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The Handyman Blog

Rebuilding a Really Rotten Railing

7/5/2016

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At first my client and I thought this banister just needed a little TLC...
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But within a few minutes, we discovered that it needed to be completely replaced:
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Whoever built this used untreated lumber, and the concrete stairs were wicking water into the wood and rotting it. The wood was basically just compost held together by a coat of paint. Luckily that made it easy to remove, and I soon had it chiseled out.
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Once the banister was removed, we were left with these galvanized threaded rods, which were fortunately in great shape to re-use!
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If you think about it, building a wooden railing on concrete steps poses a major problem: how do you attach the railings to the concrete? Despite his oversight in using untreated wood, the original builder actually had a very sturdy and ingenious design for these railings.

He started with galvanized threaded rods drilled and set in anchoring cement. Then he added a base-plate that was glued, bolted and screwed into the concrete floor. He built the post around the base-plate and tightened it down.

I decided to copy his method, with a few improvements of my own. (For example, I used treated lumber!)
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This system really does seem to work well for attaching wooden posts to a concrete floor. These posts are solid! Once the posts were finished, I installed the railings, trim and copper caps.
This was an enjoyable project to do. It was a "thinking man's" carpentry, with a lot of detailed design hidden inside.

I'll take some wood samples home with me to test the moisture readings. Once they reach around 15%, we'll be ready to paint.
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Do you need a banister or railing repaired? If so, please get in touch. I'll be glad to help.

Keep Reading

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Historic Restoration - New Railing on a Montford Home
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Sharon's Cat Condo
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    Arthur Teel, Asheville & Weaverville Handyman
    Welcome to my blog! This is a chronicle of the adventures of Arthur Teel, a handyman working in Asheville and Weaverville, NC. Need someone to fix your home?
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  • Home
  • Handyman Services
    • Closets and Storage
    • Doors, Locks and Knobs >
      • Door Repair
      • Door Replacement
      • Knobs and Locks
    • For Interior Designers >
      • Hanging Pictures & Mirrors
      • Interior Painting
      • Light Fixture Installation
      • Window Treatments
    • Furniture Assembly
    • Light Fixture Installations
    • Outdoor Spaces >
      • Decks and Deck Repair
      • Porch Repair
      • Railings and Stairs
      • Screen Doors and Porches
    • Renovations
    • Trim and Moldings
    • Wall and Ceiling Repair
    • Winterizing >
      • Storm Doors
      • Weatherstripping
  • Interior Painters
  • Picture Hanging
  • Reviews
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact