of handrail to provide a return to a wall.

Newel Post
The major support for a balustrade system. Newels are larger in diameter than balusters and are located at the bottom and top of a stairway or at a turn in the handrail.

Nosing
The portion of a tread or landing tread that protrudes beyond the face of the riser.

Opening Cap
A handrail fitting at the start of a level balustrade system.
 
Open Stair
A stairway not boxed in by walls on one or both sides.
 
Open Stringer Stair
A stringer that is cut out for the treads and risers.

Open Riser Stair
A staircase designed with only the horizontal surfaces of the treads fixed to the stair stringers. Vertical surfaces between treads are open.

Overhand Easing
A handrail fitting that connects a rake handrail with a level handrail without the use of a gooseneck.

Over-The-Post Stair System
A continuous handrail that runs over the newel posts with the use of handrail fittings.

Plow
The routed portion of a handrail or shoe rail used for inserting square balusters. The gaps left between balusters are covered with fillet.

Post-To-Post Stair System
Balustrade system in which the handrail is not continuous. The handrail runs between the newel posts.

Rail
The handrail of a stair system.

Rail Fittings
Fittings are used in an over-the-post system for a continuous handrail appearance through turns and changes in elevation.
 
Rake
The angle of a stairway’s ascent. This is determined by the rise and run.
 
Return Nosing
Tread nosing applied to the outside of an open tread to cover end grain. 
 
Rise
The vertical measurement from the top of one tread to the top of the next tread.

Riser
The vertical component of a step that, along with the stringers, supports the treads.

Run
The horizontal distance covered by the entire stairway.

Shoe Rail
A piece running along the floor or atop a routed stringer that is plowed for the insertion of balusters and fillet.

Skirt Board
Aesthetic board that runs parallel on wall side or open side of stair.
 
Spindle
Same as baluster.

Spiral Stairway
A curved stairway that is mounted on a central pole rather than on stringers.

Starting Easing
A handrail fitting that is used at the bottom of a stairway with a starting newel.

Starting Newel
The newel used at the bottom of a stairway.

Starting Step
The first tread and riser at the bottom of a stairway.

Stringers
The supporting pieces that run the length of the stairway on which treads, risers and balustrade are mounted.

Tandem Cap
A straight level handrail fitting with a newel cap. Tandem caps generally are used on newels in long stretches of balcony handrail.

Tread
The horizontal component of a step upon which one walks.
 
Tread End
Used in place of full length treads as an standard alternative. Installed on the edge of the step, allowing carpet to cover the balance of the stair. False end treads, when covered with carpet, look like solid treads and are less expensive than a solid wood tread.
 
Turnout
A handrail fitting used on a starting newel that curves away from the stairway.

Up Easing
A handrail fitting that joins two handrails or fittings at different angles in a graceful, pleasing manner.

Volute
A handrail fitting used on a starting newel that turns away from the stairway in a circular fashion.
 
Volute Box
A radius box installed at the bottom of the first step when using a volute.

Wall Rail
A handrail that is mounted on a wall and supported by wall rail brackets rather than newels or balusters.
 
Wall Rail Brackets
Metal supports for a wall rail.
 
Wall Tread
Tread that goes on the opposite side of the balustrade tread end.