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 2 of 5: Remove Broken Baluster

If the baluster is still partially attached, use a pry bar or chisel to gently loosen it from the handrail and tread. For balusters attached with screws or dowels, you may need to unscrew or drill them out. If the baluster is mortised into the handrail, you might need to carefully cut it away or use specialized chisels.

Open this step in the guide

Other videos for this step

• Remove Old Wooden Balusters
• Remove Old Balusters and Clean Area