How to Build a Wood Step Handrail
- 1). Locate the wall studs on the wall to which the wooden stair rail will be installed using the stud finder. This is an electronic handheld device that is pressed against the wall. When it finds a stud underneath plasterboard, it emits an electronic tone or flashes a light. Draw a vertical mark where the studs are located, approximately 3 feet above the stair directly below the stud.
- 2). Measure 3 feet up from each of the steps with a measuring tape. This is a natural distance for most people's hand to fall comfortably while descending stairs. Make a horizontal mark with the pencil at the measurement.
- 3). Position a rail bracket from your handrail hardware at the top of the stairs, about 6 inches from the top of the handrail. Position another at the bottom of the stairs, about 6 inches from the bottom of the handrail. For a good visual appearance, make the distances at the top and the bottom the same between the ends of the handrail and the first rail bracket. Use the location of the wall studs as a guide. The first and last studs to use should be about 16 inches from each end of the wall.
- 4). Install the handrail bracket first at the bottom of the stairs. Make certain that the flat part of the bracket is against the wall and that the angled bracket is used for the handrail. You must to be able to see the mark you made on the wall through the bottom screw hole of the bracket. Drive the screws through the bracket mounting holes of the bracket and into the wall stud, using the electric drill fitted with a screwdriver bit. Install the bracket at the top of the stairs using the same method.
- 5). Secure the handrail into position on the two mounted brackets with a single screw each. Do this so you can mark the cut you will be making in the ends of the handrail. Hold the framing square against the rail. Rest the edge of the square that contains the horizontal level on top of the handrail; the other end should extend over the side of the handrail vertically. Move the square to where you want the end of the rail to be. Turn the square so that the level bubble is between the two marks of the glass tube. Draw a vertical cut line on the handrail using the vertical side of the framing square.
- 6). Remove the handrail from the mounting brackets. Use the miter saw to cut the angle you need in the ends of the handrail. Keep in mind that after you have made the cut on the bottom of the handrail, you will turn the top upside down to produce a matching cut.
- 7). Mount the handrail onto the brackets once again. Secure it with all of the screws included with the rail hardware. Finally, install additional brackets along the length of the rail as needed. Position them at approximately every other stud to prevent the rail from looking haphazard.
