HANDRAILS / SPECIFICATION

Technical information

Details to support early design, material selection and project coordination.

RAIL & BRACKET

Considered as an assembly.

The rail profile, leather construction, bracket and wall interface are developed together. Send us an elevation, section or photographs so we can review the details with your project team.

THE LEATHERWORK

Three constructions. A different character.

The right construction begins with the architecture and the way the rail will be held. These details offer a starting point for a conversation with the workshop.

Leather handrail returning around the concrete stair wall at Hiscox York — Wrapped · A tailored surface

Close view of black overlapped leather wrapping on a British Library stair handrail — Overlapped · A repeated edge

Woven leather handrail curving around a leather-clad column aboard Pink Gin VI — Woven · An interlaced texture

Appearance, seams and geometry
Construction	Appearance & seams	Geometry & detailing
Wrapped	Leather formed closely around the rail, with a hand-stitched underside seam. Stitch colour and end treatments are considered as part of the design.	The pattern follows the rail profile. Curves, returns and junctions are assessed individually to resolve the leather and seam.
Overlapped	Leather tape wound in sequence, making the repeated edge part of the surface. Tape width, overlap and winding direction shape the rhythm.	The wrapping is developed around the rail and its changes of direction. Brackets, ends and interruptions need carefully resolved terminations.
Woven	Interlaced leather strips create a more textured surface. Strip width, spacing and terminations determine the character of the weave.	The weave is developed around the rail diameter and geometry, with particular attention to changes of direction and the finished grip.

Leather selection, care and fitting are considered for each commission. Share a drawing or photograph and we can discuss the most appropriate construction.

Discuss a handrail with the workshop

ED TANNER / HANDRAIL SPECIFICATION

Wrapped leather

Open printable sheet

Construction: Leather patterned to the rail, adhered and hand-stitched along the underside.
Rail & profile: New or existing rail, subject to assessment. Confirm the core material, profile, finished grip size, radii and overall geometry.
Leather: Range, colour, grain and suitability for the intended location to be agreed. Approve a physical sample before manufacture.
Finish details: Specify seam position, stitch colour and end treatment. A rebate may be considered where the rail design allows.
Brackets & fixings: Confirm bracket design, finish, wall clearance, spacing and fixing substrate with the project team. Structural fixing design and suitability must be verified for the project.
Dimensions: Rail size, finished leather build-up, bracket projection and setting-out dimensions: project-specific, to be confirmed on coordinated drawings.
Installation: Workshop application or site fitting, subject to the rail construction, access and programme. Confirm responsibility for the rail, brackets and supporting substrate.
Care: Care instructions to follow the selected leather. Agree cleaning products and maintenance requirements before handover.

Preliminary specification guide. This sheet is not a dimensioned fabrication drawing or a statement of regulatory compliance.

Ed Tanner · Architectural leatherwork · admin@edtanner.co.uk · edtanner.co.uk

ED TANNER / HANDRAIL SPECIFICATION

Overlapped leather

Open printable sheet

Construction: Leather tape wound around the rail to form a repeated overlapping edge.
Rail & profile: New or existing rail, subject to assessment. Confirm the core material, profile, finished grip size, radii and overall geometry.
Leather: Range, colour, grain and suitability for the intended location to be agreed. Approve a physical sample before manufacture.
Finish details: Agree tape width, overlap, winding direction, terminations and junctions against an approved sample.
Brackets & fixings: Confirm bracket design, finish, wall clearance, spacing and fixing substrate with the project team. Structural fixing design and suitability must be verified for the project.
Dimensions: Rail size, finished leather build-up, bracket projection and setting-out dimensions: project-specific, to be confirmed on coordinated drawings.
Installation: Workshop application or site fitting, subject to the rail construction, access and programme. Confirm responsibility for the rail, brackets and supporting substrate.
Care: Care instructions to follow the selected leather. Agree cleaning products and maintenance requirements before handover.

Preliminary specification guide. This sheet is not a dimensioned fabrication drawing or a statement of regulatory compliance.

Ed Tanner · Architectural leatherwork · admin@edtanner.co.uk · edtanner.co.uk

ED TANNER / HANDRAIL SPECIFICATION

Woven leather

Open printable sheet

Construction: Leather strips interlaced around the rail to create a textured surface.
Rail & profile: New or existing rail, subject to assessment. Confirm the core material, profile, finished grip size, radii and overall geometry.
Leather: Range, colour, grain and suitability for the intended location to be agreed. Approve a physical sample before manufacture.
Finish details: Agree weave, strip width, colour, terminations and the finished grip profile against an approved sample.
Brackets & fixings: Confirm bracket design, finish, wall clearance, spacing and fixing substrate with the project team. Structural fixing design and suitability must be verified for the project.
Dimensions: Rail size, finished leather build-up, bracket projection and setting-out dimensions: project-specific, to be confirmed on coordinated drawings.
Installation: Workshop application or site fitting, subject to the rail construction, access and programme. Confirm responsibility for the rail, brackets and supporting substrate.
Care: Care instructions to follow the selected leather. Agree cleaning products and maintenance requirements before handover.

Preliminary specification guide. This sheet is not a dimensioned fabrication drawing or a statement of regulatory compliance.

Ed Tanner · Architectural leatherwork · admin@edtanner.co.uk · edtanner.co.uk

INSTALLATION & CARE

Information that helps us specify.

Please include the rail length and profile, plans or elevations, curves and returns, bracket details, photographs of any existing rail, the location and anticipated use, and your programme.

We will review feasibility, leather selection, junctions and fitting arrangements. Finished dimensions, fixing requirements and any applicable performance criteria should be resolved before manufacture.

Discuss the specification