The Process
You've decided you'd like to have Wrought Iron Elegance upgrade your staircase with wrought iron balusters ... now what?
We will arrange a convenient design consultation time at your home. Several things need to be decided before we can start installing your beautiful new staircase. First, we will bring baluster samples to the meeting so you can get a good feel for what the baluster styles and finishes will look like in your home.
Once you have an idea of what you like, we can start working on the pattern of balusters that will be installed. You may choose to go with a single baluster style all the way up your stairs. On the other hand, you might like the look you get when using two or more different baluster styles to create a pattern.
Creating a pattern is not so difficult. Installing that pattern of balusters can be a trickier proposition. It is not uncommon to have to deviate from the set pattern at certain points in the stairway due to angled turns, balconies and mirrored rails. Also, for reasons of safety, county code dictates the maximum distance allowable between each baluster. So, if you are thinking of doing the installation yourself, you should pause here and rethink it. Having an experienced designer come out to inspect your stairs, design an installation plan and tell you how many of each type of baluster to order will save you time, money, and insure that your project looks great.
At the conclusion of the consultation you will have a good idea of what your staircase will look like, a detailed quote for all aspects of the job, and a date for installation. The entire process, from consultation to installation, can take as little as a week ... a few days more if a special order is required.
Tell me about your installers.
All of the installers we use have a great deal of experience and are licensed and fully insured.
Removing balusters can be a messy business with all the saw dust involved. Your home is important to us so our installers use drop cloths, work in their stocking feet to keep carpets clean, and vacuum. We also realize that removing balusters can be a safety issue, especially if there are young children in the house. Our installers will work with you to make appropriate accommodations so that no one gets injured during the installation.
What's involved in the installation?
First, the installer will make a cut in the middle of the old wooden baluster and then remove it. That process will be repeated with each baluster. Note that the wooden newels (the large posts at the beginning of the stairs and at every corner) do not need to be removed, nor do the wooden hand rails.
Next, the installer will carefully measure each baluster opening and cut the appropriate baluster to the exact length needed for that position in the stairway. Once the iron baluster has been inserted, an iron shoe is screwed into the bottom to provide a beautiful finished look. Following the designer's pattern, the installer will then repeat the process for each baluster on the staircase.