Extreme How-To - January/February 2010

INSTALL THE TREADS SO THAT THE REAR TREAD NOSE CONTACTS THE SPINDLE FROM THE UPPER TREAD.

using a hammer. Place the spindle into the bottom tread and fasten it to the floor with the provided bolt.

Now that the stair treads are in place, you will need to attach the railing to the spindles. Begin by determining whether your stairs are right hand up, or left hand up. Facing up the stairs if the railing is on your right, then you have right hand up and vice-versa for left. The example shown is left hand up. Next, uncoil the aluminum railing like unwinding a spring, making sure to avoid kinks as you enlarge its diameter to six inches greater than the diameter of the stairs. Carefully thread the railing up the inside of the stairs, letting the railing ride along the nosing of the treads as we work our way up the staircase. Once the railing is worked to the top of the stairs, carefully set it on top of the spindles. Then, increase the radius of the railing a small amount so that the railing lies correctly on

the spindles. Beginning on the middle tread spindles, expand the railing going from the middle to the top and then from the middle to the bottom.

Leave some excess railing at the top of
the stairs before beginning the next step.
Take your drill and either place a collar
at one inch or slide the drill bit into the
chuck so that no more than one inch of
drill bit is exposed to prevent drilling
through both sides of the railing. Have
your helper hold the railing in place on
the top spindle. Keeping the drill at a
90-degree angle, perpendicular to the
railing, and using the hole in the top
spindle bracket as a drill guide, drill y
our pilot hole for the tapping screw that
will attach the spindle to the railing.
Secure the bracket to the railing with
the provided screws. Recheck everything
for plumb and correct if the process
moved the spindle. With your helper
holding the railing on the top of the
spindles, repeat this process, always
checking the spindles for plumb as
you work your way down the stairs.
Leave at least two inches of railing extend-
ing past the top and bottom spindles;
attach the end caps with epoxy.