How to Install a Wood Stair Railing

Installing a wooden railing for your stairs adds a handsome touch while providing necessary safety. Staining or painting your rail can add visual definition or contrast to your steps. This is a quick project that can be done by one or two people and prevents the danger of tripping or falling on the stairs. Stair railings come in a variety of styles to coordinate with your decor, and all you need is basic painting and carpentry skills to make navigating your stairs safe.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape or yardstick Masking tape Pencil and eraser Electric drill Sandpaper (several sheets of medium-grade and fine-grade) Damp paper towels or rags Wood railing Metal stair-rail brackets (3-6) Metal rail-staples (3-6) Screws Screwdriver Varnish or other finish for rail and brushes or applicator A helper to steady the railing on brackets during installation

Preparing Your Railing

1. Begin by measuring and marking the location of your railing. Usually, railings are located 34-36 inches above stair treads, unless you have special reasons to adjust the location for someone elderly and frail or extremely tall who will rely on the railing for support. Mark your wall at the planned height of your railing, beginning above the first step at the bottom, one or two middle steps and the top step. Using your measuring tape or yardstick, connect these marks with a straight, light pencil line. Follow the line with masking tape for the full length. Measure tape line to determine the length of railing you will need.

2. Sand the rail thoroughly, starting with medium-grade paper, then fine-grade. Smoothness is a priority with railings, especially if it will be used for support. Sand underside of rail as well as the top. Wipe off sanding residue with damp paper towels or rags.

3. Stain, varnish or paint rail before installing. At the worst, you may have to touch up a scratch or two after installation, but this is much easier than trying to apply finish in place. If you have decided to paint your metal brackets and the staples holding the railing to the brackets, do this at the same time. Touching up is easier than painting in place.

Installing Your Railing

4. Measure the vertical height of your brackets. Place one flat against the wall or on a flat surface and measure from the bottom of the screw plate to the top of the hook -- while the hook doesn't lie flat, you can estimate how tall your brackets are, if you did not find out when you bought them. Most are 3-4 inches tall. Make marks and a line of that depth below your masking-tape rail line.

5. Count the number of your steps, including the top landing. For basic stability, use a bracket every four steps; on a flight of 12-13 steps this means three brackets. A fourth will increase security. Divide your total line length into evenly spaced intervals. At each interval, make two spaced dots at the same height from a stair tread. Connect the dots with a short line -- this marks the bottom of your bracket (although your railing goes in at a slant, brackets need to be installed straight up and down). Mark the same evenly spaced intervals on the bottom of your stair rail -- this is where staples go.

6. Using a bracket as a template, mark and drill screw holes in your wall where brackets will go. Using a staple as a template, mark and drill screw holes for the staples on the bottom of your railing.

7. Using screwdriver, attach brackets to wall. Set rail on brackets and attach staples to rail and brackets (this is easiest if you sit down on the stairs to work). Have your helper hold the rail in the middle while you attach it, top first, bottom second, then in the middle.

8. Remove masking tape and erase pencil marks. Touch up any scratches or marks that happened during installation.

Tips & Warnings

• If you must do installation alone, you can secure the railing to brackets with masking tape. Begin installation with the top bracket, then the bottom, then the middle.