TIME TO REPLACE YOUR OLD BALUSTER:
We all must have planned to transform our interior but updating the railing is equally important. You can easily fix broken or missing spindles to make the staircase safe for adults and children. For your home’s décor, large or small staircase with balusters contribute beautifully. The upward sweep gives height and space, but since everything comes with life, it also gets broken, which leads to the interruption of the flow of the staircase.
Balusters could be rich in traditional ways, elegant looking, or modern metal ones perfect for your staircase. It is a part of the staircase which makes a lasting significant impression offering features like safety and style.
REQUIREMENTS FOR REINSTALLATION:
You will need the following to replace the stair balusters:
- An equal number of metal balusters and level kits
- Wood filler for patching old component
- STAIN AND VARNISH MATCHING THE EXISTING BALUSTERS LOCATIONS
- Orbital sander
- Chop saw, miter saw, or a blade
- Measuring tape, screwdriver, drill, etc.
REPLACING STAIR BALUSTERS IN STEPS:
You just need the tools to update the stair railing and replace the broken components.
Step 1: Remove the existing spindles or balusters:
Cut through the iron balusters using a saw, break the glue seal and take them out. Each baluster comprises a tenon on its lower end fitting into the tread. A cap gets nailed to the end of the tread holding the tenon. The baluster’s top end gets secured through the finishing nails.
Removal of the end cap:
Tap, tap, tap!
Whether you need to remove a baluster or replace it with a new one, pull it sideways of the mortise in the tread and hammer the top of the stair by tapping it. Clean the component and reuse the holes if they are the correct size for your new balusters. You might need to drill holes depending on the size, making them slightly larger.
Step2: Measuring length:
The custom balusters are long enough to get trimmed. First, you must measure the upstairs side of the existing component from the tread where it touches the handrail. Now, measure the bottom edge of the new baluster and transfer that measurement to its upstairs side.
Step 3: Mark the cutline:
Hold a sliding T-bevel against the upstairs side, rotate its blade against the underside of the handrail and tighten it. Transfer this angle to the new baluster, so the blade is beside the mark.
Step 4: Cut to length:
You need three different lengths of balusters which could be 34”, 36”, and 39”. Trim them to make them the perfect size with the help of a hand saw and miter box.
Step 5: Position and attaching of the new component:
Let the new baluster fix it!
Drill two 1/16-inch pilot holes to the baluster angled end and out the upstairs side since they have a ¾ inch pin at the bottom that sits into the hole of stair treads.
Step 6: Inserting tenon:
Insert the tenon into the mortise and then place the top in the middle of the underside of the rail.
Step 7: Set the nail heads:
Coat the ends with wood glue and drive 6d finishing nails through the pilot holes and into the handrail. For the replacement balusters, ask someone to assist and check if the tenon matches the angle of the other balusters, and then place the finishing nail into the upstairs side of the component. Avoid using more than one nail. Then, slide the bottom pin into place, allowing extra room above the top of the component. Add a couple more pins at the top of the balusters and ensure they do not move around in the hole.
Lastly, you need to set the nail heads with a nail set backing onto the tread.
TIPS TO INSTALL NEW BALUSTERS:
Get a state of an art facility and eliminate the headache of hiring unskilled workers to get your balusters fixed!
Why transform the entry with a staircase makeover? There could be various reasons, such as giving an outdated look and not fitting the modern decorating style. As professionals, we stock popular wood species and hardware fittings to satisfy our customers. We ensure you install the right stairs on time at the lowest possible cost.
Keep the following things in mind while repairing or replacing the old components of the staircase.
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Accurate measurements:
Lay the elastic band and place a weight to remove wrinkles. Avoid stretching it; instead, use a ruler or tape to mark the band with a single line across the width of the band.
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Use the guide:
Use the guide to space balusters between posts. Hold the band to align the marks with the inside edge of the other post. Place a baluster far outside the edge of the other post along each mark for ideal spacing.
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Load requirement:
Replacing stair balusters keeping the load requirements in mind!
The handrails for commercial purposes must withstand a load of at least 50 pounds. It is the responsibility of the building managers to provide authentic data confirming the same.
