Inspect and Remove Damaged Balusters

What happens in this clip

Begin by inspecting the stair balusters to identify which ones are broken or loose. Observe the construction to understand how they are mortised into the handrail and dovetailed at the base. Gently loosen and remove the trim moldings that hold the balusters in place at the bottom. Use a hammer and a pry bar to carefully tap the dovetailed balusters out of their slots without causing further damage to the surrounding structure.

Goal: Identify balusters needing repair and safely remove them from the staircase.

What's used

Tools

• Hammer
• Pry bar
• Chisel

About the full video

This project guides you through the process of restoring old, damaged, or loose stair balusters from a historic house. It covers the complete repair process, including careful removal of the balusters, stripping old paint, gluing broken pieces, reinforcing weak points with dowel pins, filling imperfections with epoxy, and finally applying a custom-matched stain and lacquer finish.

Step 1 of 5: Assess Baluster Damage

Carefully examine the damaged baluster to identify if it is cracked, split, or completely broken. Note its attachment points to the handrail and tread. This initial assessment will guide whether a repair or full replacement is necessary.

Open this step in the guide

Other videos for this step

• Assess Railing Damage
• Assess Damage