Installing a Stair Rail
Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get up and down stairs without the convenience and
safety of a stair rail. Customized wood stair rails offer a convenient, relatively inexpensive solution
to this problem. We've done several of these. Here is our latest project.
We start by choosing a style for our railing...as well as the choice of wood. The railing
featured in these photos is made of a single sixteen foot length of oak which was prepared with
a dark walnut stain and finished with six coats of a protective semi-gloss polyurethane.
The process for installing the rail involves measuring for the correct height at both the top and bottom of the stairs.
Once marked...it should measure between 32 and 34 inches...a chalk line is run from
point to point and snapped to provide a straight line along the wall. The studs are then located at 32 inch
intervals and brackets are installed at these points just above the chalk line. Returns were pre-measured, constructed, and attached to the rail in the shop.
These "returns" are used to send each end of the railing into the wall where it is secured with a commercial grade adhesive.
The railing is then set upon the brackets and firmly attached.
I was proud of my contribution to this very beautiful home.
