How to install square metal balusters

The following visual guide showcases 6 different methods of installing square balusters, with and without shoes. Round hole with Base Shoe — By far the fastest and easiest method.

This requires drilling a round hole and using a shoe to hide the left over gaps. It has the easiest difficulty, saves the most time and when time is considered is the most cost effective option. Round hole with Wood Filler — This method requires you drill a round hole, uses no shoe, but requires you to fill in the left over gaps with wood filler, sanding it smooth and stain it.

This is an easy method, but extremely time consuming and requires a precise finishing touch. Round hole with Epoxy Only — This is easily the fastest method. Now, start the installation of the baluster into the hole. Move the baluster up smoothly into the handrail. It should go into or through deep enough in order to allow you to clear the tread and drop the base of the baluster into the hole in the tread.

Put together any epoxy necessary on every side of the balusters. Finally, take off the tape and drop the shoe into place. A square shoe as well as the baluster up with the tread.

Allow the epoxy to fully dry and secure the set screw firmly on the shoe. Connect with GetRit. TIP: Changing Baluster Spacing' Safety concerns, local code requirements or aesthetics may require you to change the baluster spacing from the original wood baluster layout. Please note that the International Residential Code requires that stairways have ralls that do not allow the passage of a sphere 4 inches in diameter or greater between the balusters.

Please consult your local code requirements to determine what is necessary in your situation. It is possible in some situations to plug the holes with wood tapered face plugs and then sand them flush with the existing surface. Plugging the existing holes may require that you refinish the wood surfaces. This requires that the hole In the floor be square and snug to the baluster to avoid visible gaps between the square baluster and the hole.

Square up the sides of the holes with a chisel after drilling. Most balusters have the ornamentation closer to the top of the baluster. This should allow for all of the cutting to be done on the bottom of the baluster and thereby preserve the round tip on the top of the baluster.

You can use several different methods for cutting the metal balusters. A metal chop saw with an abrasive blade or a metal cutting band saw can be used.

These are available for rent from many local rental centers and the metal chop saws are readily available for purchase from home building hardware centers. A jig-saw or a grinder with a metal cutting blade can also be used.