Merry Banisters Spring 2025
Like many of our projects with Merry this one came in three parts. First was many months of planning with Merry sending pictures and ideas and me asking questions and wanting more detailed pictures. Before our trip Merry got all the parts, and stained and sealed the oak railings, caps, and rosettes.
Then, on our way south on a spring trip we tore out the railings and newel post, installed two new posts and got the railings in place. While we were gone Merry got the new wood painted and touched up the walls.
Finally, on the return trip we got the balusters in and the caps on the newel posts. Along the way we had many fine meals and Merry and Roger joined us for a week relaxing (i.e. snorkeling, swimming, hiking, and cycling) in the keys.
One of the many pics we used for planning discussions. Merry wanted a new newel post, metal balusters and to clean up the look at the bottom of the bulusters.
Another planning pic. I suggested we put oak rosettes where rails meet the walls, add another newel post at top of stairs at left for strength, move new balusters closer to meet code, and add oak accents where possible.
Arrival day where Roger and I see what we can salvage as demo begins. The added newel post will be where the level rail meets the sloped rail on the far side in this pic.
Cleaning up the bottom board after demo of left side. We will add a similar board to the other side to balance the design.
Before going out to dinner, I'm contemplating how to attach the newel post to the built up stair riser and how to finish the right hand side.
With all the fancy angle cuts for the railings, I convinced Roger he needed a nice new compound miter saw for all our projects. On the saw you can see the new angle recording tool Jesse gave me. Merry is painting the new newel post.
All the railings in place. I learned a lot about concealed attachment methods for railings on this project. We ended up using three different attachment methods on this one small project.
Project space cleaned up as we prepare to continue south. The rest will wait a couple weeks until we return.
First baluster in place. I'd thought ahead and brought a small cut-off saw with a 5 inch grinder/cutting blade that made cutting the baluster easier after we spent much time getting the "look"right.
The balusters had shoes at the top and bottom to accommodate the design. I used a very small drill bit on my rotary tool to pre-drill the screw holes because of the tight space.
Finished product with new riser support on right side to match riser on left, and fancy oak caps.
View from top of new newel post added for strength with oak accents at base.
View from entry door with a happy Merry preparing another wonderful meal to celebrate the new look.