Basement Stair Railing

Project:
Installing a railing and some balusters for my neighbor

Difficulty Level (Easy, Medium, Hard, Insane):
Medium

Process:
I needed to get some artwork done for my business (www.swissqualitygroup.com) and my neighbor just happened to be a graphic artist. She also needed some work done in her basement to prepare her house to sell so we agreed to do a time-for-time trade.

She came up with an incredible logo, letterhead, business card and I in return installed her basement stair railing and some balusters.

Pictures:

Custom-made edges for the stair treads so they would have equal overhang

Custom fitting the MDF along the wall under the treads

Gluing solid wood under the bottom tread where the main post would screw into so that it had solid hold

The (approximately) 6" x 6" x 6" piece of solid glued and screwed wood made up of three 2x4s

The tread "extensions" installed

Drilling and screwing in the support anchor for the main post

After the main post was installed

Dry-fitting the balusters

I accidentally drilled the hole too big so I made a custom "woo bushing" on the lathe and glued it into the too-big hole

Close-up of the "wood bushing" glued into place

Gluing the railing

Close-up of the clamps holding down the railing as the two pieces are being glued together

View from the top of the installed railing

Bottom of the railing, post and balusters

Another view

Yet another view

Close-up of the glued (not yet stained) railing

Another view

The additional support underneath the railing to hold the balusters in place

Another view

The logo she made for my business

The business card she made for me

Tools:
Measuring tape
Pencil
Marker
Mitre saw
Table saw
Drill
Drill bits
Level
Square
Lathe
Socket wrench set
Screwdriver
Hammer
Crow bar
Clamps
Belt sander

Materials:
Railing
Balusters
5/8" MDF
Screws
Glue
Some white oak

Time:
13hr

Savings:
Probably close to $500 bucks

Conclusion:
I'm very pleased with her work and how the stairs turned out