How to Design a Handrail for Basement Steps
Take time to design a well-constructed handrail for your basement steps. Use metal or smooth wood versus rough-hewn wood. It can be tempting to skip making handrails and simply expect family and others to hold onto the wall as they move down basement steps. But a basement floor is usually made of concrete, so good hand rails are important for safety. A secure handrail is not necessarily costly to build, but it does take attention to detail. Buying high-end hardware and stainless steel screws to work with should make the job go more smoothly. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- 2 x 6 lumber boards
- 1 x 6 lumber boards
- Pre-made stair railing
- Pre-made handrail material
- Metal hardware
- Stainless steel flathead screws
- Stainless steel nails
- Electric screwdriver
- Measuring tools
- Sketch pad and pencil
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure the steps to see how much railing you will need. Install a rail attached to the wall if your steps run alongside a basement wall from the floor above. Plan to install pre-made railings with a handrail on both sides of the steps if they descend into the basement as free-standing steps. Build support railing and handrails that work well over time, so you will feel comfortable in using your basement more. It can be tempting to avoid the basement if handrails are shaky or non-existent.
-
2
Figure out how much railing you will need for steps descending parallel to a basement wall. Secure finished 1 x 6 lumber boards on the wall to hold the handrail, since you can’t screw handrail hardware directly into concrete or cinder blocks. Use this board to secure a pre-made handrail attached with metal hardware screwed tightly with an electric screwdriver. Install either smooth pre-made wood hand railing or a metal handrail. You can recycle handrail material from another building project or from another building to save money.
-
-
3
Build handrail support railings or buy pre-made railings to install on both sides of a free-standing staircase. These railings will be idential to porch railings, and they will need to follow the angle of the installed steps to look right. Use sturdy 2-inch by 6-inch boards to construct a wooden framework that comprise the railings or buy railings that you will secure to the outside of the stair runners. Use an electric screwdriver to sink stainless stell flathead screws into the stair runners to hold the railings. Install screws at the top of the rails where they connect to the door facing walls to hold the structure in place.
-
4
Design the railing with smooth lumber to serve as the top handrail. Install a pre-made smooth wooden handrail on top of the lumber handrail if you wish. This makes it easier for your hand to slide as you descend the stairs. Buy metal hardware to raise the pre-made handrail off the lumber board beneath it, so your fingers will have ample room to slide as you walk down the stairs.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Sketch the stair railings to exact dimensions using graph paper before you start to cut. Allow one square of graph paper to represent six inches of real space. Cutting the wrong angle can cause you to have to discard a piece of lumber, so take time to measure carefully before you cut.
Constructing shabby stair side railings or a loose handrail can cause an accident. Take time to build a handrail for your basement steps that will support a lot of weight over time. If you feel comfortable using your basement steps, you will use your basement more for building projects and storage versus avoiding the area because the steps aren't conducive to real use.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
