Tightening a Stair Banister

A loose banister in a staircase is a potential danger.

A loose stair banister is a household danger -- especially if you have children or someone else in the home who relies on it for balance. If the banister, whether attached to a wall or the floor of the stairs, shakes even a bit when you grab it firmly, it needs a bit of tightening. If it is weakly secured inside a drywall surface, one hard pull could cause it to come loose completely.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver or drill
• Wrench (if secured with bolts)
• Replacement screws or bolts
• Awl

Instructions

1. Jiggle the stair banister on either end to see where it is loose. Twist the screw or bolt there; if you can twist it either way with your hands, it is too loose.

2. Tighten the loose screws of the banister with your screwdriver or wrench. Tighten the rest of the screws on the banister as well for good measure.

3. Remove the screws completely with a drill or handheld screwdriver if the banister is attached to a drywall surface and it still does not hold firm. Set the banister down or to the side carefully and inspect the holes. Look at the screw or bolt as well to see if it still has its thread. If not, that could be another reason why it is loose. Replace the screw or bolt with a fresh one in that case.

4. Stick the screwdriver or an awl in the hole to make sure you feel the stud (wooden anchor inside of the wall). If not, that means the stair banister is not properly secured to a stud in the wall. Use a stud finder, which is a tool available at hardware stores, to find the stud in the wall, and reposition the banister so that you can tighten the screw to the right place in the wall.

References

• Stair Supplies: Stair Parts Glossary
• Fine Homebuilding: Anatomy of a Stud-Framed Wall