How to Build a Stair Railing, Continued

Learn how to build and install a stair rail; includes step-by-step instructions along with tips, materials, and tools lists.

They cut an additional piece of the rail and attached it along the top of the ceiling to receive the top of the balusters.

Toby used a nail gun to attach the rail piece to the ceiling by positioning the nails into the center of the groove.

6. Install balusters: Ron cut the balusters to the proper length with the proper angle on one end. Each baluster fit into the groove they had cut on the bottom of the rail.

Ron needed to come up with a way to attach the base of the baluster to the stair tread. What he decided to do was use wooden dowels inserted up through the tread and into the bottom of the baluster.

Ron created a drilling template that would allow them to drill the holes in exactly the same place on each tread.

They installed two balusters per step, so Susie and Toby used the template to drill two holes all the way through each tread.

Once they had the holes drilled in the treads, they needed to drill holes in the end of each baluster. Again, Ron made up a jig to ensure that each hole was perfectly centered in the bottom of the baluster.

Ron wrapped a piece of electrical tape around the brad point drill bit to indicate exactly how far to drill into each baluster.

After drilling a hole into the bottom of each baluster, they were ready to install them. They began by applying wood glue to the top of each baluster and inserting it into the groove on the underside of the handrail.

Ron centered the base of the baluster, while Toby inserted the top into the groove.

Next, they applied wood glue to a dowel...

…and hammered the dowel up through the hole in the stair tread and into the hole in the bottom of the baluster.

They used a nail gun in addition to the glue to attach the tops of the balusters to the underside of the railing.

They continued their way up to the top of the stairs installing each baluster.

The finished rail was exactly what the Sheltons had in mind. The rustic design matched the staircase and the home very nicely.

7. Finishing touches: The final step was to cut the end or the railing to length. Rather than make a straight cut, they rounded off the end to avoid any sharp corners.