How to Install a Stair Railing on Walls

Although many staircases have railings on the open side of the stairs, it's prudent to have a railing down the wall side of the stairs, too. Railings are made of wood, plastic and metal that may be stained or painted to match a room's decor. With all of these options, it's not difficult to find a railing that you like--and by taking it step by step, the project of installing the wall railing is not beyond the scope of most do-it-yourself-ers.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stud finder Pencil Measuring tape Drill and drill bits Screwdriver Screws Wooden banister Banister brackets Painter's tape Level Straightedge

1. Decide how high you want to place the stair railing. If you have an existing railing, measure how high it is from the floor. Use this measurement to measure from the top of each stair and put a pencil mark on the wall at the proper height.

2. Use a long strip of painter's tape to "connect the dots" or pencil marks, ensuring that the pencil marks are visible at the top edge of the tape and that the tape is straight. Use a straightedge to check that your tape makes a straight line.

3. Run a stud finder down the length of the tape and make a light pencil mark each time you find a wall stud. Locate the stud at the top of the stairway where the railing will begin. Place a railing bracket at that point and use a level to make sure it's positioned correctly. Make a pencil mark on the wall through the screw holes of the bracket.

4. Use a small drill bit to make pilot holes into the marked screw holes in the first wall stud. Place the bracket on the wall and use a screwdriver to twist the screws into the pilot holes. Tighten the screws into the stud so that the bracket is firmly attached to the wall. Repeat this procedure to place brackets every 4 or 5 feet, making sure the lowest bracket is positioned near the end of the railing.

5. Place the wooden railing upon the brackets and adjust it so that the top of the railing and bottom of the railing are equidistant from the top and bottom brackets. Use the drill to make pilot holes through the bracket holes into the lower edge of the railing. Insert the screws through each bracket and into the railing, ensuring that the screws are set in all the way and the railing is firmly held in place.

Tips & Warnings

• It helps to have two people to complete this project, especially if the railing is very long. Some metal railings have the brackets built in, so all you have to do is screw the lower part of the brackets to the wall.
• It's very important that you screw the brackets to the wall studs and not just into the drywall. If a railing is held up by only drywall, heavy pressure on the railing could rip the railing brackets from the wall and result in injury.