The Process of Installing a Railing

Installing railings along your stairs is an important project. You need them to be code-compliant, sturdy, and attractive, so make sure you know the entire process of installation. Start this project by measuring your stairs. Measurements should be taken from the top to bottom plus two feet. You can then find appropriate lengths of material at your local lumberyard of home center. Next, you’ll need to find and mark studs. These studs need to be at appropriate heights, meaning 34-38 inches above the front edge.

Mounting the Stair Railing

After marking everything, you need to cut the stair railing. Start by cutting one end of the railing at 45 degrees. Then test the fit and trim the cuts until it’s perfect. If you end up losing some length, it’s okay since that will just take off extra railing at the end. The two parts of the railing should then be joined together with fast-setting epoxy. You can cut 2x4s at the same angle as the rail and put them together with screws, as well. Finally, position the brackets where you’ve marked the studs on your wall. Make sure to also sight and straighten the railing before you add the final brackets and you should be good to go!

The Final Stages and Touches

After the railing has been mounted, its easy enough to measure and install the connectors between the wall and the bottom of the rail. You can measure from the long point of the 45-degree miter and add approximately 1/16 in. Cut the returns from the longer pieces to protect your fingers. Make sure these are done well too, since these returns are required by most building codes. They are important for safety since they prevent things from catching and causing accidents. Attach the returns with wood glue and nails. The final step, of course, is finishing and painting!