Installing A Stair Banister
How to install a stair banister.
Installing a stair banister. In this video this old house general contractor tom silva explains how to install a stair handrail. The last thing you want is a diy project that results in a rickety or unstable staircase. Measure and mark the wall at the bottom and top of the stairs. Connect the marks with a chalk line image 1.
Above the front edge of the stair nosings. Stand 4 foot level on first step and hold it plumb. Returns are 90. The way this is measured is to begin at the leading edge of the stair nosing and run an imaginary vertical line upward until it reaches the top of the railing.
Locate wall studs with a stud finder and mark them along the chalk line. Banisters or handrails provide a necessary safety measure and experience a lot of traffic. Stair banisters or handrails are required by code on all steps with more than four risers. Building codes dictate that any staircase with four or more risers and wider than 44 inches needs a handrail between 32 and 38 inches high from the nose of the.
Use a level to mark the bracket locations to make sure that they are plumb image 2. Handrail height is the height of the handrail in relation to the stairs. Step 3 below shows how to find this wall mounted handrail height point at the top of the stair. They also require that returns are placed on both ends.
We chose 36 in. Mark the level where it meets top of second step. Check the local building codes for height requirements of a handrail. Correctly installing a banister takes professional experience.
Calculate height of handrail and mounting brackets. How to install a staircase handrail. With the use of some wood and a few tools and supplies you will be able to install a banister. To meet building code requirements the stair railing should be mounted so that the top of the handrail height is 34 to 38 in.
Handrail height on the stairs should be no less than 34 inches and no greater than 38 inches.