Staircases can often be an overlooked part of any home. However, it is a very important part as it can flawlessly tie your décor together and create an easy flow from the downstairs to the upstairs. It’s important to refresh the space, not only because it can change the homely atmosphere, cause stress and create a divide between your décor and the stairs, but also because it needs to be safe for everyone.
The stairs can be dangerous if your staircase is worn or even damaged. There can be trip hazards with weak support, or even no support, making it difficult for every family member to transition from the downstairs to the upstairs. It’s important to have a sturdy staircase, particularly when it comes to handrails as these support you when navigating stairs. If you leave your staircase and forget about it, handrails can become worn, cracked and even broken, which means that your stairs are no longer safe and it’s time for a refresh.
At Blueprint Joinery, we know just how important handrails are for your stairs and have created this guide to help you securely fit a handrail to your wall for long-term support and safety. This guide on how to fix a stair handrail can help you refresh your staircase and keep everyone safe for years to come – all by yourself!
The Importance of Having a Sturdy Handrail
A huge difficulty when it comes to how to fit a stair handrail to a wall by yourself is making sure that it is secure and safe to use. Handrails are such an important part of everyone’s staircase that there are regulations that must be followed to keep everyone safe on the stairs. Due to these, it’s essential to have a handrail or replace an old, worn one and to properly secure it according to the regulations.
Regulations state that staircases should have at least one handrail on one side if they are less than 1m wide. If the staircases are wider than this, then there should be handrails on both sides. The handrail doesn’t have to go all the way to the bottom of the stairs because the first two stairs don’t need support.
Regulations state that you will need one wall-mounted handrail if your stairs have walls on either side, and it doesn’t matter which side this handrail is on. If the stairs with walls at each side are wider than 1 metre, then you’ll need to install two rails. If your stairs only have one wall on one side, you should have one handrail if the stairs are wider than 1 metre.
Whichever type of staircase you have, it’s important to have handrails at the right height, which is set out by safety regulations for most traditional stairs. Each handrail you mount to the wall must be at a height between 900mm and 1000mm above the rise of the stairs, so that everyone can use it, no matter their height.
Types of Handrails You Can Use for Different Stairs
There are different types of handrails you can use to suit your staircase and provide the best safety possible to every family member. There are different mounting types, which are grooved, integrated, ungrooved and wall-mounted, but there are also different styles you can choose from. With wall-mounted handrails, you can have a variety of styles to suit your needs, your staircase and your aesthetic. These are:
- Mopstick: A wall-mounted mopstick handrail is a classic choice that has a cylindrical shape and a flattened base. The handrail in this style can come in various materials, but the brackets tend to be metal for stability, safety and durability.
- Pig’s ear: This type of wall-mounted handrail is fixed onto the wall by using screws. The design is a curved shape that looks like a pig’s ear from the side profile, which is where the name comes from. These are great for narrow staircases and are more affordable since brackets aren’t needed.
- Square: This type of handrail is a square design and isn’t as common in modern homes anymore. It’s square and bulky, and a more traditional choice for a rustic look and feel.
- Profiled: A profiled handrail is one that can be profiled and shaped into a design that suits your needs and staircase. It can be cylindrical, elliptical or any other design to provide the best grip for you.
Tools You’ll Need for Fitting a Handrail
When it comes to how to fix a stair handrail to a wall, you will need to be prepared for the job with the right tools. You don’t need anything too unique or specialist. All you will need is the usual tools that can be found in a regular toolbox to be able to securely fit the handrail to your wall. These tools are:
- Electric drill and the right drill bit
- Screws
- Fixing plus
- Bradawl
- Tape measure
- Spirit level
- Straight edge
- Saw
- Pencil or marker to mark the wall for the perfect position
- A thin piece of string that’s slightly longer than the length of your handrail.
How to Fix a Stair Handrail to a Wall
It can be difficult to know how to fit a stair handrail to a wall properly to ensure that it’s safe and secure at all times, while meeting regulations. It’s best to keep regulations in mind at all times during the process, so that your new handrail meets safety standards and can help everyone navigate the stairs safely. Other than remembering the regulations, fitting a handrail is much easier than it may seem. To help you with how to fix a stair handrail, we have some simple steps for you to follow to have a flawless, safe and durable staircase and rail.
These steps can be used for any type of handrail you want to us. There will only be slight differences between the rails with brackets and the ones without brackets.
Step One
The first key to how to fit a stair handrail to a wall is to take accurate measurements before beginning the process. You need to measure the correct height for your handrail to comply with regulations and keep everyone safe when using the stairs. To do this, you should measure vertically from the front of the bottom step and the front of the top step to at least 900mm – anywhere between 900mm and 1000mm will adhere to regulations and suit your staircase. Mark both of these areas with a pencil, so you know where your rail will be positioned.
Step Two
Once you’ve marked these areas, you can put a screw there temporarily to help you see the positioning better. This isn’t needed, but it can help you position the rail accurately on your own. Between these two points, stretch your string tight. You can get people to help you stretch the string from one end to the other, or use the screws to hook the string tightly to do it yourself.
This string will help you check if the height is correct using a tape measure as it helps you picture the rail. Make adjustments to the marks or screws if you need to before doing the next step.
Step Three
Follow the string up and mark around every 500mm for a straight line. Join all the marks up with the pencil and a straight edge to create a straight line on the wall. After this, you can remove the string and screws - if used.
Step Four
Use a longer straight edge and put it against the front of the second-to-bottom step vertically to the pencil line you’ve created. Use your spirit level to check that it’s vertical and then follow the straight edge to draw a line upwards through your other line. Make sure that the two lines you’ve drawn on the wall intersect.
Repeat this for the front of the second-to-top step.
Step Five
These lines at the top and bottom of the staircase will be used to show you where to place your handrail – between the two vertical lines. Where these lines cross with your horizontal rail line is where brackets will be fitted, if you have a style that uses brackets. For styles with brackets, you should also divide the distance between the two vertical lines by 1m, so every bracket is only 1m apart and no more.
This usually means that you’ll mark the wall four more times in between the two vertical lines where the rail will be positioned.
Step Six
If you’ve chosen a style of handrail that needs to be fixed with brackets, which is most rails, then you need to put the first bracket against the wall at the bottom vertical line. Line up the centre of the bracket against the vertical line and make sure that the rail plate is against the horizontal handrail line.
Make a hole in each of the three holes of the bracket with a bradawl and take the bracket away. Repeat the process for the remaining brackets and marks.
If you have a style that doesn’t need brackets, such as a pig’s ear, then do the same but with the screws you need to fit the rail instead.
Step Seven
This is one of the most important steps in how to fix a stair handrail to a wall. You need to firmly fix the brackets into the wall using fixing plugs – but if your wall is plasterboard, use plasterboard anchors.
If you have a rail style that uses screws, drill the screws in along these points.
Step Eight
Once the brackets are in place, it's time to place the handrail on the brackets. Get someone to help you place the rail securely. Mark where the fixing holes of the brackets fall on your rail to accurately pre-drill your handrail.
Step Nine
Drill holes into the rail where you’ve marked and then temporarily fit the handrail to the brackets using a few screws. Once it’s in place temporarily, mark the ends of the handrail vertically to cut it. This can smooth the rail and make it look better, but only for styles that aren’t already shaped, like profiled rails.
Step Ten
The final part of how to fix a stair handrail is to use your spirit level to mark both ends of the rail vertically. This should be around 200mm out from the brackets. Remove the rail and carefully cut these ends with a saw – only if your style needs to be cut.
Once done, properly fix your handrail to the brackets and paint or stain your rail to tie your décor together and refresh your staircase.
Get the Perfect Handrail from Blueprint Joinery
Now you know how to fit a stair handrail to a wall, you can transform your staircase with the perfect handrail. At Blueprint Joinery, we have a large collection of wall-mounted handrails to refresh your staircase, suit your needs and tie your décor together flawlessly. Our solutions use the highest quality materials for a durable and incredibly safe handrail that helps every member of the family navigate the stairs safely for years to come. These rails come in a choice of pre-finished Pine and Oak, so you can easily paint or stain them. We also stock end caps and brackets in black, brass and chrome effect finishes to suit your needs. Buy our handrails and contact us for more information today.