Isn't a Railing just a Railing?

When you walk up and down your stairs, most likely you have a railing on one or both sides that your hand holds on to, in order to steady yourself as you walk on the stairs (which is great for people like myself who suffer from an unsteady depth perception from time to time!). But I bet you don't think about all that goes into the railing that you hold on to, or the different parts that make up the railing, or even what kind of railing system you have! Because a railing is just a railing, right?

Of course not! Like most all things out there, this piece of your stair that you don't normally think about is way more complicated than you would ever think. Over the next couple of posts, I'll explain all the different aspects, nuances, and parts that go into a railing system. But for now, just to get a feel for the complicated nature of railing systems, take a look at this diagram.

Railing Diagram, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.