Remodeling your staircase with iron balusters is quick, easy and affordable! Your stairs are the focal point of your home and a simple remodel will drastically change the entire look of your home and also increase the value of your home at the same time. Most DIY enthusiasts can do a simple stair remodel on their own without hiring a contractor or stair installer.
A complete guide to remodeling stairs.
Once you’ve decided to remodel your stairs, the first step is to measure your staircase and create a parts list. This sounds difficult, but in most cases, you can simply count the number of wooden balusters (also called spindles or pegs). To comply with stair code, your balusters can only have a maximum spacing of 4 inches. If there is a gap of more than 4 inches in your stair system, then you will not be up to code and will not pass any home inspection. If your wood balusters are already code compliant, then your iron balusters should be able to use the existing holes that were drilled for the wood balusters.
After you know how many you want, it’s time to go online and find some stair parts and choose a design. I recommend you go for cheap stair parts for your balusters. They have a great selection and low prices. Even if you find the same products on another website, they will beat that price by 5%. My house was a bigger remodel and I spent over $1600 so they gave me free shipping too. I highly recommend them.
When buying iron balusters, try to stay within the same product family. Do not mix hammered balusters with plain balusters. Do not mix baluster sizes such as 9/16″ round with 1/2″ square. Also do not mix finishes. Stick to the same finish for all your pieces. If you don’t know which finish to choose, I recommend satin black to be on the safe side, but oil rubbed bronze is very much on trend right now and should blend into your home just as easily as satin black will.
Once you’ve purchased your stair parts, it’s time to begin the remodel. Put some sheeting on your stairs to protect your floor from debris. Cut out the wood balusters with any saw that will fit. Just make a cut in the center of the balusters and then move the top and bottom. Remove any loose nails. After removing the balusters, sand around the area and prepare it for any additional staining or painting. Now is the time to re-stain or paint any areas that need touching up.
Get a band saw or chop saw with a metal-cutting blade and cut the iron balusters to size. Measure from the bottom of the handrail to the top of the flooring, add 3/4″ and cut the baluster to that length. Then drill back into the handrail 1 inch deep. Make sure the bottom has a 1″ hole. /4″ deep. Slide your baluster shoes onto the balusters and then slide your baluster up the handrail and drop it into the hole below. Use a dime-sized blob of clear, non-drip dry epoxy on the top and bottom of the baluster. This will keep it in place easily.
After the balusters are secure, drop the shoes in and then epoxy glue them to the floor. You now have a finished look. Clean up a bit and enjoy your remodeled stairs.
