DIY Guide to Installing a Double-Post Handrail on Wood Steps

DIY Guide to Installing a Double-Post Handrail on Wood Steps

This guide will show you everything you need to know about installing a double-post handrail on wooden steps and can also be referenced for installing single-post handrails.

If you are considering installing a ground-mounted handrail on your steps, this guide is for you.

We will show you everything you need to know about installing a double-post handrail on wooden steps, so this guide can also be referenced for installing a single-post handrail on steps as well.

Full Video Guide: How to Install A Double-Post Handrail on Wooden Steps (8 minute watch)

Before Your Start

Tools Needed for Installation

  • Tape measurer
  • A small level
  • An electric drill
  • An impact drill
  • Drill bit (1/4" drill bit or less recommended)
  • A 9/16 socket (to fit bolts)
  • Pencil

What Your Double-Post Handrail Comes With

  • The handrail itself
  • 2 posts with swivel brackets
  • Cover shoes for the posts' base plates
  • Wood bolts (or concrete bolts if you choose) for mounting the base plates into the surface
  • Self-drilling screws for attaching brackets to the handrail

Step 1: Mark the Location of Where The Posts Will Go On Your Steps

Before you order your handrail, you need to take the nose-to-nose measurement to determine the handrail length you need. The length you order is going to directly impact where your posts going to be placed on your steps.

To perform the nose-to-nose measurement, simply use a ruler to measure your stairs from the top nose landing to the bottom nose landing. Since the guide is focused on the installation, please reference our guide on measuring your stairs (the video is for wall-mounted handrails but it is the same process for a double post handrail).

  • Placing the Posts on Your Steps
    • Place the posts 3" away from the nose of your steps
      • Use a tape measurer to ensure that both corners of the post are 3" away from the nose of the steps
    • Place the posts 2" away from the edge of the steps
      • Use a tape measurer to ensure that both corners of the post are 2" away from the edge of the steps

Quick Tip: My rule of thumb is to place the post 2" away from the edge of the steps to avoid splitting the wood.

Step 2: Mark the Posts' Location

Once your posts are squared off by following the previous steps, grab your pencil and mark the outer edges of the posts and mark the holes where you are going to drill.

You can perform a small test to make sure your handrail will fit well on the posts by holding it next to the post base plates and this also can serve as a 2nd check that both posts are aligned (reference video for this step).

Step 3: Drill Holes & Mount Posts to Steps

  • Drill Pilot Holes
    • Use a 1/8" drill bit to pre-drill a pilot hole into each bolt location for the base plates that you previously marked with a pencil in step 2.
      • The pilot hole is a smaller hole drilled before screwing in the actual bolt to attach the plates to the steps. This helps avoid splitting the wood and makes drilling the bolts into the steps easier.
  • Drill Bolts Through Base Plates of Posts
    • Place the posts in their position over the pre-drilled pilot holes you made in step 3.
    • Once the posts are aligned, use an impact drill with a 9/16 socket to drill the bolts into the wooden steps to attach your posts to the steps.
      • Before fully tightening the posts, ensure the posts are level. Simply place the level on both adjacent sides of the posts and tighten the posts bolts to level it out.

Step 4: Mount the Handrail Onto The Posts

  • Place the Handrail on the Center of the Bracket and Mark It
    • This step helps you mark the optimal location on the handrail to drill in your self-taping screws for attaching/mounting the handrail onto the bracket.
      • Before you mount the handrail, make sure you check the width of the top bracket and the width of your handrail. This will help you know the exact spacing to align the brackets on the center of the handrail.
        • For example, if our bracket is 1" wide and our handrail is 2" wide, this means we can have 1/2" space of the handrail showing on both sides of the brackets for it to be aligned in the center of the handrail (please reference video if this is unclear).
  • Mount the Handrail to the Posts
    • Now that you have the location for your self-tapping screws marked on the handrail, pre-drill pilot holes into the handrail.
    • Next, place the handrail on the bracket and align it with the pilot holes.
      • Drill in your self-tapping screws.
        • Tip: If you are having a hard time getting a good angle to drill in the self-tapping screws, you can detach the brackets from the posts and attach the brackets to the handrail. All you have to do is unscrew the top bracket to detach it from the post (see video for this step).
  • Secure/Tighten Your Top Brackets
    • Use your impact drill and socket to tighten the bolt of the top brackets to keep the brackets from moving.
      • Our brackets "swivel," allowing you to adjust the angle/slope of the handrail to match the slope of your steps.
      • Now that your handrail is attached, we need to tighten the brackets so that they are not loose since they no longer need to swivel and this will add extra, needed stability to the handrail.
  • Attach the Base Plate Cover Shoes
    • These simply just snap together

Enjoy Your Handrail!

If you made it this far, you've successfully installed your handrail.

If you are in the market for handrails or railings (guardrails), be sure to check out our ground-mounted handrails, wall-mounted handrails and assembled railings.

If you're looking for more information on handrails and railings, be sure to check out more DIY guides on our Nail Your Rail Blog here on our website.

 

 

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