Step By Step Instructions Of Adding Handrail To Garage Steps
If you find yourself sliding or tumbling, from time to time, on steps while you are going down into your garage, take the necessary action in order to prevent a more serious accident in the future. This can be done by adding a handrail to the garage steps, which is regarded as one of the best ways to make sure safety for your family as well as visitors. Regardless of having two or more steps, you can easily install a handrail to the garage steps yourself by going through the below-mentioned instructions carefully:
- Measure The Length: Calculate the length from the back of the uppermost stair to the front of the bottom stair. Take the measurement of the landing from front to back. Trim a piece of oak handrail, that should exactly be of the same length as the stairs and another piece same as the length of the landing. Seam the rail if you want to join the ends, with the help of the angle of the pitch of the stairs.
- Lay The Oak Handrail On Stair Threads: Position the oak handrail on the stair treads, and then with the help of a carpenter's square, measure the angle of the pitch of the stairs. Then, this angle should be used to trim the top of the posts and seam the end of the stair rail to the landing rail.
- Cut Posts: Trim one post for each 3 to 4-foot section of railing. If the stairs are not more than 3 feet long, then trim two posts, one for the base and one for the top. Trim the top edge of the post at the earlier ascertained or established angle. Posts should be tall enough in order to make sure that the bottom of the handrail is at least 34 inches above each point of the stairs. Trim two posts with flat tops for the landing, if in case you have a landing.
- Attach A Post To The Step: Secure a post to the side of the step with the help of two lag bolts, placed nearly 2 inches apart. Then, secure & fix the landing posts to the side of the landing exactly in the same way. Predrill the holes with the help of a drill bit marginally smaller than the lag bolt diameter. If you are drilling into concrete stairs, predrill, then fill with epoxy before securing the post. The epoxy will help take hold of the lag bolts in place. Allow the epoxy to set according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Lay A 1 By 2-inch Length Of Wood: Place a 1 by 2-inch length of wood that reaches the length of the stairs on top of the posts, with the 2-inch side positioning against the top of the posts. Center the 1 by 2-inch wood from the uppermost part to the bottom. Drill a pilot hole from the uppermost part of the length of wood down into each post with the help of a drill bit a size smaller than the 3-inch wood screws. Insert 3-inch wood screws from above to secure the flat wood to posts. Secure & fix a length of 1 by 2-inch wood to the handrail sections in the same way.
- Attach Landing & Handrail Sections With Dowels: Secure & fix the landing as well as stair handrail sections with dowels and affix in order to obtain a cleaner, more finished joint. Drill a hole large enough in order to fit in the dowel on each side, maintaining the pieces at the proper angle. Apply glue, before putting together the pieces.
- Apply Finish To The Railing: Position the oak handrail on top of the 1 by 2-inch length of wood. Drill pilot holes from below the length of wood into the handrail, which in turn makes sure that you do not go completely through the top of the handrail. Position the pilot holes just before or after each post. Secure the oak handrail to the 1 or 2-inch length of wood from underneath, with 2-inch wood screws. Apply the finish of your choice to the railing.