DIY Spindle/Baluster repairs

We have a few broken stair balusters and already have some extras on a staircase we will eventually be taking out. Is this something I could try DIYing? It looks like all I need to do is take off the end piece from the tread, pop in the replacement baluster, then put it back together. Have any of you done this yourself?

chipito

in DIY 9 years and 6 months ago

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no-permits | 9 years and 6 months ago

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i wouldn’t glue them.

Arkady | 9 years and 6 months ago

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I wonder if Dave is right about glue. It seems that mine just fit into their holes w/ no nails nor glue to allow them to yield as people walk on the stairs & expansion/contraction w/ heat & humidity.

chipito | 9 years and 6 months ago

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Thanks everyone for the advice so far! I think it’s looking like we will have to get some replicated. Our house is near the guy at 68 Kingston Ave people have mentioned before so we may try that place although maybe Heights will be easier in terms of helping us match the wood.

livingthedreamingreenpoint | 9 years and 6 months ago

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My husband is in the middle of stripping the staircase and spindles now. The end pieces pop off pretty easily – they were nailed in with the original handmade nails. We realized that each spindle fits perfectly in its spot, probably because they were hand fitted on site. Once we realized that we numbered them as we took them off. They look beautiful restored. Also, be careful if you have children in the home, they most likely have lead paint and when they come out it flakes everywhere.

Arkady | 9 years and 6 months ago

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Heights Woodworking makes replicas for not a lot of money if you install them yourself.

daveinbedstuy | 9 years and 6 months ago

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Just be sure to use a high quality wood glue when you install them and the whole railing will be much stronger.

chipito | 9 years and 6 months ago

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I know the pair on each tread are different lengths but I haven’t checked if they vary tread to tread. Thanks for the advice! My guess is that these will be more difficult to replicate since the wood indentations on the top half can’t be duplicated just by turning on a lathe. The wood in ours seems very delicate, as well.

brooklynite66 | 9 years and 6 months ago

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The end pieces on ours were just nailed in so they came off fairly easily. The balusters are easy to replace. My problem was that they are all different lengths and the replacements were a little too short.