Ropes for Handrails
Our rope handrails are made using high specification ropes in hemp, cotton and polyester. Selected for their superior features and smooth appearance, they feel comfortable to hold and will prove to be reliable and hard wearing.
4-strand hemp Rope
image: L.C.,Kendal UK
Four & Three Strand Ropes
A four strand construction produces a hard-lay (tightly twisted) rope with optimum stability and a round smooth profile and is an ideal choice for a handrail.
Four strand ropes are available in natural hemp, unbleached white cotton, black cotton and a top-of-the-range spun polyester (POSH) which makes an excellent substitute for a natural rope in outdoor environments.
We also stock some good quality medium-lay three strand polyester ropes in navy, black, buff and white.
If you would like to check the quality of our ropes before ordering, please contact us to order a free sample pack. (U.K. only). Overseas samples are sent by courier (p.o.a.).
Natural fibre Rope
Natural plant fibre ropes are perfect choices for interior handrails. Materials made from hemp and cotton stand the test of time; safe and naturally resilient, they are comfortable to live with and age gracefully!
Our hemp and cotton ropes feel firm and smooth to the touch. Their distinctive natural shades and textures give a unique character that integrates wonderfully with both traditional and modern living spaces
32mm Hemp Rope
32mm Unbleached Cotton Rope
Four strand hemp rope is very stable, extremely hard wearing and tends not to show the marks. Hemp has a warm sandy colour and a slight natural hay-like odour which varies from batch to batch depending on the harvest.
A natural fibre cotton rope feels softer in the hand and is lighter in weight than hemp. Our white cotton has a classic clean look and can look very smart when combined with brass fittings. To maintain its appearance, regular care to avoid staining and an occasional wipe with a damp cloth should keep it looking good for many years.
Also available in cotton is a 32mm diameter four strand rope in a stunning rich black, shown here matched with a gunmetal finish wrought iron fitting. It's smooth, elegant and low maintenance; there is no need to worry about finger marks with this cotton rope.
Natural ropes - Prices
- 24mm hemp - £13.00/m
- 32mm hemp - £18.00/m
- 32mm cotton, white - £20.00/m
- 32mm cotton, black - £35.00/m
Synthetic fibre Rope
Synthetic ropes are typically more resistant to moisture and sunlight than natural ropes, which is why they are often recommended for exterior use.
Unfortunately, many of the low budget options made from polypropylene or nylon fibres can bleach, shrink or become brittle in the sunlight and will need replacing after a few seasons.
A high grade Polyester will withstand exposure to the weather better than most ropes and will retain its appearance for longer without shrinking or fraying. The rope fibres are also softer than other synthetics, and give a more natural feel to the rope. These qualities make Polyester rope a sound choice for both exterior and interior handrail use.
For our handrails we offer three strand 24mm diameter polyester ropes in various colours including black, navy, natural beige and white. In 32mm diameter we supply a top-of-the-range four strand spun polyester (POSH) in a natural hemp look-alike colour.
POSH is a high quality 4 strand spun polyester rope with a smooth matt texture, high strength and minimal stretch factor. Inside or out, this natural-colour rope will outshine most other synthetic ropes and is the closest imitation to best quality hemp.
It was developed to provide a rope with authentic natural hemp appearance combined with excellent resistance to the elements. This rope is virtually impervious to rot from moisture, has good resistance to abrasion and is protected against sunlight degradation by an in-built U.V. inhibitor.
POSH (Port Out, Starboard Home) rope is used extensively in marine environments for the rigging on classic and period ships where the combination of good looks, durability and performance is of paramount importance.
32mm Natural colour POSH Rope
24mm Buff polyester rope
24mm Navy Polyester Rope
24mm Black Polyester Rope
Three-strand polyester ropes have more of a shine compared to the POSH ropes and are silkier and cooler to the touch. They have good resistance to damp and UV light so can be used for outdoor projects.
Polyester rope with its smooth clean profile will also fit the bill indoors, providing an elegant touch to a contemporary design. A navy polyester rope wound with cotton and combined with our English solid brass brackets is always popular for a nautical look.
Synthetic ropes - Prices
- 24mm polyester - £16.00/m
- 32mm POSH - £28.00/m
Navy handrail rope wound with cotton, with brass fittings
Wound Ropes
Our speciality two-tone wound ropes are individually made in custom lengths to order. They incorporate multiple strands which are laid together around a rope core using a nautical technique known as worming.
We can make these up using any of our natural or synthetic ropes combined with a variety of cords in almost any combination.
"Worm and parcel with the lay, turn about and serve away"
This refrain is from the days when natural fibre ropes were treated with various protective layers to keep the water and grit from penetrating the centre of the rope.
Worming a rope is twisting a smaller diameter cord into the gap between the strands of a large rope, parceling is wrapping a strip of canvas around the rope.
The worming and the parceling are both done with the lay (direction of twist) of the rope and then the serving (a continuous binding or whipping with still smaller diameter cord) is put in against the lay (ie. in the opposite direction).
Wound Ropes in Natural Fibres
Selection of natural fibre ropes wound with hemp or cotton cords
Wound Ropes in Synthetic Fibres
Selection of Wound Synthetic fibre Ropes
Wound ropes - Prices
- 24mm wound Hemp - £33.00/m
- 32mm wound Hemp - £38.00/m
- 32mm wound Cotton, white - £40.00/m
- 32mm wound Cotton, black - £55.00/m
- 32mm wound POSH - £48.00/m
- 24mm wound Polyester - £36.00/m
Complete price list on our order page
Cotton Bannister Rope wound with hemp
image: J.G., Naples,FL,US
Ropes: installation notes
We include a printed installation guide with all our bannister ropes. To measure up for a rope handrail or bannister rope, and for more information on installation, see our guidelines on the measure page.
When handling the wound ropes, it is important to maintain the lay in the rope. If the rope starts twisting against its natural direction it will kink, and the windings will lift and could become dislodged.
Handling the rope is fairly intuitive, nevertheless extra care should be taken during the installation stage to ensure the rope does not twist in the wrong direction.
Contact Stair Ropes.com
For more advice or information about our bannister ropes and hand rails, you can contact James Watson directly. Full details on our contact page.
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