How to replace staircase ballusters?

Serendipity

I have a fence railing in my lounge room at the top of the stairs and a few on the posts are broken or missing and need replacing. I don’t know what these pieces are called or where they were brought from. What are they called and do Bunnings sell these?

MitchellMc

Hi @Serendipity,

Those pieces are called turned balusters. They’re usually custom-made on a lathe, which is why you won’t find exact replacements at Bunnings. There are just too many different profiles to keep in stock. Your best bet would be to take one of the broken ones to a local woodturner, or even your local Men’s Shed, and see if they can replicate it for you.

Another option is to get a bit creative with repairs. You could cut out one of the intact balustrades from the middle of the railing and move it to replace a damaged one. The gap left behind could then be filled with a plain square balustrade. A plain one in the middle can look intentional, almost like a design feature, while keeping the visible sections consistent.

The baluster in your image doesn't appear to be particularly badly damaged. I'd be inclined to glue that one back together and fill any missing pieces. Remember to clamp it together until the glue dries.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell