How do I solve the "shaky bannister" problem?
I have a wooden bannister going up my stairs that has spindles. Each spindle is firm at the top and the bottom, no shakiness at all. Despite this, the handrail is not rock-solid. At the foot of the stairs where the bannister ends in a curlicue, there's some motion. I am at my wits end! We are trying to sell our house and it is the one thing that keeps coming up.
1 answer
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The "curlicue" is called a volute. The most likely culprit is the connection of the newel post to the stair. If the newel is not solid, the whole rail can move like crazy. The best possible connection has the newel bolted into the floor joists below the stairs. Sometimes a newel post is just surface mounted to the first stair tread, often with just a dowel screw (a two sided screw). You may have to take the newel post out and reconnect it. While the newel bolted to the joists is best, it may not be practical. Key Lock brand post anchors are a good way to do a surface mounted newel. Fixing the newel in place, without removing it can sometimes be accomplished. This is the least desirable way to address the problem, but it is easy, Buy some 5" long GRK trim head screws. Predrill some angled holes in your newel with an 1/8" drill bit. Run half a dozen screws with an impact driver, through the newel and into the stair tread and stair stringers or risers if possible. These screws at opposing angles can sometimes fix a shaky newel. The trim head is small, so you can use a color matched stain putty to fill the holes.
Brian Campbell, Basswood Artisan Carpentry
on Nov 15, 2013
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