Adding Spindles To Existing Stairs

Measure the height for each spindle.

Adding spindles to existing stairs.

Toe screw the top rail to the posts. If the old spindle was glued in and the bond is still strong you may have to cut the damaged spindle out flush and bore two new holes. Stick spindle up into top railing. A well designed stairway can transport a contemporary living room back to the victorian era or create a warm welcome at the entryway.

The stair spindle angles will be the same as the angles at the rail ends. How to install stair spindles. Step 15 caulk the newel posts and the tops and bottoms of the new spindles. Once in place put a 2 1 2 inch pocket hole screw in the top attaching it to the top railing.

Coat with poly to seal. They also play an important role in setting the feel and look of your home. Then slip the spindles over the uniballs and starting at one end work the top rail uniballs over each consecutive spindle until the rail is seated. Use reciprocating saw to cut wooden balusters in half.

The most important thing to remember is that stairs are not just conduits between different areas of the house. Stick spindle in that hole. Add glue or epoxy into lower hole. If you cut too much off one side or the other the shape of the replacement spindle may not line up exactly with the existing banister spindles.

Sand railing and stain or paint. Feb 18 2015 this banister renovation is for when you have a sturdy railing but your stairs need a facelift build a different newel post around the existing post and replace the spindles. Pull out of each end and discard. Rest the bottom rails on 2 4 spacer blocks and toe screw them to the posts photo 22.

Since we were changing 6 inch spaced spindles to 4 inch spaced spindles we were able to keep every other spindle in tact. Don t replace refinish one of the most cost effective ways to update an older staircase is to refinish it. The measurement between them was 12 inches of course so we are just adding two spindles between each we kept. It s amazing how you can transform your stairs by painting the risers the vertical portion of the stair the same color as your trim and refinishing the treads the horizontal portion of the stair.

Lay your cut spindles out and use a uniform measurement to mark the screw holes. Aligning all the spindles at once can prevent errors in the hole locations. We took the railing outside and flipped it upside down to drill holes for the new spindles.