Tap the caps off of the two balusters
Baluster
A baluster— also called spindle or stair stick—is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, a form cut from a rectangular or square plank, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping …
Can you fix Rotten spindles on a porch?
Add that cost to the other job that is likely, porch painting, and it may become downright prohibitive! Fortunately, with a few simple products, you can fix your rotten spindles, and even those expensive cedar top rails, without too much skill or effort.
Can you repair a spindle on a riding mower deck?
Instead of purchasing a replacement spindle for your riding mower deck, you can repair the spindle for a fraction of the cost by replacing just the worn-out bearings.
Where do spindles meet the bottom rail on a porch?
This is quite likely to happen where the spindles meet the bottom rail, particularly at porch corners where they receive rain from two sides. A spindle's end grain will wick moisture up into the wood.
How do you fix a broken spindle on a pool table?
Using a pipe or socket, press or tap the retaining sleeve onto the spindle shaft. It will come rest against the inner race of the upper bearing. That's it. Put the repaired spindle back onto the deck and you are good for another 5 years or so.
How do you fix rotted balusters?
1:3510:59How To Repair Rot: Cedar Deck Railing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's a watery liquid that easily penetrates the wood and kind of soaks in there and hardens quicklyMoreIt's a watery liquid that easily penetrates the wood and kind of soaks in there and hardens quickly and that will help consolidate the wood and then we're just going to use the Minwax wood filler.
How do you fix a loose spindle on a porch?
Shim the Loose SpindleDry-fit a wooden shim to ensure it fits snugly into the gap between the top of your loose spindle and the handrail.Spread wood glue lightly over the shim.Insert the shim into the gap at the top of your loose spindle and gently tap it with a hammer to set it firmly into place.More items...
How do you fix deck spindles?
2:325:38How to Assemble Deck Railings with Wickes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe center mark on each spindle as this is where you'll drill your pilot holes. Then turn the 81MoreThe center mark on each spindle as this is where you'll drill your pilot holes. Then turn the 81 millimeter section on its side and continue to mark along the length of the railing.
How do you repair a rotted deck rail?
Rails often split or crack and sometimes get patches of rot or decay. You have a few options for fixing this type of damage. You can overlay them, clamp them with glue or patch them up with resin. Don't replace old porch rails if you can fix them for a fraction of the cost.
How do you fix a loose spindle?
0:001:53Easy Fix (Repair) loose stair banister spindles - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake it as long as I possibly can and the key is to make it as longer than the nail. Or at least asMoreMake it as long as I possibly can and the key is to make it as longer than the nail. Or at least as long as the nail otherwise you may have trouble getting the nail to go all the way in.
How do you fix wood spindles?
3:149:32How to Repair Broken Stair Balusters | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then we'll apply glue to the break. Set it in this jig which will keep it nice and square we'llMoreAnd then we'll apply glue to the break. Set it in this jig which will keep it nice and square we'll clamp it up and then we'll let it. Set. So this baluster was glued up yesterday.
How do you install porch spindles?
4:125:21How to Build a Porch Rail | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOn the underside of the handrail next to the nailing strip i pre-drill a hole and screw it intoMoreOn the underside of the handrail next to the nailing strip i pre-drill a hole and screw it into place using a three-inch ceramic screw. Sit on the balusters.
How do you redo a porch railing?
0:009:46Replacing Old Porch and Deck Railing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn this video i want to show you how i replace railing and balusters on an old porch i'm going to beMoreIn this video i want to show you how i replace railing and balusters on an old porch i'm going to be ripping out the old one and putting in new. Ones. Here's some shots of the porch beforehand.
How do you repair a metal porch railing?
1:285:21How to Repair a Rusted Wrought Iron Railing | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo do that I'm going to use a hammer drill with a masonry bit I'm going to put it in the hole. And IMoreTo do that I'm going to use a hammer drill with a masonry bit I'm going to put it in the hole. And I set my depth stop because I don't want to go too deep.
How do you repair a wooden porch spindle?
6:239:15Replace Balusters On A Deck Or Porch Railing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it's smooth I will use the copper base preservative. Here again. And then prime over that whenMoreSo it's smooth I will use the copper base preservative. Here again. And then prime over that when you're using that copper base preservative make sure you use stainless steel nails or screws.
How do you fix rotted wood without replacing it?
Wood fillers are products such as Bondo and Minwax that are designed to be all-purpose fillers for gaps, holes, and rotted wood. Their application is simple, they cure quickly, and they're not supposed to shrink once dry.
Can rotting wood be saved?
When you come across rotted wood in your old house projects, instead of replacing the damaged wood, you also can repair it with specialty epoxy penetrants (also called consolidants) and fillers to make repairs. Not only is this faster, but the fixed wood is stronger than the original.
How do you tighten a loose railing?
4:026:01How to Tighten a Loose Newel Post | Ask This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAgain. All right micah you're up to tighten up this railing we're going to use six inch structuralMoreAgain. All right micah you're up to tighten up this railing we're going to use six inch structural screws. Down just a little bit there you. Go. All right okay do the next one.
How do you fix a wobbly stair railing on a deck?
1:005:32DIY Fix Wobbly Railings (On a Deck or Porch) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe simplest most affordable way to do this is to just add some beefier Hardware half-inch lag boltsMoreThe simplest most affordable way to do this is to just add some beefier Hardware half-inch lag bolts with washers like these.
How do you fix a wobbly newel post?
0:233:03How to Repair a Wobbly Newel Post | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd screw the hanger bolt into the other end of the coupling. Nut bringing it down tight until itMoreAnd screw the hanger bolt into the other end of the coupling. Nut bringing it down tight until it bottoms out and hits the threaded rod i'll tighten that up in a minute with some pliers.
How do I change a railing spindle?
How to Replace Stair BalustersStep 1: remove existing balusters. Saw out your existing balusters. ... Step 2: drill holes for new balusters. ... Step 3: sand. ... step 4: measure. ... Step 5: paint. ... Step 6: cut the balusters. ... Step 7: install the new balusters.
Why ventilate skirting under porch?
Ventilation is crucial for preventing dampness, which can attract wood-eating insects and encourage decay. “You want the bugs to crawl in,” says Andrew Curtis, an exterior restoration specialist, “and you want them to crawl back out.”. It is crucial to ventilate skirting underneath porches to avoid decay.
What is a good porch?
A good porch starts with good footings. While the earliest porches were built on large stones set deep into the ground or full masonry piers of fieldstone or brick, contemporary building codes call for footers of poured concrete.
How thick are porch floor boards?
Historically, porch floorboards were milled from vertical grain 5⁄4″ tongue-and-groove Douglas fir, which meant they were fully 1″ thick. The ends were often shaped in a half-round bullnose by an onsite carpenter, the better to shed water. After World War II, board thicknesses shrank to ¾”, and the ends were typically square-cut, both compromises in terms of the expected lifespan of the wood.
How far should stair treads overlap?
Stair treads should overlap risers and stringers by about 1″ and slope forward slightly to drain water. Use a router to create bullnose edges on both tread ends and edges.
What are the elements that make up a porch?
If not kept in good repair using water-resistant materials and strategically applied coats of paint, the key elements of a porch—floors, framing, posts, railings, and decorative elements —will deteriorate quickly.
What is the most common area for rot damage on an old porch?
Deck framing is the most common area for rot damage on an old porch. Before about 1860, deck frames were often built of large logs called “sleepers.”. These sturdy logs were hewn flat on one or two sides, with one of the flat side facing up to act as floor joists.
Do porch posts support roof framing?
Whether turned or chamfered, porch posts support the roof-framing system (a topic for another story) and act as anchors for attached railings. If they’re made of old-growth wood and positioned correctly, they should last indefinitely—provided they are properly ventilated.
How to protect cedar from splinters?
Get the blade up to speed and pass it slowly through the cedar spindle. Hold the saw down while it slows to a stop. This will protect the wood from tear outs and splinters while protecting you. When you raise the saw blade you will see a slight angle on your spindle.
Where is the decay on a porch railing?
The lower portion of a porch railing is where much of the decay can be found. Wood placed against wood will hold moisture and eventually decay, even when painted. In fact, the rotting wood will undermine the surface coating leading you to notice the rot. Rotted wood is soft, sometimes crumbly, sometimes green with algae, ...
What happens when water runs down the porch rail?
Water running down the porch corner posts and spindles attached to it collects at the bottom rail. The rail's end grain wicks moisture into the rail and the spindle also wicks moisture up into itself, holding it against the bottom rail. This double whammy of moisture will rot the bottom rail from the side and the top!
What happens when rotted wood is pressed?
Rotted wood is soft, sometimes crumbly, sometimes green with algae, and sometimes even releases moisture when pressed. This is quite likely to happen where the spindles meet the bottom rail, particularly at porch corners where they receive rain from two sides. A spindle's end grain will wick moisture up into the wood.
How to protect bottom rail?
To protect the bottom rail, you can use the oscillating cutter to slice through these brads. The top board, typically a 2x4, is usually connected to the spindles with phillips head screws. These should be easily removed with a cordless drill and phillips bit. I do not expect the top board to need to be replaced.
Can you fix rotten porch rails?
Add that cost to the other job that is likely, porch painting, and it may become downright prohibitive! Fortunately, with a few simple products, you can fix your rotten spindles, and even those expensive cedar top rails, without too much skill or effort.
Do accents on porches dry out?
Accents at the top front of a porch tend to not rot -they don't see much rain, but side accents see sun and rain on the south side and on the north side, may never dry out for lack of sun . These two sets of conditions lead to rot!
How to repair a worn spindle on a deck?
Remove the blade and the pulley from the worn spindle. You may want to repair both spindles even though only one is showing symptoms. Remove the worn spindle from the deck. Be careful when removing the bolts. Use penetrating oil and let it soak. If the bolts break off, don't panic.
What to do if your bearings break off?
If the bolts break off, don't panic. You can drill and tap new mounting holes slightly offset from the original ones. You must now dismantle the spindle assembly in order to replace the bearings. Take the spindle to the bench and suspend the casing over the jaws of a vise or similar object.
Does a spindle assembly work with any brand?
Community Answer. Yes, it should work with any brand. The spindle assembly is a fairly common build. It has been used for years by every major brand. Only in a few odd cases will there be a different construction, and in those cases, the best solution will be to replace the entire assembly.
Can you use a nut on a spindle?
Another option is to use the nut for the spindle. With time and patience you can work the nut back and forth to repair the threads. Your best possible option is to use a tap and die set to re-thread the shaft. These can be purchased from most hardware stores (Lowe's, Home Depot, Menard's, Harbor Freight).
