[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Gentlemen....

Is there a law that studs should never be where you need them to screw in the brackets?

I got a wall rail for the lower stairs today, but where we think the brackets should go there are no studs and for safety’s sake I’m not too keen on those thingys you put thru the drywall and then pull back and they stick. My Mom’s ability on the stairs these days is not good. She doesn’t want to go to the stair lift yet.

Our entry is 9 stairs up and 5 stairs down. They have a stair lift for the up portion, but not the down yet. It is coming. I will get on the phone with my brother and we will see how we can manager to get the railing in and safely secure.

[ConorMacNessa]

You definitely need to find the studs - the drywall is nowhere near strong enough to support any weight.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha again Night Owl!

I'm not a carpenter but have done framing of walls. Interior wall studs should be 16" on center. With a staircase, follow the stepped stringers along to find where they are attached to the studs in the wall if you can and mark with a vertical line, otherwise get a stud finder to locate the positions. If the rail fastening positions don't match, you may have to return the railing and find another or customize one to fit.