I was recently asked about putting a rail in a dance studio that some friends are starting up. Trouble is, I know nothing about dancing or dance studios.
I’ve seen the rails in dance studios that the dancers hold on to when they stretch and stuff. I suspect it’s just common hand rail stock, like the local lumberyards stock. Or is it?
Two other things I’m wondering –
First, what’s the correct height for the rail?
Second, how do I attach it? The walls are brick with plaster over it. Then they’ve put 1X3 strips on the walls and put cheap 1/8″ panelling over the top of that. The owner does not want the panelling or trim disturbed, so I’m kinda stuck.
Any thoughts?
I could dance with you till the cows come home, on second thought I’ll dance with the cows till you come home.
Replies
1 1/2" round poplar or oak. Typical height 42", but can vary. http://www.gibsongymnastics.com/ballet.html
BH
I know nothing about dancing or dance studios.
Your kidding! :)
If you can drill one hole per bracket and want to mount to the block, these brackets from Ives in Aluminum would be the ticket. Go to a hardware supplier and spec the Ives #159 Alum Handrail bracket.
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If you cannot mount to the wall, there are free standing ballet bars available, for mucho dollars.
When my daughter danced, they had a couple diff hts for the age group. I'm sure if they are going to open a dance studio, they'll know the ht. I think too that the round dowel rather than a sculpted handrail would be the ticket..........then again, I can't dance.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Those brackets look like they'd work well, but...
The main problem is the 3/4" air space between the cheap panelling and the brick walls. Not sure how to deal with that.
Also - If they buy these nice brackets, I don't know of any way to mount them except with tapcons. And I'm not sure how well the blue tapcon heads would look over the brass/aluminum handrail brackets.Bumpersticker: Democrats are sexy.Who ever heard of getting a great piece of elephant?
Ron,
Mount the bracket over the furring location. Use heavy Expandet anchors with #12 or 14 pan head screws long enough (2-1/2 or so) to go past the furring at least an inch and a half.
http://www.phoenixfastener.com/viewprod.asp?index=97&cid=2Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Mounting the brackets over the furring strips would be ideal. But I'm not sure yet where the furring strips are, and I don't think they're particularly level. (I saw a few of them exposed in a closet)
Once I knew the corret height for the rail, I was going to go back there and see if I could figure out where they were and if the height of the existing furring strips would work out.My Wife walks with me when I take the garbage out. That way she can tell her friends we go out once a week.
Figure out the height that is appropriate. If there is no furring strip behind it use a hole saw to cut a hole, that is the same size or larger than the handrail bracket, at the desired height.
Using that same holesaw, cut out some plugs the appropriate thickness and use some PL construction adhesive to glue them to the brick. Before gluing you could make an extra thick plug with the pilot hole from the hole saw expanded to the right size for the masonry anchor (illustrated in the previous post with a handrail bracket pictured) as a guide to rotohammer the mounting hole.
I may not have explained it clearly enough to go in an instruction manual but I think you will get the gist of the method.
If the gap between the round "furring" plugs and the hole in the paneling is unsightly a neat bead of caulking should suffice. You could also use a holesaw 1/8 inch bigger to cut the plugs and eliminate most of the gap between the installed plug and the hole in the paneling.
Karl
I would hope ron that they mounted the furring vertical, looking for the seams and picking up the repeat nail pattern would be the way to go.........which a man of your caliber I'm sure knew. Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
The furring strips are horizontal 1X3s. Which makes sense, as the panelling is vertical.
The furring strips were stuck on with concrete nails, half of which easily slide out of the wall when pulled on.
So I'm kinda trying to maek a silk purse from a sow's ear with almost no budget...I used to have a handle on life, then it broke.
Well I'll be, must be some more of those regional differences. And here all the time when furring, I've been running them vert. So over there, all the seams in the panels push in cept where they cross the furring. Go figger.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I did a rail for a school .... same thing....crappo paneling job with random furring
I ran a 2x6 around the perimeter...routed the edge to sex it up a bit...long tapcons over the furring and some screw that pulled the panel up snug to the 2x6....then put the brackets and rail on.
If I remember the rail was about 36" high for smaller kids.
Darlin' Daughter came through (sorta). This website supposedly has all you need to know about the subject. (It's called a barre, by the way)
http://www.alvas.com/index.html
Most dancers I have seen had a verticle brass pole.
"Most dancers I have seen had a verticle brass pole."
I don't think I'll suggest that to my friends. The dance classes they offer are for kids from ages 5 through 13 or so. I don't think they would see any humor in that...Don't take life too seriously. They will soon repeat it on cable TV.
I figured that, just thought you might see some humor.
My daughter has been a dancer and dance teacher for 20 yrs and I know that the bar needs to be VERY sturdy - it will take a lot of stress. I'll ask her about the size, height, and clearance from the wall and post the info.
Boss
I just did a bar for an exercise class room.
Due to the poor backing, I mounted a 1x6 pine board across the whole wall for support (anywhere I could find place to set a screw).
For a rail I used Galvanized pipe and fittings (wall mount was a simple plate) and painted it with an enamel paint.
Height was determined by the teacher and where her foot came to (I think it was 35").
Didn't cost very much and made her happy.
Jeff