How to Add a Handrail to Garage Steps

Locate the studs in the wall by the garage steps using a stud finder, and mark the locations with a pencil. This is where you will mount the brackets to ensure maximum stability.

Stand at the foot of the steps and reach for where you expect the handrail to be and mark that height with a pencil.

Measure the distance from the floor to the place you marked on the wall in Step 2 using a measuring tape. This is one place where you will be mounting a bracket.

Measure up the wall from the steps in two or three locations going up the stairs, lining them up with the stud marks you made in Step 1. This indicates where your additional brackets will be.

Mount the brackets to the wall using screws and an electric drill. You need at least three brackets for a secure fit, and you can use more for extra security.

Measure the distance that you want the handrail to cover from the bottom of the stairs to the top.

Cut a handrail that matches the measurement you found in Step 6 using a bandsaw.

Bevel both ends to a 45-degree angle for a finished look using a bandsaw.

Paint and stain your handrail if necessary. Some handrails come pre-stained and painted.

Mount the handrails to the brackets using screws and an electric drill.