Fixings for a handrail attached to a masonry wall

[mackembob]

Hi

I am intending fitting a handrail at both sides of a small run of stairs (4 treads). The stair is in a corridor and the walls on either side are plastered red brick. The instructions for the handrail say "use suitable fixings for your wall type" and I have had a look and most things I have found seem to point to plastic wall plugs (the screws supplied with the rail are size 8).

However, these don't look overly strong to me. Any suggestions or are wall plugs going to be ok?

Thanks

[dave.m]

Size 8 screws should be big enough for the fixings, just depends upon what length they have supplied.

Use the red plugs with a 6mm drill bit and drill the hole so that it goes into the brick (beyond the plaster) by about 1" and then use 1½" x 8 or drill deeper and use 2" x 8 screws.

dave

[fin]

makem bob, i take it you live in sunderland? if so and you wernt wanting to buy a full box of screws pop into maxwells and see if they would sell you just a couple. im sure they sell screws loose (ie can buy 1 or 10 or as many as ya want)

[big-all]

go for pigs ear and you can several screws where you like
http://www.jacksonwoodturners.co.uk/catlist.php?cat=418

[speed]

what barckets are you fitting?

if its the round 60mm projection brackets id go for 2" 10s if the countersunk baseplate is is deep enouth for the heads, if not use 8s but throw the supplied screws and plugs because 99% of the time they are pants,

4 fixings in each bracket should be solid

[ayjay]

Some red bricks are very soft, if you have trouble getting a secure fixing consider fixing a piece of 4X1 timber to the wall first and then fix the handrail brackets to that.

Whenever I do anything like a handrail I'm only ever satisfied if I'm sure it can withstand something like a 20 stone drunk.

[Beachcomber]

Does anyone EVER use the plugs / screws that come with any kind of bracket / cabinet / fitting?

[mackembob]

Thanks for all the advice. A couple of follow up questions if I may (excuse my ignorance):

If I am buying the screws separately and using wall plugs, do the screws need to be masonry ones? Or are they just for when not using a wall plug.

Are plastic or nylon wall plugs better for masonry use?

Thanks

[mackembob]

makem bob, i take it you live in sunderland? if so and you wernt wanting to buy a full box of screws pop into maxwells and see if they would sell you just a couple. im sure they sell screws loose (ie can buy 1 or 10 or as many as ya want)

Well, I am from Sunderland, but have now relocated to the land of haggis and tartan. Good spot though

[speed]

Thanks for all the advice. A couple of follow up questions if I may (excuse my ignorance):

If I am buying the screws separately and using wall plugs, do the screws need to be masonry ones? Or are they just for when not using a wall plug.

Are plastic or nylon wall plugs better for masonry use?

Thanks

just normal twinthread screws, if you go to a local diy shop you prob be able to buy them seperate, id get a strip of plugs too just plastic will be fine

[fin]

makem bob, i take it you live in sunderland? if so and you wernt wanting to buy a full box of screws pop into maxwells and see if they would sell you just a couple. im sure they sell screws loose (ie can buy 1 or 10 or as many as ya want)

Well, I am from Sunderland, but have now relocated to the land of haggis and tartan. Good spot though

ahh ok bud. im a south shields lad myself. went to school up in whitburn.

as a result have a f*ck up mix of geordie/mackemish for an accent