Replacing wooden spindles with wrought iron enhances a staircase.
Wrought iron spindles enhance the look and feel of a staircase in addition to providing better structural stability when compared to wood. Replacing wood spindles with wrought iron is a moderately easy do-it-yourself project and will take a little more than a full day to complete. Once you have visited a spindle showroom and selected your materials, you are ready to begin. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove the old spindles. Put on the safety goggles cut each spindle at its midpoint with a jigsaw. Wiggle both ends of the spindle with your hands until you can remove the upper and lower halves of the spindle from the spindle holes. Pull out all nails with the pull on the hammer. Repeat this process for the remaining spindles.
2. Touch up holes or scratches around the spindles with fine grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge. Touch up the staircase using paint or wood stain before proceeding.
3. Measure the distance between the stair rail and the floor. Write this measurement down. Add approximately 1 3/8 inches to account for the length of the new spindle.
4. Test the spindle holes. Existing holes may require modification to accommodate the new material. Try to insert a new spindle into the railing at the top and the flooring at the bottom. If the hole is not deep enough, use a 5/8 inch bit and drill the hole directly in the center to no more than 11/16 inch from the floor and 1 ½ inches into the railing. The top of the spindle should now fit in the modified hole for the railing. If the spindle fits in the hole during a dry install, this step may not be required.
5. Cut the new spindle using a jigsaw. Using your measurements that you took in Step 3, measure the spindle and cut the bottom and top length accordingly. Repeat for each spindle.
6. Place painters tape on the floor next to the bottom of the spindle and near the spindle holes in the railing to protect the floor from damage as you slide the spindles into place.
7. Test the fit of the spindle. Slide the spindle into the railing at the top, and move the bottom of the spindle in place with your hands. Place the baluster shoes that were included with the spindles at the base of the spindles on the floor to check for appearance. The shoes cover any old holes. Adjust the cuts as necessary once you have tested the fit. Remove the spindles after dry fitting.
8. Apply epoxy or polyurethane adhesive directly into the holes. Slide the spindles in place using the same method employed in Step 7. Place epoxy or adhesive on the bottom of each baluster shoe and move it into place once the spindle is set. Tighten the screws for the shoes with a power drill to complete the installation. Repeat this step for all remaining spindles. Clean off any exposed adhesive with a towel.
Tags: into railing, spindle holes, spindles with, bottom spindle, each spindle