TimberTech BuilderRail Stair Installation - Glenbrook U

installing stairs using builder rail is very similar to the standard straight section instructions like any stair railing it does take a few modifications but it's really very simple let's see how to get started building a stair section with Builder rail before you begin make sure your posts are no more than eight feet on center and plumb builder rail is designed to have at least a one inch thick plank installed over the top of the posts to accomplish this your post covers at the top of the stairs should be cut to 35 and 5/16 inches from the top of the deck surface as shown these should match the rest of your posts and covers on your deck slide a timber tech ornamental railing post cover and post skirt over the top and bottom posts and check for plumb start by cutting a piece of builder board slightly longer than the length of the stair run position the Builder board on the stairs against the post covers and marked the length and angle cut the Builder board ends along your marks with the top rail in place between the post covers marked the location of the upper edge of the top rail on the lower post cover this will be the top leading edge of the angled cut for the lower cover now place the post cover back over the post and use it to mark the angle of the cut for the post on two sides slip the cover off one last time and using a straightedge mark a parallel line about 1/8 inch below the lines you just made you using a circular saw trim your 4x4 post now replace your post cover and skirt to determine the height of your bottom rail use a couple pieces of scrap builder board and stair connectors to mock up a small section of rail mark the top of your bottom rail on the post at the top of the stairs you will need to trim the Builder board for a relief cut for the brackets at the top of the stairs measure up about 3/4 of an inch along the angled cut and cut back from there at a 45 degree angle you won't need to make this modification at the lower ends of the rails just the upper ends you now that your posts are ready let's start the railing assembly each balusters requires two balusters connectors one on the bottom rail and one on the top position the Builder boards side-by-side on edge and clamp them together make sure you have the correct edges up before you mark and pre-drill the rails you should have opposing angles as shown when laying out the balusters locations keep in mind that the space between the balusters and post must be less than four inches apart now it's time to pre-drill the rails using an angled stair connector as a guide position a nine sixty fourth inch drill bit on one of your layout marks and just start the hole into the rail to keep the bit from slipping now while holding the connector with the angle in line with the rail tip the bit and connector over until the bottom of the connector rests flush with the rail make sure you are tipping your drill in the same direction of your end cuts continue to pre-drill to a depth of about one inch repeat this at each marked location you next let's install the brackets at each end start by pre-drilling with a 9/64 inch bit at a depth of 3/4 inch using the provided 3/4 inch screws attach the four brackets to the rails the brackets at the upper ends will have the tabs turned up with the brackets set into the relief cut you made earlier the brackets at the bottom of the stairs will be installed with the tabs facing down next you will need to install foot blocks under the rails timber tech requires two foot blocks for each six foot section and three flip blocks for each 8 foot section of railing cut one end of each foot block to the same angle as your stairs use a half inch drill bit and drill one inch deep into one end now using a 3/16 inch drill bit drill completely through the foot block next position your bottom rail between the posts at the height previously marked slide the foot blocks into place and Mark their location on the bottom of the bottom rail remove your bottom rail and attach your foot blocks using the number eight three and a half inch screws provided in your kit now you are ready to install the bottom rail place the rail between your posts and ensure that they are lined up with the mark made previously on the post cover Center the rails on the post using a 3/16 inch bit pre-drill through the post cover only and attach with the number 8 3-inch color-matched screws that are provided place your balusters over the connectors along the bottom rail you now bring your top rail position and align the balusters with the connectors you now you will need to attach the top it's to the posts by pre-drilling and using the color matched screws provided the final step is to attach the top plank to the system use one of ten protects solid plank profiles for your top rail measure down the rail assembly and over the bottom post the plank should cover the bottom posts completely to create a clean transition at the top post place your stair rail top plank against the plank that will be top rail along the deck if you are using our traditional five quarter plank with the radius edges it will be necessary to use a three-quarter inch Forstner bit as shown line up the outside edge of the bit with the mark where the two planks come together and just below the top of the plank start the bit into the plank and tilt the drill down to the approximate angle of the stair drill until the top edge of the bit just meets the flat top of the board and stop now using a jig saw set to half the stair angle cut along the side edge of the plank until you meet the angled hole just drilled using a sharp utility knife or chisel clean up the lower edge of the hole to create a straight line it helps to undercut the edge slightly to form the joint now slide the joint together and check fit and adjust if necessary make sure to allow some overhang beyond the post cover to finish the ends of the planks as desired to attach the plank to the post use 2 number 8 3-inch colored screws one and a half inches from the edge of the plank angled as much as possible but not so much as not to come through the bottom of the plank before going into the post you will also need to pre-drill and attach the board to the Builder board every 2 feet on center using the same screws once you have finished attaching your top plank to the railing assembly your builder rail is complete you

Channel: GlenbrookU

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Keywords: TimberTech, BuilderRail, Deck Railing, Deck, TimberTech BuilderRail, Builder Rail, Glenbrook U, GlenbrookU, Glenbrook University, Glenbrook Lumber, Glenbrook Lumber & Supply, Oakdale MN

Id: SEHgUi4CmsI

Length: 9min 46sec (586 seconds)

Published: Sat Apr 16 2011