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I'm wondering how I would go about attaching a railing to the wall like this for my stairwell. I thought maybe a French cleat or mounting a support block(s) to the wall first, then attaching the visible portion using dowels or something, but then there wouldn't be any space to clamp and glue. Keyhole slots would also not be strong enough to protect from outward pulling on the railing, I think. Maybe cutting some kind of groove with a router into a support block attached at the studs? I am really at a loss here.

stair railing stair railing

Lowlander
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3 Answers3

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Unless drunk people lying on the stairs staring upwards are a major factor in the appearance, screws or lag bolts from underneath is the obvious approach. When considering methods, recall that the railing not ripping off the wall when someone is falling and grabs it is far more critical than "no visible means of support" is.

Another method is to chisel off a chip where each bolt will go (and retain it) then glue the chip back into place after bolting (using the profile of the railing as the thing to (lightly) clamp against. The second profile would make that easier.

Veneering the whole face after bolting in place would be another approach.

Ecnerwal
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Use long screws in pockets directly screwed into the studs in the wall.

Then the pockets filled with plugs made from the same wood as the handrail.

If the grain in the plug is matched well, the plug can be almost invisible.

RMDman
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A: keyhole slots like used to hang plaques but cut deeper for improved strength, plus pins or dowels from below to prevent accidental release.

B: Dowel and glue then instead of clamping jack the two parts together from the opposite wall. or clamp against this wall by screwing scrap wood over face, and patch the plaster afterwards.

C: screws or bolts from the other side of the wall, then plaster over.

D: cam locks from below then plug the holes.

E: magnetically driven bolts.

F: metal stud-screws coming out of the wall glued into matching holes using epoxy paste. (JB weld, Bondo, etc)

Jasen
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