Loft addition

[lobo]

I have a little bit of wasted space in my small abode. I've been contemplating building out a loft. I bumped into a neighbor that has the same exact floor plan as me, and beat me to the punch. I took some pictures of the loft that he had built out. This will probably be a DIY project for me since I am cheap, and the project doesn't look like a ton of work. Looking for opinions/comments on a couple things.

Items to note - the project will pretty much involve building out the 'carpeted area' all the way to the windows you see on the far side of the picture. Originally, their was a hand rail at the near side (where the carpet begins) connected to the opposite wall, which overlooks an entry area below.

1) The span from the beginning of the carpet to the 'half-wall' is about 8 feet. Does the handrail they built in the picture look like it is structurally strong enough? Should I stick a newel at the near side and in the middle of the span to make it stronger? Or is that overkill? I don't have any experience with stairs/handrails.

2) Is there anything special about pre-contructed newels and balusters? As you can see, the ones in the pictures are just plain 4x4 newels and 1.25x1.25 balusters. They are kind of expensive purchased locally, if they are just cut pieces of lumber(newel - $66ea, baluster $6ea). Can I just make my own?

3) Overall constuction - My plan was to run 2x8 rim joists around the perimeter of the diagram. I was going to double up 2 2x8's for beam 'A' in the diagram, and possibly 2 2x8's on beam 'B' which will only be attached on the near side by a joist hanger and another joist hanger where it will intersect joist 'A'. Does that sound like a solid layout for the floor?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
http://206.251.247.143/DSC_1668-1.JPG

http://206.251.247.143/DSC_1669.JPG

http://206.251.247.143/layout.JPG

[Don_P]

I loaded it the worst way, joists from front wall to A and then A taking B midspan with 2' of the walkway. It worked but barely. Run the loft joists interior wall to wall if possible, then no sweat on the beams.

The wall attachment, the beam attachment, the load bearing conditions in the wall and under the beams, all the way to the ground needs to be understood.

Spacing the plies of B could allow the newel posts to go down into the floor securely.

Sure you can make your own;

[lobo]

Thanks. My situation is slightly different. You can't tell from my pictures or the diagram, but the area under the beam labeled 'B' will be open and only attached from the near side and the 'A' beam. The area underneath the 'B' beam is open to the ground floor, whereas you have a wall you built off of underneath your handrail. The neighbors seems pretty solid, so I may just stick with that setup.