How to fix handrail brackets to weatherboards?

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Handle9

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#3226730 5-May-2024 19:55

wellygary:

"Don’t worry about trying to screw into studs behind the boards - this approach will be plenty strong enough if done competently."

If you can guarantee that it will only be used as a handrail- yes

But at some point in the lifetime that it is installed a 10 year old will decide that its actually designed for free hanging on,

I'm not sure you really want 30 kg of dynamic load on two screws in 20mm weatherboards?

Agreed. There's really no downside about screwing through the weatherboards into the studs so why wouldn't you? If I tripped and grabbed a handrail I would rip it out of weatherboards, or at least flex it considerably. If it's screwed through into studs with decent stainless screws it won't go anywhere.

There's no way I'd be relying on the weatherboards for strength.

eracode

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#3226735 5-May-2024 20:03

Good luck with finding the studs behind the weatherboards.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Bung

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#3226774 5-May-2024 22:06

That would depend on the age of the build. The weatherboard should be nailed once per stud just above the top of the board below (about 40mm up from lower edge). A strong magnet ex hard drive will find the nails unless they're stainless steel.

mdf

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#3226790 6-May-2024 07:24

You can usually find exterior studs by finding the nails. Magnet is easier. Most modern stud finders also have a metal detector to help you avoid pipes but can also work locating nails.

eracode

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#3228547 10-May-2024 09:48

eracode:

@jrcollins This drawing may help.

@jrcollins You're welcome. Don't mention it.

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jrcollins

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#3228599 10-May-2024 11:19

eracode:

wellygary:

"Don’t worry about trying to screw into studs behind the boards - this approach will be plenty strong enough if done competently."

If you can guarantee that it will only be used as a handrail- yes

But at some point in the lifetime that it is installed a 10 year old will decide that its actually designed for free hanging on,

I'm not sure you really want 30 kg of dynamic load on two screws in 20mm weatherboards?

Hmm - I’ll stand by my comment. It probably wouldn’t stand up to an attached tow-rope being used to winch a car up a drive either. If the ten year old slipped 50cm it’s not going to be life-threatening. Bit of common sense here.

Done competently the bracket screws could be through the mounting block and into (or through) the weatherboards so the grab could be at least 40mm.

Probably wouldn't be a problem but finding the studs is not an issue.

Bung

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#3228608 10-May-2024 11:36

This is when age of the house is important. Our last house was post WW2 weatherboard and in that era bright steel nails were commonly used. The nails even if not rusting in the timber had a short lengthexposed behind the board that could often be almost rusted through.

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