Expert: Joseph G. Swallow - 12/17/2007

Question
Hello Joseph, I am putting the finishing touches on a basement finish and need advise on the railing going down the stairs. Essentially, I opened up about 7 feet of the wall going down the stairs and would like to install this portion of the railing inside the opening. I have found all kinds of information on how to build a railing on the wall but not inside the opening. It will be an oak railing and blausters attached at the ends to a drywalled 2x4 frame.

Answer
Tim,  

First, forgive me as I've been out of town and am rather behind on catching up.

It sounds like you want to create the reverse of a deck railing type of installation.  I have done this in a remodel job wherein I simply drilled a 1/2" hole through the side of the balusters, attached it to the inside wall, and used a flush plug to cap the hole (sand and filled).  To make the baluster appear finished, I would chamfer cut the bottom of the baluster back 30-degree half way or 3/4 off the bottom.  Going flat to the floor with balusters inside of a pony wall just never looked correct.  Coming down a few inches past the top of the wall and screwing into the wall had a cleaner appearance.

Hope that helps and thank you!

Joseph