Hanging a handrail

handrail

I'm trying to hang a handrail in the stairwell to the upstairs, but there is a half wall at the top of the stairs that is 3/4" wood paneling and no matter what I do (3 different stud finders/techniques), I cannot reliably find a stud. If I measure 16"-24" from the corners where you think there would be a stud, there isn't. The finders tell me two studs being an inch apart sometimes. I've tried to see about removing the trim to see behind the paneling but it's not coming off gently and I also don't want to destroy all of it. I've also tried to drill a few small holes where the tool is seeing studs to see if I find any and haven't had any luck.

Is the paneling too dense to find studs or is the paneling itself what is being sensed?

Here's what the paneling looks like at the top of the stairs.

Best Answer

There may not be any vertical studs (apart from at each end). It could just be a bottom plate and a top plate, to essentially form a rectangular frame which the cladding fixed onto top and bottom.

To be honest, 3/4 timber is pretty strong if it's just the one, top bracket going there. Just make sure you use a heavy gauge screw and one which has threads right up to the head (no plain shank).

Depending on whether you're house is full of raving teenagers it shouldn't fail in normal use. If you're not convinced, maybe you could use a butterfly type fastener which opens out behind the panel (drywall style)?