Staircases are often the focal point of a home, but they are also largely underutilized. Too often, homeowners see the stairs as little more than a way to move from one floor to the other, and they therefore neglect to consider that they could also be a great way to breathe new life or inject a new design scheme into your residence.
Contrary to popular belief, enhancing the appearance of your staircase doesn’t have to be a costly endeavor. If you are even remotely handy, you may be able to avoid hiring a contractor altogether in favor of following a DIY route. Should you decide to do so, consider taking the following steps:
Invest in a stair railing installation kit
Available online and easy to find, these kits are designed to offer step-by-step (no pun intended) guidelines as to how to swap out your stair railing on your own. This can save considerable time and stress, and once you purchase the right kit for your needs, it should arrive with all the components already in the dimensions you need for the job.
Say goodbye to the old, tired railing
Obviously, installing a new staircase railing requires the removal of the old one, and the first step you ought to take is to remove the screws that connect the existing rail to the balusters and newel posts (the vertical pieces supporting the railing itself). You should then be able to remove the posts without trouble in preparation for installing the new ones.
Install the new balusters and newel posts
Ideally, you will be able to install the new balusters and newel posts in the same spots you used to support the old ones, so that you aren’t drilling unnecessary holes or doing needless damage to the wood. Your stair kit should come with tools and instructions you can use for installation.
Install the railing itself
The next step in the process is to add the actual railing, which should rise to about three feet above each step. The railing must then be drilled all the way into the staircase’s spindles, so please note that this task requires a particularly long drill bit and screws. Next, neatly fill the holes you drilled with wood glue to complete the process, and wait for everything to dry before applying any pressure to the railing.
Installing your own railing is not especially challenging, but it does require careful, slow and deliberate work. If you take the time to do so yourself, you’ll ultimately end up with not only improved interior aesthetics, but also a point of pride you can appreciate every time you enter your home.
One last note, be sure to check with your local building inspector to make sure all your stair parts will pass code.
NOTE: We’ve updated a previous version of this article that was published in August 2014.