Interior stair balusters (wood vs. iron, spacing, etc.)
First off, I JUST returned my Not So Big books to the library and forgot to revisit the baluster section. Does anyone remember the stairs with the balusters spaced like this?
Anyway, we need to decide between iron balusters and wood balusters. Thoughts? Inspiration pictures?
Comments (12)
millworkman
11 years ago
nini804
11 years agoWhat is the style of your house? We have a very traditional home so decided against the iron balusters, even though they are very popular around here. In fact, our builder automatically spec'ed them out and we had to change it. Not sure if this is helpful, but here is how ours turned out.
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Wood type & finish for interior wood handrail
Comments (4)I'd try to match the handrail with other woodwork in the house, not the floor. Think of the treads as floor and the railing as trim. I don't have pictures but my last home had lightish oak floors (and stair treads) but the rails, balusters, moulding, stringers, door trim, picture rails, etc., were all very dark something. Of course new homes usually don't have dark wood trim, and painted is more common and not a great choice for a rail. You might have to take inspiration from other things you have. Anyway, unless you have one of those houses from the 80s where everything that can possibly be wood is light oak, there is absolutely no reason to make your railing the same as the treads....See MoreHandrail and balusters
Comments (11)Hi everyone as this subject seems to be something that a lot of folks with stairs are wanting to do, change or up grade is a big decision in time, effort, & O-YA money! I would only buy your rail & stair parts from a stair company or someone that knows how to install these parts. They can usually straighten you out over the phone when you become stuck on a decision that could cost you all the money you would have saved by buying your parts at a box store or anywhere that does not make their living installing what they sell. I would also check out this web site of a 30 year old comany to see some great pictures of finished styles of stairs & rail work. I also know they ship all over the US & if you fax a list of styles/parts (catalog names & or numbers) & a drawing (looking down at your plans/stair) of your stairs, they will help you get the right parts "the first time" & I would also ask if they have any styles that they are discontinuing or over runs if you are not too picky on styles. When you talk to a stair company they will tell you that there are no 2" x 2" balusters, that they come as 1-1/4", 1-3/4", and some 2-1/4" are the standard size. Newels are 3" x 3", 3-1/4" and box newels can be just about any size your pocket book can stand! Once you have figured out your plan of attack, like do I want the balusters to dowel into the treads, or do I want an elavated shoe rail that runs just above the tread nose at the pitch of the stair so the balusters fit into it and this will tell you and the stair pro how long the balusters need to be and then all you parts will start to fill in as you need them. Are you covering your old stair with new Oak Treads & if so, what about the rise change, will they still meet code in your area. Why spend all this $$$ if it does not knock your socks off when your done! Most Stairs/Rails are usually near or at the entry where your guests enter your home, you want it to set the feel of your home that it is a quality built home, so shady workmanship here is a NO-NO! You need to remember that there is a reason that more then half of the carpenters work on stairs, but only 10% know how to work on the rails system and if it's curved it's like only 2% that can do it in a timely mannor and make money doing it! Old Stair guy...See MoreNeed advice, please - replacing gallery/stair balusters
Comments (3)They have a selection at my home depot here in upstate NY. They have swisted iron without the birdcage and also they have available with the birdcage and then they also have stainable railings made of a variety of wood. I bought one with the birdcage and brought it home just to see what it would look like in my house. Each baulster was under $10. Maybe stop by your homedepot and pick one up just to see how you would like it in your home. Good luck!...See MoreStair railings (Wooden vs Metal)
Comments (11)My childhood home (early 70's construction) had wrought iron handrails inside. They always looked like something that belonged outside. Mom didn't like them because they were hard to keep clean. The home we built in the 90's had a much nicer system that would suit a traditional colonial-ish home. Oak railing, white painted spindles, decorative triangular trim pieces at the sides at each tread. Here's a pic of our 1990's staircase: And here's a pic of the staircase trim detail on a home built in early 1800's. It's currently being restored. so it's a bit rough:...See MoreUser
11 years agoThank you for the pictures! I think I prefer the look of wood balusters over iron. My husband says his style preference for wood is either all white or all wood (not wood with white accents even though I love nini's stairs!) :)
Here is a picture from the model home...
Our kitchen cabinets and great room built-in are "Winds Breath" white.
I'm thinking square wood balusters, maybe like one of these pictures:
[Traditional Staircase design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-staircase-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_745~s_2107) by Other Metros Interior Designer Kirby Maronda
[Modern Home Office design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-home-office-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_732~s_2105) by Calgary Interior Designer Cardel Designs
dekeoboe
11 years agoUser
11 years agonini804
11 years agobevangel_i_h8_h0uzz
11 years agoUser
11 years agonini, that is SUCH a good point about dirty fingerprints on a white railing. Stained wood it is!!!
bevangel, it's possible the newel post at the foot of the stairs can't be removed. I need to talk to the builder to confirm which posts will/won't be there. He did say "all of these posts can be removed" but I should make sure we are talking about the same posts.
Back to the stairs---what do you guys think of this look, where the balusters are in "pairs?"
Is it safe? Is it too trendy? Have you seen such a thing in person?
bevangel_i_h8_h0uzz
11 years agoUser
11 years agoUser
11 years ago
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