How Do You Repair A Loose Or Broken Baluster?
Your grand staircase makes a less-than-grand impression if it’s got a broken baluster. Replacing, tightening or repairing a baluster is easy if you understand how it’s secured. The bottom end is dovetailed and locked into the edge of the tread before the nosing is applied; or it’s doweled and inserted in a hole as it’s tilted into place for nailing at the top. The top is toenailed to the railing. To remove a dovetailed baluster, pry off the cove molding and nosing (see A). (Insert a trim pry bar into the joint on the nosing’s underside so the trim will cover any mar.) Then tap out the baluster with a block of wood. To disconnect the top, drive the top end in the upstairs direction with a wood block and hammer. To remove a doweled baluster, disconnect the top. Then pull or pry up on the baluster to lift out the doweled end. Remove the baluster and use padded clamps to draw the pieces together and test the fit. Use a glue injector if the baluster is just cracked. If it’s completely broke
