How to Repair Stair Balusters

Replacing broken balusters helps increase the safety of your stairs.

Staircases can be a source of injury for people of all ages, even if the stairs have no visible damage. The Home Safety Council indicates that more people sustain injuries in falls than any other type of injury. Children and the elderly fall into the highest risk population. If you notice that the balusters on your stairs are broken in half or cracked, repair the baluster promptly to avoid children getting their heads caught between the balusters, or causing someone in your home to fall on the stairs.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• 3/8-inch dowel
• Handsaw
• Circular saw (optional)
• Clamp
• Electric drill
• Wood glue
• Gloves
• Rubber mallet
• Hammer
• Nails

Instructions

1. Examine the baluster piece or pieces that are broken or cracked before attempting a repair. If the baluster piece is broken in more than one place, you should replace the baluster rather than attempting a repair.

2. Remove the broken baluster and place it on your workbench. Hold the broken baluster together with your hands. Use a pencil to make a 2-inch vertical mark on the baluster. The mark should start 1 inch above the break, go over the broken part and extend 1 inch below the break. This mark gives you a reference point when reattaching the baluster together after the repair.

3. Cut a 2-inch piece of a 3/8-inch dowel rod using a handsaw or a circular saw. Set the piece aside.

4. Secure one half of the broken baluster to your workbench with a clamp. Place a 3/8-inch drill bit into your electric drill, and drill a 1-inch deep hole into the bottom broken part of your baluster. Repeat with the other half of the broken baluster.

5. Drop a few drops of wood glue into each of your drilled holes. Use your gloved hand to apply a very thin layer of wood glue to each end of your cut dowel piece.

6. Place the dowel rod into the hole you drilled on both baluster pieces. Twist the baluster around with your hands until the vertical pencil marks you previously made line up appropriately.

7. Clamp the repaired baluster together. Leave the stair baluster clamped for about 24 hours to allow the glue to dry and the baluster to set.

8. Remove the clamps after the drying period is over. Slide the upper end of the baluster into the appropriate hole in the top stair rail. Position the lower end of the baluster close to the lower hole.

9. Use a rubber mallet to tap the bottom of the baluster into the appropriate hole on the stair. Secure the upper section of the repaired baluster by hammering in two or three small nails at the point where the upper baluster piece meets the lower stair rail.

Tips & Warnings

• If you baluster is narrow in diameter, use a 1/8 or 1/4 piece of dowel rod.

• Use a matching stain pen to cover the area of the repair.

• Warn people in your household to use care while the staircase is being repaired.

• Escort children up and down the stairs until the baluster is back in place.

• Use eye protection when operating electric equipment.

References

• Home Safety Council: Falls
• This Old House: How to Repair a Baluster

Resources

• Old House Journal: How to Repair Your Stairs