How to Figure Angle of Handrails for Stairs
Handrails are important stair safety features. Rails can be constructed from a wide variety of materials, but the technique for determining the correct angle of the rail is the same no matter what material you use. If you know how to use a framing square, you will be able to install your home's stair handrails without hiring a handyman. Framing squares feature etched degree markers; the degree can be checked when the string is stretched across the mark. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Nail
- String, at least twice the length of the stair tread
- Masking tape
- Framing square
Instructions
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1
Measure from the bottom stair tread up to between a minimum of 30 inches and a maximum of 34 inches. Place a mark on the wall with a pencil. Confirm the minimum and maximum allowable height of the stair rail with local building codes.
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Measure straight up from the top stair tread to between a minimum of 30 inches and a maximum of 34 inches. (Use the same measurement as you did for the bottom stair tread in order for the handrail to be angled correctly.) Place a mark on the wall with a pencil.
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3
Hammer a nail into the mark at the top of the stairs. Leave a small gap between the head of the nail and the wall so that string can be tied in place. Tie the string on this nail and stretch it down the stairs.
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Stretch the string past the bottom mark to the floor. Align the string so that it crosses the bottom mark. Mark the floor where the string touches the surface using a piece of masking tape.
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Place the framing square on the floor, and position the blade flush with your mark. The blade edge should be facing away from the stairs and the tongue should be pointing up into the air. The square features degree measurements so that while the string is stretched to the floor, the correct angle can be found.
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Stretch the string tightly to the mark on the floor while the square is in place. The string will run across the tongue of the square revealing the correct angle. Confirm the angle by making sure the string is aligned with the bottom mark on the wall.
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