Fixing a Porch Handrail

Steps:

1. Creating the jig. Draw your pattern full scale on a sheet of plywood, and then cut spacer blocks and tack them into place along your pattern. In this way you simply need to lay in your spindles and nail your top and bottom rails in place, with no need for repetitive measuring.

2. Removing the old rails. Carefully remove the old rails, making sure not to damage the columns in the process. We used a reciprocating saw to cut through the old rails for easier removal.

3. Cut the top and bottom rails to fit. Measure the top and bottom rails separately, since the columns may be tapered; the bottom measurement may be slightly shorter than the top. Cut the ends of the rails to fit the curve of the column.

4. Set up the jig. Measure the center of each rail and run spindles each way from center. This way, the spacing against the columns will be consistent.

5. Nail and glue. Nail the spindles through the bottom and top rails, gluing at each joint.

6. Installing the handrails. Install the handrails by tacking them into place and then pre-drilling and screwing from underneath to hide the screws.