How to Update Handrails

How to Update Handrails

Small changes make a dramatic impact on enclosed or small spaces. In a stairway, upgrading the handrail changes the feel of the whole place, particularly when paired with new artwork or a brand new coat of paint to the walls. Handrails are either supported by a balustrade to form a banister or connected to the wall using brackets. If you opt to refinish the handrail, remove wall-mounted versions first and contemplate replacing the hardware in precisely the exact same time for a fresh, new look. When painting or staining banisters, consider refinishing the balustrade as well; often, refinishing only one makes the opposite seem older than it is.

Transform With Paint

A couple of coats of inside oil-based or high-quality tooth paint update your handrail with no necessity for broad sanding or chemicals. For your best results, gently sand the rail to eliminate any sheen and apply 1 coat of stain-blocking primer and two coats of paint. In most stairways, lighting runs on the dark side, which makes the paint color look significantly different on the handrail than it did about the paint card in the shop. Grab a piece of scrap wood and a couple of paint samples. Paint swatches and pull the board to the stairway to see what the colors really look like. You’ll receive the very best preview if you leave the board about the stairs for 24 hours and then check it periodically throughout the day. A color can seem bright with morning light filtering in but dingy come dusk.

Revamp With Stain

Restaining the handrail creates a rich, high-end look, however, the work involved is important. An even application and true-to-color finish demands you to eliminate all traces of the present stain. This is accomplished with heavy sanding along with the use of a chemical stripper. If the handrail is mahogany or oak, apply grain filler for the smoothest finish, then utilize an excellent wood conditioner right before refinishing any type of wood to ensure the stain soaks in evenly. Add a durable finish to protect the brand new color and the wood from daily use; polyurethane is easy to utilize and provides effective protection and a glossy finish following three coats.

Swap Out the Hardware

Wall-mounted handrails have brackets that, like most hardware, move in and out of fashion nearly as frequently as clothing. Update your own handrail by replacing the present wall mounts with something more present and in accordance with your tastes. Ideally, match the hardware to the finish of the hardware throughout your property. For instance, if you have brushed pewter or even oil-rubbed bronze doorknobs through, then elect for the same finish for those mounts. After that, have some fun using the style. A sleek, squared bracket provides a modern look to your stairway, while ornamental, wrought-iron styles impart an old-world charm. Elbows, end caps and other connectors can also be relatively simple to replace, provided you can find pieces which match the specific shape of the handrail.

Start From Scratch

When the overall style of the handrail does not match the look you would like to make in your house, replace it. This is easiest with a wall-mounted handrail. Replacements are available in a vast selection of styles in addition to bare or finished wood and metal, and you can arrange the brand new hardware to the remainder of your house. But do not hesitate to install the new rail using the old screw holes. Patch the drywall, touch up the paint and fasten the new rail to the wall a bit lower or higher than the old one, between 34 and 38 inches above the treads. Replacing the handrail on a balustrade is easiest if you buy a completely new, and coordinating, place. If you are set on maintaining the foundation, hire a contractor to custom build and install a brand new handrail which works with the present components.