How to Attach an Inside Stair Railing to a Wall

Find the studs in the wall along the stairs at a height of 3 feet. Mark all the stud locations along the stairs and one beyond the highest and lowest risers with strips of masking tape. Ensure each strip of tape is level and vertical; readjust if necessary.

Measure the distance from the top landing to the bottom of the stairs. Add 24 inches to that measurement before cutting your wood rail. Using a miter saw, cut one end of the rail at 45 degrees.

Lay the railing on the treads of the stairs, ensuring its 45-degree end rests on the floor. Mark the point along the upper end of the rail where it meets the uppermost stair nosing. Position the miter saw to cut over this mark at 16 degrees. The short piece left behind forms the horizontal piece of the railing.

Cut the adjacent end of the horizontal piece so that it, too, has a 16-degree angle. Join the 16-degree cuts of the horizontal piece to the corresponding cut on the railing so they form a flush joint. Set the miter saw to cut the other end of the short horizontal piece at 45 degrees.

Spread an even layer of strong wood glue over the 16-degree cuts of the rail and horizontal piece. Hold the pieces firmly together, being sure the edges are lined up, until the glue appears to be holding. Lay the rail down carefully and let the glue dry completely before continuing.

Align the top of the wood rail against the tape marks you made 3 feet up on the wall. Mark each stud location along the bottom of the rail. Also mark the railing joint, or the joint between the railing and the horizontal piece, on the uppermost strip of tape.

Hold a rail bracket directly above the top stud mark on the wall. Align its top slightly under the mark you made for the railing joint. Insert the tip of a pencil through each of the three holes in the bracket to form marks for the screw holes on the wall. Also repeat the procedure for a bracket at the lower end of the stairs.

Drill 1/8-inch holes through the pencil marks to make way for screws. Pull the strips of masking tape off the wall before attaching the bracket with screws.

Assign a helper to hold one end of the rail while you hold its other end. Carefully place the rail over the two brackets and attach it to them with screws. Continue to attach brackets every 4 to 5 feet to anchor the railing securely.

Measure the space between the wall and the end of the short horizontal rail end to form returns, or the pieces joining the rail ends to the wall. Cut two pieces, each with a 45-degree end, with a saw. Glue each return to the upper and lower railing ends before securing them with nails.