How to Attach a Handrail to a Wall

Handrails are installed to provide a source of balance while climbing a set of stairs. Old worn out handrails can become loose and fragile after years of use. Replacing old, worn out handrails will not only ensure the safety of people using the staircase, but can add a personal touch of elegance to your home.

Things You'll Need

• 2-foot level
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Stud finder
• Drill
• Phillips screwdriver or Phillips tip for drill
• Power miter box
• Spackle
• 2-inch spackling knife
• Handrail mounting brackets
• Handrail

Instructions

1. Remove the mounting screws from the bottom of the handrail with the Phillips screwdriver or drill. Take down the handrail and remove it from the immediate work area.

2. Remove the handrail mounting brackets from the wall if they will not be reused. Use a nail to determine if the handrail mounting brackets were mounted to studs. Plumb a center line beyond the old handrail mounting brackets to mark stud centers on brackets that were fixed to studs.

3. Mount the new handrail mounting brackets to the wall using the Phillips screwdriver or drill. Mount the handrail brackets at the stud locations you marked in Step 2. It is not recommended to reuse the old handrail mounting bracket holes, because the holes can become slightly over-sized causing the new screws to slip out of the studs.

4. Measure the length of handrail needed to reach from the bottom step to the top step with the tape measure. Mark the handrail length with the pencil and cut the handrail with the power miter box.

5. Install the new handrail to the handrail mounting brackets using Phillips screws and the drill or Phillips screwdriver. Clean the staircase thoroughly to eliminate trip hazards and loose hardware that can cause injury.