How to remove oakrails in stairway to accommodate large piece of new furniture to get upstairs?

Question

I recently purchased some bedroom furniture a week ago. The largest piece was a wooden dresser that measures approx. 72 inches lenght, 18 inches depth, and 43 inches height. When you enter my house, you ahve to go up a couple of steps to a 2.5 foot by 2.5 foot landing, then turn right to go up a flight of 11 steps. When you go up the 2 step landing there are oak rails on the left.

Well the delivery men couldn't get the piece past the 2.5 square landing. First the tried going straight but the dress nearly hit the ceiling. Then they tried going to the side, meaning going over the oak railing then up, but again ran into problems because of the size of the dresser.

Well I had to reschedule the delivery for a later time. One of the delivery men suggested I should see about removing the railing going up the landing to make things easier.

Well easier said than done of course. I don't have the slightest clue on how to do that.

Suggestions anyone?

Description: It is a hand railing with wooden spindles on wooden base. HTH

Answer 1

Need more info. Is the railing on the wall, or is it a banister. If it's on the wall, then all you have to do is unscrew the brackets, if it's a banister then I would call somebody to do it. Handyman or carpenter then if it gets messed up they have to fix it. Banisters are harder to take off, if you don't know what you are doing.......

GOOD LUCK.............






Yup.... It's a banister, hire someone........

Answer 2

Risa, MT C is on the right track. You may be able to get by with just removing the handrail from the brackets though. Two screws per bracket. On the bottom of the handrail. Best to measure first to see if this would give you enough clearance. It would be a little easier to do this than to remove the brackets from the wall.
Remember: Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty. :)
Well , looks like your additional comments were added as I typed my answer...So I'm back.
Risa, opposite the handrail with the wooden spindles should be a wall. There normally is another handrail held by the brackets MT C described. Borrow a tape measure. Measure the width ( which I think is the only measurement you didn't give us.) of the dresser. Then measure the distance from the handrail with the spindles to the wall. See if you will have room by following one of the suggestions from MT C and myself.
K ? Good luck Risa.........

Answer 3

Given the dimensions of the furniture, my guess is they just have to have the right combination of moves and it should go up the stairs as it is. Did they remove all the drawers so they could handle it better? Removing the railings, unless they are only attached to the walls and not newel posts and banisters, would be major surgery. I might suggest making a large box out of cardboard the same size as the dresser, and then see how it has to be maneuvered to get up the stairs. Good luck!!

Answer 4

You could call in a handyman/woman to remove it for you an reinstall it after the furniture is in.

Or you might try to do it your self. The handrail should be held to the wall with brackets and screws. Remove the screws which hold the bracket to the wall. There are probably three screws per bracket and a bracket every four feet.

Good luck.