Remove/reinstall wrought iron bannister. Please help.

milli...@yahoo.com

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Feb 18, 2013, 12:34:29 PM2/18/13

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Dear Readers,

My interior 1955+/- wrought iron stair railing/bannister on wood treads needs to be stripped and repainted. I'd (ideally) like to move it outside to do so. I'm very handy, but have no experience in how these things are installed (or carefully removed). I've attached some photos which show connection points. Looks like 4 screws into treads at these specific connections, but what about the typical balusters? I don't want to damage the stair treads.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7989_zpsf4212061.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7990_zps7427c37a.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7992_zps48c9d212.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7991_zps741f1849.jpg

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
Theodore

Oren

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Feb 18, 2013, 4:31:29 PM2/18/13

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Can't say for sure. Are there screws under the handrails? Remove
them and handrails first, then the balusters would be my approach.
Install in reverse order.

Perhaps number the balusters to keep them in order.

2 cents.

hrho...@sbcglobal.net

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Feb 18, 2013, 4:47:40 PM2/18/13

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On Feb 18, 11:34 am, millingh...@yahoo.com wrote:
> Dear Readers,
>
> My interior 1955+/- wrought iron stair railing/bannister on wood treads needs to be stripped and repainted. I'd (ideally) like to move it outside to do so. I'm very handy, but have no experience in how these things are installed (or carefully removed). I've attached some photos which show connection points. Looks like 4 screws into treads at these specific connections, but what about the typical balusters? I don't want to damage the stair treads.
>

> http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7989_zpsf421...http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7990_zps7427...http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7992_zps48c9...http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7991_zps741f...

>
> Any advice appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Theodore

Those 4 screws remove normally. Once they are all loose, you should
be able to remove the individual balusters.

milli...@yahoo.com

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Feb 18, 2013, 6:04:31 PM2/18/13

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Wow. I checked under the handrail and there are screws holding the bottom of the handrail to the top. Check out photos:
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7995_zps48237279.jpg
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7994_zps2454ad1e.jpg

So, you think I can detach the top of the handrail from the bottom? And then each baulster may have it's own screw to remove? And then the baluster just pulls out of the stair tread?

Oren

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Feb 18, 2013, 6:38:58 PM2/18/13

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Looks like those rail screws hold the wood on metal. What is under
the wood is another thing to look at after the rail is removed.

I would not remove the balusters until you look at how the metal is
attached to the top of the balusters. Do not try to remove the
balusters from the bottom *only*. (IMO)

My guess is the rail is "last on first off".

jamesgang

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Feb 19, 2013, 2:15:06 PM2/19/13

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On Monday, February 18, 2013 6:38:58 PM UTC-5, Oren wrote:
> On Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:04:31 -0800 (PST), milli...@yahoo.com wrote: >Wow. I checked under the handrail and there are screws holding the bottom of the handrail to the top. Check out photos: >http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7995_zps48237279.jpg >http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac194/millinghill/Sam_7994_zps2454ad1e.jpg > >So, you think I can detach the top of the handrail from the bottom? And then each baulster may have it's own screw to remove? And then the baluster just pulls out of the stair tread? Looks like those rail screws hold the wood on metal. What is under the wood is another thing to look at after the rail is removed. I would not remove the balusters until you look at how the metal is attached to the top of the balusters. Do not try to remove the balusters from the bottom *only*. (IMO) My guess is the rail is "last on first off".

Having just doen an install on a balcony I can tell you that the recommended technique from the web site I bought them on was to put some epoxy in the bottom hole before putting each baluster in. To make them tight. So you may find that you have to really pull to get them out.

DerbyDad03

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Feb 19, 2013, 5:44:46 PM2/19/13

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If they are indeed epoxied in, "really pulling" is going to do a lot of
damage to the stair tread. If the epoxy had anything to grab onto (teeth)
on both the baluster and the wood, and it was mixed correctly, it's not
going to let go without taking some wood with it.

milli...@yahoo.com

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Feb 23, 2013, 11:52:54 PM2/23/13

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> If they are indeed epoxied in, "really pulling" is going to do a lot of
>
> damage to the stair tread. If the epoxy had anything to grab onto (teeth)
>
> on both the baluster and the wood, and it was mixed correctly, it's not
>
> going to let go without taking some wood with it.

House was built in the 1950's, and stairs/railings are origin to house. I doubt they had epoxied the balusters back then.

Oren

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Feb 24, 2013, 2:39:23 PM2/24/13

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Please let us know what you find out.