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Help picking railing/balusters

15 years ago

Hi, I've finally decided on the style I want for my railing and newel posts. Since it's only 36" from my bottom step to the opposite wall, we decided to put the newel on the top step, right against the second riser. By code, the rail has to extend to the edge of the bottom step so we chose an over-the-post railing that will continue past the newel. And since builder didn't put in the wider bullnose bottom step I asked for, we can't turn out to the side, so I chose a vertical volute like this (fifth picture from left, top row)

http://www.coffmanstairs.com/idea-gallery/#

I think the scroll echoes my brackets

Now, my question is, since all my woodwork is stained and not painted, I don't think we should use painted balusters. The DR floor is B. cherry (will darken), the stair treads are oak with just an oil finish, and the risers (when I get them all done - just did DR side and bottom riser) are pine with a clear finish (I can tint a little honey like the baseboard). So, should I go with oak balusters, BC rail and newel, or all oak? I was thinking of staining the cove base under each tread a darker cherry for contrast, to make it easier to see edge of tread for safety.

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Comment (1)

2ajsmama
Original Author
15 years ago
Argh! Nothing's easy. If you notice a dimple in the brass bracket above, it's actually a hole. I've waited a month to get a replacement and the replacement doesn't match! So it's back to the drawing board with the brackets. Has me rethinking the whole design. Scroll brackets would go with Art Deco style railing and vertical volute. I picked up some 5" box newels at HD today and definitely way too big. Might still consider 3.5" box newels but since I have to hide a gap between the tread and the wall (on the right side going up), a 3.5" newel isn't going to do it. Maybe a 4.5"? And then how would it look to have one newel on that top step on the right, one matching on the left and one on the bottom step on the left? Also, carpenter wanted me to find round-bottom baluster b/c it's easier to install than square unless I do shoe rail, but if we do box newels I don't think I'd like round balusters and I can't find square balusters with round pegs.

I had really decided to do the Art Deco (slimmer, 3.5" bottom with tapered top newel and tapered balusters, would still have to trim out top step to hide gap) until this replacement bracket came in the mail, now I don't know what to do if we're not using those.
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Is there another another 1x4 on the other side of the 2x2 baluster, the sandwhich effect? If it's just one 1x4 that seems pretty flimsy to me. I would suggest using a 2x4 for the rails. If you have to sandwhich use 2x4, 2x2, then 1x4. This gives you 3 3/4" in width, about the width of the 4x4 post, actually 1/4" more. You could buzz off that 1/4" at the ends with a miter cut or sand it off with a sander for cleaner look than letting it stick out. A cap rail over the post makes for a stronger/straighter rail, I wouldn't complain about that. I know I alot of folks want to run the post up & put a fancy cap or design on them. Personally I like mine with the cap going over the post. I would use 2 - #8 2 1/2 or 3" screws, 1 into the 2x4 & 1 into the 2x2 about every 2' & 2 or 3 into each post. Al
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