Fixing Loose Balusters

The Balusters on a wooden staircase are fixed in one of two ways: either with a nail driven through the baluster into the handrail at an angle, or they sit in a groove on the bottom of the handrail with fillets of wood between each one to hold them in position.

Loose Nail

If your wooden staircase is the type which is nailed, you may find that nails work loose over time. In this situation, use some pliers to remove the loose nail, and replace it with a slightly longer and thicker nail. If you cant remove the old nail (it is sometimes awkward to get a good grip on nails in these situations), drive a new nail through the baluster at a different location. Make sure the baluster is pushed firmly against the underside of the handrail before driving in your new nails. Repeat this process for each loose baluster.

Loose or missing Fillet

If you have a staircase which uses the fillet method of construction, you may find that the fillets loosen or fall out completely. If the fillet which has fallen out is sound, you can reuse it. If not, or if it somehow gets lost, you will either need to buy a new fillet from a local DIY store (although these might not always fit your particular staircase) or cut a new one to fit. Make sure the baluster has not slipped out of position within the groove on the underside of the handrail, and make sure it is pushed in as tight as possible. Replace the fillet into the groove and nail it into place. You can use a nail punch to drive the heads of the nails below the surface of the wood.

Know Your Staircase

There are several strange terms associated with staircases. Knowing the difference between the nosing and the string is important if you plan to do any repair work on your own staircase.

Baluster

The vertical member between the handrail and baserail. Balusters can be plain or decorative, squared or rounded.

Bullnose Step

Usually the bottom step of a staircase. One or both ends of the step are rounded so that there are no sharp corners.

Closed String

A string which has been capped on the outside face with a straight strip of wood, so that the profile of the steps cannot be seen from the side.

Cut String (Open String)

A string with the upper edge cut into the shape of the treads and risers.

Going

The horizontal distance between the first and last riser of a staircase. The individual going of a step is the distance between the face of one riser and the face of the next. This should be no less than 220mm on a domestic stairase.

Newel (Newel Post)

This is the thick upright post at the bottom and sometimes the top of a staircase, onto which the handrail and string are attached.

Nosing

The edge of an individual tread which projects out over the riser below it.

Rise

The vertical distance between the floor and the landing onto which the stairs lead. The individual rise of a step is the vertical distance between the top of one tread and the top of the next.