Can I replace dated balusters with metal posts and paint the railing bottom black without tearing out the existing balusters, or has anyone swapped a newel post before while keeping the same size for an easy DIY project?
Thinking about sprucing up my stair railings – I’m considering doing it myself, so I’m on the hunt for an easy option. Do you think it would work if I swapped out the old-fashioned balusters with metal posts and painted the railing and bottom black? Would the railing still be stable if I remove the existing balusters? Has anyone tried this DIY project before?
On second thought, I might just leave the balusters as they are. However, I’m now thinking about replacing the carpet and maybe the newel posts – has anyone ever switched out a newel post before? I’ve only found videos for new installations. If I update it but keep the same size, can I just unscrew and swap it out without taking the whole railing down? I’m hoping it’s a simple process. Also, any advice on replacing carpet (can I keep the current tack strip and underlay)? The second photo shows the look I’m aiming for.
Black with spindle details on bare wood, and the top rail is black.
Do you mean sanding the spindles to expose the bare wood? I’m not a fan of the profile. I prefer a more contemporary look
Oh, , I really like the old style 😅 maybe aluminum with glass or something similar 🤔
I’m aiming for something like this
A friend of mine recently did this…try not to remove all of them at once.
Hahaha – well, if I decide to give it a shot, I’ll start with a small section as a trial. Maybe the left side or the top left panel. If that goes well and looks good, then I’ll move on to other sections. I’m intimidated by the whole process though. It seems like I’ll need to trim the metal balusters and secure them with glue. Using epoxy should make it sturdy, but I would like to hear from someone who has tried something similar to confirm that it’s doable!! I’ll also need to drill holes in the base to accommodate the baluster since I think there are just screws there now
I wish I could offer advice, but all I can say is that my friend’s staircase looks incredible! She was nervous at first too, since she had never attempted it before… but she took the plunge and it turned out great!! Best of luck, and don’t forget to share a before and after picture!! You’ve got this, just go for it 💪
Wow, that’s amazing! Any idea where she found those balusters? Were they adjustable or did she have to trim them?
Aw man, Misty! I wish I could help but I don’t have the answer right now and I can’t ask her at the moment 😔
Hey Misty! You can find them at Lowe’s and Home Depot. Take a look at the WM Coffman brand. You’ll need to do some cutting, but it’s really simple with an angle grinder.
Hey Misty! I’m currently in the process of redoing my staircase and I’m going with Stairwarehouse.
I’ve seen so many YouTube videos about this specific topic.
Yeah, they’re all done differently. I saw one video where the guy used a staple gun for the stair carpet replacement, but everyone said that’s not the right way to do it. Some videos show using an expandable spindle with a screw for spindles, but I can’t find it for sale online – others cut them to fit which seems difficult. And some have an angled wall that requires wide cuts…
That’s a ton of spindles! I would paint them the same color as the wall to help them blend in more effectively.
The balusters you have are timeless. Their design has been around for centuries and won’t go out of fashion. If you’re thinking of replacing them with a passing trend, it might not be the best idea. Instead, focus on upgrades that will increase your home’s value in the long run. Changing the balusters may not add value, especially when trends change over time. You can give your staircase a new look with paint and a new newel post.
I can’t stand them. My other choice is kicking back with squares. They just have a cheap 90s vibe – I prefer the square.
I’m with you, I also like the square.
Hey ! I stumbled upon a picture of a carpet that I really like. Do you happen to know how tricky it is to swap out newel posts? If I’m able to switch those and refinish the railing, I believe I can manage with this (the carpet has to be replaced because my cats have torn it apart)
Hey there! I heard there are newel post sleeve kits that can be placed over or around the current post, which means you don’t have to take it out.
Just go ahead and paint them! Use black paint on the walls. Your stairs already look better than the inspiration photo. Painting the whole area will completely transform the space and it will look fantastic! You could also consider replacing the railing on the wall with something like this, and enclose the space at the top of the stairs so there are no spindles.
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Feel free to paint what you have black. You might end up loving it and deciding to keep it, but if not, you can always switch things up. I really believe what you have is classic.
We replaced ours with metal last winter, which was quite the task, but surprisingly fun. Some houses have holes on the bottom and top like ours, but not all, so make sure to double-check before you dive too deep into the project. You can order different shoes based on what your house has. The spindles come long and need to be cut to size, ensuring they are long enough to be secure in the holes but short enough to fit without scratching the steps. It’s a bit of trial and error in the beginning, so I recommend starting with the top ones. Remember to measure each one individually before cutting – don’t assume they’re all the same length.
Taking out all the spindles on the left side at once should be fine, but it might be helpful to leave a couple on the other side for support as you work. Once they’re in place, the railing should be fully supported.
When it comes to gluing, there are a few different options, so
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Here’s what we did – we decided to stain the newells and railings on our own, but we hired a stair company to replace the spindles. Surprisingly, the cost difference between doing it ourselves and hiring someone wasn’t too significant, and they worked so quickly that it was worth paying for. Check out photos of my daughter’s project and mine in the comments!
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My suggestion would be to paint them. Consider using a darker color for the endcaps of the stairs, the same color for the rail, and a color in between for the posts. I wouldn’t remove them – as someone mentioned, they have a timeless appeal.
I went ahead and painted mine black, and let me tell you, it made a huge difference
I’ve opted for metal spindles instead of wood. The installation process is quite simple, with support at the top and bottom of the railing. Everything should be sturdy as you replace the spindles.
I would consider painting them black! That’s the look I prefer. Just be cautious if you decide to make the spindles thinner – it could create a safety concern due to the increased space between them. A friend of mine almost bought a house with updated spindles, but had to pass because her toddler could fit through the gaps 😳 Keep this in mind before making a decision!
Taking out the carpet and staining the handrails would give it a much more contemporary feel. Let me show you how we did ours. Originally, there was carpet and honey oak.
I was thinking about doing that, but unfortunately we’re missing the side wall. We’ll either need to get new white pieces or add more wood to even out the level where the carpet is, and the stairs are 54 inches. The cost of the treads is pretty steep, so I might just remove them and start fresh.
Oh no, that’s disappointing. My neighbor is in the same situation and has been renovating for 3 months now. It only took us about two weekends.
Wow, the hardwood floors look amazing!! I really want to do it too… I wonder if I could customize the treads to match. I really want to replace our carpet.
Hey, switching to hardwood really makes a difference from having carpet.
Hey , yeah, I’ve been looking for photos with white end caps on the edge of hardwood steps too. It seems like most either have spindles on top of the wooden step or stairs with a side wall like yours. I’m not sure how to make the wood step level with the end cap or how that would look.
Hey , I totally understand what you’re saying.
Oh yeah, I actually did that recently and the handrails stayed solid the whole time
I’m considering painting this railing and replacing the old balusters that are not up to code due to the 5” space between each one. I’ve also thought about widening the stairs by building a wall 6” further out and adding a handrail, but I haven’t discussed it with the homeowner yet.
Your carpet on the stairs is a runner. The tack strips shouldn’t be there. Normally, they are stapled onto the stairs. You should replace the padding while you have the opportunity. It’s not advisable to reuse it since padding wears down from regular use.
It’s not actually a runner. It’s fastened to OSB with strips and underlay – the white part you see is a false tread cap.
Oh, got it. Looked like a runner.