Please take the time to read and fully understand the following instructions before installing your stair railing.

POST PLACEMENT - SURFACE MOUNT APPLICATION

To determine the the placement of your upper post(s), you first must decide where the intermediate post(s) will go so they align. Generally the two outside screw holes of the intermediate post(s) are positioned directly

over the stair jack or riser to meet the blocking requirement (3” minimum). Set the appropriate sleeve into the upper post (this is generally a center to down or compound angle sleeve). Position your upper post(s) so that it aligns with the intermediate stair posts AND so that the transition point on the top of the sleeve is positioned directly over the first step. Cut 3 /16” sleeve allowance off the top post(s). Pre-drill using the 11/64” drill bit and fasten with four (4) #14 x 3” screws. Check the posts for plum and level; shim with provided picket insert if necessary. INSTALL POSTS AT TOP AND BOTTOM OF STAIRS ONLY – NO INTERMEDIATE POSTS YET.

NOTE: The intermediate and bottom stair posts will be sent out as 40” plain posts. They will be cut to size as explained in “Cut the Stair Posts”.

For most residential applications, the bottom post will be located on the tread of the bottom step, but the bottom post could also be located on the landing. Determine the best placement for your application; set the bottom post in line with the upper post. As always, be sure to have adequate blocking for the base plate screws. Pre-drill, fasten, check for plum and level, and shim if necessary.

NOTE: You must adhere to the post spacing shown on your Post Layout Drawing. Failure to do so will exceed the engineering of the welded picket and put the warranty at risk. If there are any changes to the length of your stair run(s), you may need to contact the dealer to purchase more posts and / or stair rail.

POST PLACEMENT – STRINGER MOUNT APPLICATION

The stinger mount application is similar to the surface mount application, except that the posts attach to the top of the stair stinger instead of the treads. With allows for more equal post spacing between posts. The stringer plate is welded at the angle of the stringer (the angle provided during the estimation / order process).

Pre-drill using the 11/64” drill bit and fasten with the four (4) #14 x 3” screws. Check for plum and level as necessary.

POST PLACEMENT – FASCIA MOUNT APPLICATION

The fascia mount application is similar to the stringer and surface mount applications, except that the posts attach to the fascia (either the side of the stringer or the side of the steps themselves). This, typically, also allows for more equal spacing between the posts.

Pre-drill using the 11/64” drill bit and fasten with the four (4) #14 x 3” screws. Check for plum and level as necessary.

POST PLACEMENT - 2 1/4” POST APPLICATION

The 2 1/4” Transition Post is used when you need to change the top rail height at a single point. The railing does not run continuous over the top of this post; instead it terminates on the side(s) of the post with either a Stair Sleeve or Sleeve Cap.

Per the International Building Code (IBC), “Handrail height measured vertically from the sloped plane adjoining the tread nosing, or finish surface of ramp slope, shall not be less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches.” The top rail height of each flight is measured from that flight’s tread nosing. The 2 1/4” Transition Post allows you to maintain the proper height for two flights on one post. This post acts as a newel post at the turn of your connecting stair flights.

Another reason for using the 2 1/4” Transition Post is at the top of a stair run where a 42” deck railing system meets a 36” stair system. A Sleeve Cap is used on the 42” side of the post, and a Stair Sleeve is used for the angled 36” side (see drawing). Stair sleeves and sleeve caps attach to the side of the 2 1/4” Transition Post with two (2) #12 x 1 1/2” screws (pre-drill using the 7/64” drill bit). The top rail attaches to the underside of the sleeve(s) with one (1) #12 x 1 1/2” screw.

The 2 1/4” Transition Post attaches by pre-drilling and attaching four (4) #14 x 3” screws at the transition point. The post is finished with a 2 1/4” Post Cap. To attach, tap with a non-marking rubber mallet (no screws are necessary).

SETTING STAIR POSTS & MOUNTING RAIL

In cases involving stairs, any stair posts are sent longer (40” typically). At this point, we need to determine the placement of the posts on the treads as well as where to cut the post in order to mount the top rail. The post(s) at the top of the stairs should already be placed. Now place the post(s) at the bottom of the stairs (usually on the last step of the stair run, but this is at the installer’s discretion).

NOTE: refer to your Post Layout Drawing to determine where posts may be placed. The post(s) at the end of the run may need to be placed on a landing and not the last stair in a run.

Once you’ve placed the post(s) at the bottom of the stairs, measure the welded picket panel so that the picket reveal is equal on both ends of the run.

At the top of the stairs, mark the bottom rail at 1/4” from the post and mark the top rail so that it will fit at least 1” into the sleeve. At the bottom of the stairs, mark the bottom rail 1/4” from the post and mark the top rail so that it will run past the last post. The length that the top rail runs past the last post is subject to installer’s discretion as well as limited by the amount of welded picket sent for a particular stair run.

Once all of the welded picket has been marked, cut panel and post(s) accordingly. You may now attach the bottom post(s) to the deck surface. Pre-drill with the 11/64” drill bit and fasten with four (4) #14 x 3” screws or four (4) #14 x 2” screws with nylon anchors.

ATTACH THE STAIR POST MOUNT PLATE AND END CAP

Attach the stair post mount plate to the top of the cut post(s) using two (2) #8 x 3/4” screws. Install the end cap to the top rail with two (2) #7 x 1” screws. NOTE: do not attach top rail to the stair post mount plate if there are any intermediate posts to be placed. If not, then you may attach it.

INTERMEDIATE STAIR POST

Now that the top stair post(s) and the bottom stair post(s) are set, you can determine the placement for any intermediate post(s). First, check the Post Layout Drawing to find out how many intermediate posts (if any) are required for the stairs. Divide the run equally by the number of intermediate posts and place them next to the closest stair picket. The intermediate post(s) will replace the picket(s). Next, mark the intermediate post (like the post at the bottom of the stairs), cut accordingly and affix the stair post mount plate(s). Mark the bottom rail 1” (diagonally) from the center of the post / picket to each side (see page 7 for more info). Once you’ve cut the bottom rail, remove the stair picket in the same manner as a standard picket (see page 8 for more info).

Now that all stair pickets have been removed to make room for the intermediate post(s), you may set the intermediate post(s) just like the posts at the top and bottom of the stairs.

At this time, you can attach all of your top rail into the sleeve(s) and to the intermediate post(s), if applicable. The stair post mount plate should already be attached to the cut post(s). Rest the top rail on the stair post mount plate, pre-drill using the 7/64” drill bit and fasten to the top rail with three (3) #12 x 1 1/2” screws.

FASTEN THE WELDED PICKET BOTTOM STAIR SLEEVES

The final step to installing your stair welded picket, is to attach the welded picket bottom stair sleeves to the post(s). This is done by pre-drilling with the 7/64” drill bit and attaching the welded picket bottom wall mount with two (2) #8 x 3/4” screws. To attach the bottom rail to the bottom wall mount, pre-drill with the 7/64” drill bit and fasten one (1) #8 x 3/4” screw down through the top of the wall mount into the bottom rail.