How to Install an Oak Handrail

Place the end of a 4-foot carpenter's level on the top of one of the steps and hold it in a plumb position. Mark the top of the next step on the carpenter's level.

Hold the handrail parallel to the stairs and measure the thickness of it diagonally as if to draw a plumb (vertical) line. Next, place the handrail bracket on the inside of a framing square so the part of the bracket that secures to the wall is against one leg of the square and the top of the bracket is against the other leg of the square. Make note of the measurement of the bottom screw hole.

Add the thickness of the handrail and the measurement from the inside of the framing square to the bottom hole of the bracket and subtract it from the overall height of the handrail. In most cases, this measurement is between 34 and 38 inches to the top of the handrail.

Measure from the mark on the level from Step 2 and make another mark of the level based on the answer from Step 4. Place the level on the bottom and hold in plumb and tightly against the wall and mark the wall where the mark on the level is located. Repeat this at the top of the stairs.

Hold the chalk box line on the wall at these two marks and pop a line on the wall. Locate the studs in the wall for the oak handrail with a stud finder. Mark the one closest to the top of the stairs and the one closest to the bottom of the stairs on the chalk line.

Install the brackets into the studs according to the manufacturer's instructions with the screws provided. Next, install the oak handrail to the brackets.