How to Install a Stair Railing the Easy Way
Congratulations, you have decided to install a staircase in your house or backyard. Now, you need to know how to install a stair railing to make the whole system safe for everyone who is using the stairs.
It may seem as simple as pounding a few stakes into the stairs and gluing a dolly here and there, but it is much more complicated than that. Keep reading for a safe way to install the stair railing.
The first thing to do when you are installing a stair railing is to calculate the staircase’s length and curves that it has. Curves mean more materials in the railing.
You will want to calculate the amount of materials you will need by taking measurements on the wall starting at the top of the stairs and going all the way to the bottom. If your staircase is curved, you will want to factor that into your calculations as well or ask a professional about it. They should be able to help you get all the materials that you need.
The second thing you need to do after you know all the measurements is to measure the lengths that you need for the railing and slice them off of the main piece of wood or metal that you have purchased. This will help you install the railing in manageable sections so that you do not get frustrated or make a careless mistake.
Third, you should create a 45 degree angle on each end of the railing so that you can interconnect them better when you need to piece the slices together. Be certain to mark which side of the wall the railings are for so you do not end up with a piece of railing that does not belong on the side you are working on.
Fourth, you will need to find the wall studs and mark where they are for future reference. These will be important when you are nailing the railing to the wall.
Fifth, you will be measuring where the railing will be fixed to the wall. You will want to do this for every stair that you have on the wall so that you can make certain the angle of the railing is smooth and fits well to the slope of the stair.
Use a tape measure and measure from the bottom of the stair to 34-38 inches up and mark the place on the wall. The height of the stair should depend on how tall everyone is in your family.
Using the spots that you marked in the last step, nail a bracket to the wall which is designed to hold the railing in place. You may want to have the holes for this step drilled before trying to screw the bracket in, depending upon how many people you can get to help you with the installation.
After that, repeat those two steps for each stair, if you have not done so already. You can space out the brackets if you choose to, however, that decision is yours to make. If your staircase measures over 8 feet you will definitely want to have another bracket in the middle of the stairway.
When all the brackets you want to use are on the wall, place the railing over them and screw them in place. Be certain to use wood screws as they can be painted. Remember to be safe when you install a stair railing.
