Fixing Second Hand Rail To Wall.?

[woodchopper]

Am putting up a second hand rail to assist an elderly woman up the stairs on the wall side which doesn't have a rail.
Have got the rail cut to size (3.75m).
Now, how do I mount the rail - have got 4 brackets to go on to the rail - what spacing is recommended ?
And do I attach brackets to rail and then offer to the wall or mount brackets on wall first ?
thinking of going with the first option - but wanted to check with persons with a building/joinery experience first.

[Togo]

Depend if you can access the bracket fixing holes with the rail already in the bracket I would think Chipchopper. If the rail is a sturdy one bracket top and bottom and one or two between. Over 4 meters I should think one in the middle would suffice.

[Ryzen]

If the bracket holes are close together you may need to fix a length of timber to the wall and then screw the brackets to it.

[bhg481]

It's about 20 years since I separated the stairs from the living room by building a wall. That meant installing a new rail and I'm almost certain I fixed the brackets to the rail and then the rail to the wall. I fixed the top and bottom brackets about a foot from the end of the rail and then had two brackets equally spaced between. Better too many brackets than too few; if the lady is elderly she might put a lot of stress on the rail for support - better safe than sorry.

[HansUrbancka]

Unless you are a good DIYer, it's best to leave it to a professional, because a lot of accuracy is required with measuring and marking.

It might be worth having a word with your local Authority's Social Services Department, because it could be the case, as it is with some Councils, that handrails are provided and installed free of charge for elderly folk.

However, if you wish to do the job yourself, the following video may assist you. :-



Hans.

[woodchopper]

Next problem is fixing the brackets to the wall - not concrete block - some sort of clinker block that was floating around in the seventies and somebody thought it was a good idea at the time - soft/crumbly.
Think I will have to use at least 2" frame fixing screws unless someone has a better idea?

[bhg481]

You could always over-size drill the holes, fill them with polyfilla and then re-drill the correct size for normal plugs.

[melv16]

Fix a batten to the wall, then screw the brackets to it. Much safer than straight to a crumbly wall.

[Hymie]

If the fixing holes in the bracket are close together – then definitely the way to go is to use a section of batten (piece of wood).

However if you are unsuccessful with a direct fixing method, then you could save the day by covering the damaged wall with a section of suitably sized wood, fixing the bracket to this. But consider that if battening is used on one of the fixings, it will need to be used at all – otherwise the rail will not be at a uniform distance from the wall along its length.

[Old_Geezer]

I did what bgh suggested when I put up a hand rail.
I try to be accurate anyway, but walls are often out of true and sure enough there was a little bit of pulling into line on securing to the wall.