Upgrading your basic wood stair spindles (which are also called balusters) will give your home a more custom look.
If you are able to use some basic tools, then you should be able to do it yourself.
Follow the steps below for how to replace your wood stair spindles with wrought iron.
photo courtesy of Crown Molding flickr.com/photos/crown_molding/6496529799/Shop
Visit a stair spindle showroom or look online to select new wrought iron spindles #ad.
Make sure you have a sketch or photo of your staircase showing the location of all of your spindles.
You can count the number of spindles you are going to replace in order to get a rough estimate of cost.
Wrought iron spindles come in different colors and designs to complement most any decor.
The most popular designs include the S scroll, basket, and straight.
For a more interesting and more custom looking staircase, use a combination of several designs to create your own unique pattern.
Make sure to purchase shoes for all of your new spindles.
Shoes come in different shapes depending on where they are located along your staircase, so make sure you purchase the correct ones in the finish to match your spindles.
Make sure to consider what styles have been popular in the past if you have a more traditional style and what are the new trends if you have a more contemporary or modern style.
Consider getting a style that is not as popular so it has less of a chance of going out of style quickly.
Demolition
Caution - staircases can be dangerous while under construction, so make sure to keep the area secure from anyone who might get hurt.
Once you have your new wrought iron spindles, you need to remove the existing spindles.
Cut each spindle only 3/4 through around the middle to prevent the stair spindle from falling out.
Once a section is cut, grab at the cut point and pull it towards you.
Remove all of the unnecessary nails using pliers and discard the broken stair spindles.
Measure
Measure the space between the hand rail and the floor for each new spindle individually, then add 1" to 1-1/4" to each measurement.
Cut the bottom of each spindle to the correct length.
Insert Spindle
Put the new wrought iron spindle in the hole of the old spindle by putting the top of the spindle in the hole first, then add a shoe to the bottom.
Glue
Glue the top and bottom of the new wrought iron spindles and shoes using epoxy.
