rail). The balusters must be
spaced no more than 4 inches
apart.
When planning for the stair
rail, we found it helpful to make
a diagram of the proposed rail
design, complete with specific
measurements, to make sure
all the parts would assemble
correctly on site.
And, of course, style is major
concern. The overall design can
incorporate a rail that mounts
over the newel posts or termi-
nates post-to-post against the
sides. Will your balusters rest on
open treads or mount onto a
kneewall? Whereas our project
used iron balusters, there is also
the option of wood balusters that
vary in shape, style and species.
Newels vary in design from simple
box designs to larger ornamentalpieces with decorative trim.
Handrails also vary in size and
shape, and you want all the asso-
ciated stair components to fit
against each other in an attractive
and proportional manner.
Stair rail construction is a com-
plicated endeavor, so the best way
to plan it is slowly and carefully,
with attention to every site-specif-
ic detail that might affect its
installation.
Rather than rehash L.J. Smith’s
detailed installation manual, this
article will focus on how we
applied those instructions to this
specific job. Be prepared for each
stair project to differ somewhat
regarding on-site challenges.REMOVE THE OLD RAIL
First step in handrail replace-
ment is removal of the old system,which we took out when we
replaced the treads. To do this,
we used a recip saw to cut the
handrail free against each newel.
This enabled us to lift the handrail
off the stair, and the balusters
remained attached to its under-
side, enabling us to remove all of
them at once.
Next, the old newels were
removed by prying the trim boards
from around the 4 x 4 s and cutting
the posts flush with the floor.DETERMINE NEWEL
PLACEMENT
As a general rule for an open-
tread stair, the balustrade center-
line between newels should be
1 / 2 of the baluster square inward
from the face of the stringer. (On
a kneewall stair, the balustrade
should be centered on the knee-
wall.)30 ExtremeHowTo.comWe used a reciprocating saw to
cut the old rail off the existing
newel.The balusters remained attached
to the rail, and the whole assembly
was lifted out as a single piece.DIY
STAIR RAIL
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