How to Install Hardwood Stair Railings

By installing stair rails, you make using the stairs in your home easier and safer by reducing the potential for accidents. The key to successfully mounting a hardwood stair rail is to carefully note all measurements and secure the rail solidly to the wall studs behind the drywall or plaster along the inside wall of your staircase. Hardwoods are the most popular material for this project due to their beauty and durability. Anticipate spending approximately $5 for each linear foot of oak railing such as is used here. Pine and poplar will be less expensive. Mahogany and ebony are among the more costly hardwoods that you will find.
Before you start this project, measure from the edge of the top landing to the floor at the base of your stairway, then add an additional 2 feet. This will determine the amount of wood you need. Purchase enough brackets so that you have one at the bottom, two at the top and one every 48 to 50 inches along the railing. If possible, extend the railing slightly beyond the top and bottom steps to allow for grasping the railing sooner and holding onto it longer so that anyone using it will better maintain their balance.
This project will take less than half a day to complete, not counting optional staining or painting. These instructions will slightly exceed the building codes in many areas of the country.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure 2- to 3-foot level Hammer Two-part stair rail mounting brackets Chalk line (optional) Electronic stud finder Pencil and masking tape Safety goggles Power table saw/miter saw Power drill Assorted drill bits Combination pilot hole and countersink bit Countersink bit 2 1/2 by #10 flathead Phillips screws Screwdriver 4d finish nails Low-tack painter's tape or masking tape Wood glue (90-second epoxy) and spatula 2 by 4 length of oak, 4 feet long Oak railing piece Wood stain/paint (optional) Polyurethane Wooden plugs to match rail

Instructions

1. 

   Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs. Use a couple of inches of masking tape to mark each stud about 3 feet above the stairs.

2. 

   Measure 3 feet up from the edge of the top stair and affix a small portion of masking tape to the wall at that point. Draw a horizontal pencil line at 36 inches, and a vertical line even with the edge or "nosing" of the top stair. Repeat at the base of the staircase.

3. 

   Use your miter saw to cut a 45-degree angle miter on the end of the rail that will be at the bottom. Allow this end to rest on the floor. Mark with your pencil where the upper portion of the railing reaches the nosing of the top stair.

4. 

   Position your miter saw to cut a 16-degree angle at the point where you marked the upper portion of the railing. Saw the railing to create a 16-degree angle. Cut a corresponding 16-degree angle opposite the first one. These will form the top horizontal section of the railing.

5. 

   Place the two cut ends together to see if they fit well together. Recut slightly if needed. For optimal results, the ends must fit as seamlessly as possible. Cut a 45-degree miter on the other end of the short section, allowing enough length of wood to reach the next wall stud.

6. 

   Open the epoxy glue and mix for 30 seconds according to the instructions. Place masking tape at the ends of both mitered sections to prevent glue smears. Put a thin layer of epoxy on each section and firmly hold them in place together until the glue begins to hold (about 60 seconds). After 5 minutes, gently remove the masking tape. Allow the glue to dry for a couple of hours.

7. 

   Line up the top of the rail with the 36-inch-high marks that you made earlier in Step 2.

8. 

   Draw a line against the underside of the rail directly on the tape at each marked stud location. The lines should slope at the same angle as the rail.

9. 

   Place a rail bracket centered vertically below the slanting mark on the tape. "Fill in" all three holes in the bracket with your pencil to mark them. Be sure to do this at both the top and bottom of where the rail will be.

10. Pierce the drywall with a finish nail to find the center of the stud. Note carefully where the nail hits or misses the stud. Reposition the bracket until the two top "hole marks" are both placed above solid wood.

11. Use your drill to make 1/8-inch pilot holes for the rail bracket screws. If you followed the directions thus far, you should feel the drill penetrating the solid wood of the wall studs. Angle the holes toward the center to make sure that the screws "catch" the stud.

12. Pull off the masking tape to reveal the holes that you made. Screw the bracket onto the wall.

13. Angle the top screws to follow the angle of the pilot holes that you made previously.

14. Align the rail on the two brackets at the top and make sure that the top joint lines up with the vertical and horizontal lines you placed on the tape at the start of the project. Drill pilot holes and attach the rail to the brackets. Install additional brackets along the length of the railing.

15. Create the short returns on your miter saw. Drill holes (1/16 inch depth), and glue, then fasten the joint with 4d finish nails. Recess the nails until they are at least flush with the surface of the wood to complete the installation of your hardwood stair railing.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that any railing material that you purchase is code-approved. If you buy from a reputable dealer or home improvement center, there should be no cause for concern. Follow all manufacturers' recommendations on any materials that you use.

Resources

• Ron Hazelton: Another version of this project.