Wood and iron stair railing replacement in Boca Raton
Stair railings set the look of a staircase and carry real loads. Apperals Custom Woodwork replaces and builds wood and iron railings, including handrails, balusters, newel posts and landing guards, on interior stairs in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Parkland and Deerfield Beach, for new construction and remodels.
- Railings
- Wood handrails with wood or iron balusters, Chippendale panels, curved balcony rails
- Parts
- Handrails, balusters, newel posts, treads, skirt boards, landing guards
- Woods
- Oak, walnut, mahogany and paint-grade poplar
- Where
- Jupiter to Miami, from our base in Deerfield Beach
What we do on staircases
The traditional staircase is a wood handrail on wood or iron balusters, anchored by newel posts, often with paneled walls and hardwood treads. We work on the stair as a whole:
- New handrails in stain-grade hardwood or paint-grade poplar.
- Baluster replacement, wood for wood or wood to iron.
- Newel post replacement, including paneled box newels.
- New treads and risers over existing stair framing.
- Skirt boards, stair wainscoting and landing guards.
- Pattern railings such as Chippendale, and curved balcony rails.
Replace part of the railing or all of it
Most stair remodels start with one question: what can stay? Check the handrail and newels for movement. A railing that wobbles when you push on the newel has a structural problem, and new balusters will not fix it.
| Situation | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| Rail and newels solid, balusters dated | Replace balusters only, refinish the rail. |
| Newel loose, rest sound | Reset or replace the newel and re-anchor it to the framing. |
| Rail damaged or wrong profile | New rail and balusters, keep sound newels. |
| Carpeted stair, worn treads | New hardwood treads, then the railing. |
| Full remodel | New treads, rail, balusters and newels as one design. |
Wood railings and paint-grade balusters
A stained walnut or oak handrail over square white balusters is a classic pairing, and the rail color can follow the floors and a wood ceiling. Chippendale and other pattern railings use flat wood panels instead of single balusters and suit coastal and traditional homes.
Curved balcony railings take more work than straight runs. The rail is laminated or cut in sections to follow the curve, and every baluster is laid out along the arc.
Safety and code on railings
Stair railings carry real loads. Codes set a handrail height range, a minimum guard height at open landings, and a maximum opening between balusters. Newels need to be anchored into the stair framing; nailing one to a tread is not enough. Older railings often met an earlier code but would not pass today, and we point those out before work starts.
What drives the price of railing work
- Length of rail and the number of turns, landings and curves.
- Number of balusters and their material.
- Newel style and how many there are.
- Keeping and refinishing the existing rail versus replacing it.
- Treads, skirt boards and wall paneling added to the scope.
- Stain-grade wood that has to match existing floors or trim.
A baluster swap and a full remodel can be priced side by side, once we have seen the stair.
Quote for stair railing replacement and installation
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Stairs & railings
Types of stair railing replacement and installation we build
Recent work
Stair railing replacement and installation from our jobs
Questions we hear
What is the average cost to replace stair railings?
It depends on the length of the rail, the number of balusters and newels, and whether the existing handrail is kept. Replacing only the balusters costs far less than a full tear-out with new rail, newels and finish.
Can you replace the balusters and keep the existing handrail?
Often, yes. If the handrail is solid, straight and well attached, we remove the old balusters, install new wood or iron ones, and refinish the rail to match. If the rail is loose or damaged, replacing it at the same time is usually the better value.
What height does a stair handrail need to be?
Residential codes generally require a handrail between 34 and 38 inches above the stair nosing, and guards at open landings of at least 36 inches. Your building department has the final word, and we build to the code in force for the house.
Do you install glass or aluminum railings?
Our railing work is wood handrails on wood or iron balusters.
Do I need a permit to replace a stair railing?
Rules vary by city. Swapping balusters or refinishing a rail often needs no permit, while replacing guards or rebuilding a stair usually does. We check with the local building department before work starts.
Stairs & railings by city