How to Add a Banister to Stairs
Most staircases require the use of a handrail, also known as a banister, to give people something to hold on to while they traverse the stairs. According to Tom Silva, a general contractor and author on This Old House.com, when you're installing a railing, the top of the railing must be between 32 and 34 inches from the nose of the stair tread. This will ensure that your banister meets minimum code requirements. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Stud finder
- Bubble level
- Marker
- Tape measure
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Miter saw
Instructions
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1
Place a 4-foot bubble level on the top of the first stair tread and hold it plumb against the wall or the handrail post. Mark the top of the second stair tread on the side of the level with a marker.
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2
Measure the height of the mounting bracket and the height of the handrail. As an example, say the total combined measurement is 10 inches.
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3
Subtract the combined measurement from 33 inches. Keeping with the example, the total is 23 inches.
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4
Measure up from the mark you made on your bubble and place a second mark on the bubble level. The amount you measure up is the height you want for your handrail, minus the thickness of the bracket and handrail.
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5
Locate the studs in the wall, using a stud finder. If you are attaching the handrail to columns or posts, you can skip this step.
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6
Place the bubble level on the stair tread and center it with the stud, column or post, and then place a mark on the wall that matches the second mark you placed on the level. Do this for each stud where you will install a bracket.
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7
Secure the bracket to the wall, using the supplied fasteners and a screwdriver. If necessary, drill a pilot hole with a hand drill and drill bit. Make sure you place the bottom of the bracket directly over the line you scribed on the wall.
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8
Measure the length of the staircase with the tape measure, transfer the measurement to your handrail and then cut the handrail to length with a miter saw.
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9
Secure the handrail to the brackets, using the supplied fasteners and a screwdriver.
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