Easy Process To Remove Old Metal Balusters & Installing New Ones
Metal balusters are the kind of balusters that can act as a decorative pillar forming part of a series supporting a rail or coping. Balusters are available in a huge range of styles including Gothic, twisted, scrolled, open circles, balls, etc. These can be fluctuated or varied in order to provide a beautiful & attractive pattern. Installing the metal balusters can be a difficult task, but it is possible to do if you know how to handle a drill and circular saw.
Removing The Old Wooden Balusters
- First of all, trim through the intermediate of the old wooden balusters with the help of a circular saw. As far as the long handrails are concerned, you need to leave a wooden baluster or two in the center for support as long as you have some of the new metal balusters established.
- Take off the top halves of the wooden balusters from the handrail. The wooden balusters may be affixed or nailed into the handrail and need form into a bent, curling, or distorted shape in order to get them out.
- After that, take of the extremity halves of the wooden balusters from the floor or stair tread. Balusters can be affixed or fastened in a number of ways including toe-nailing, glued dowels or screwed in with the help of a double-ended baluster screw. You may need to remove or unscrew them.
Drill The Holes
- Drill the initial test hole for the metal balusters. More often then not, metal balusters need dissimilar size holes as compared to wooden balusters. 1/2-inch metal balusters need a 3/4-inch hole at the extremity and a 1/2-inch hole at the top.
- After that, drill the rest of the holes into the handrail. The holes need to be near about 1-1/2 inches deep into the base of the handrail.
- Drill the enduring holes into the stair treads. Holes need to be at least 5/8-inch to 3/4-inch into the tread. You can square up the holes with the help of a chisel and prevent the need to use baluster shoes.
Installing The Balusters
- Firstly, trim the balusters to length with the help of a circular saw or chop saw having a metal cutting blade. Calculate the distance from the base of the handrail to the top of the stair tread and then put together 1-3/8 to 1-1/2 inches. Each baluster must be calculated separately due to the reason that they vary in length which is totally dependent on how far out on the step they are.
- Now, get rid of any burrs on the cut end of the balusters with the help of a grinding wheel or file and test fit your baluster.
- After that, make the baluster as well as the holes ready. Move the shoe smoothly onto the base of the balusters and tape it in place in order to keep it out of your way. Put or spread epoxy or adhesive to the top and base holes.
- Now, start the installation of the baluster into the hole. Move the baluster up smoothly into the handrail. It should go into or through deep enough in order to allow you to clear the tread and drop the base of the baluster into the hole in the tread. Put together any epoxy necessary on every side of the balusters.
- Finally, take off the tape and drop the shoe into place. Square shoe as well as the baluster up with the tread. Allow the epoxy to fully dry and secure the set screw firmly on the shoe.