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by Andrew Kozlov

Before you shop for stair parts, you might want to review the terminology of stair building so you can speak more intelligently with your carpentry expert. "Balustrading" is the term which describes the total assembly of your handrails, spindles, and newel posts. This is not be confused with "balusters," which are the pins which connect your handrails to the actual base rail. (Balusters can also go straight from the handrails to the string if you're dealing with a "cut string" assembly.)

Since the newel posts and handrails tend to be decorative and ornate, many home carpentry aficionados make the mistake of thinking that these parts aren't integral to the structural design of the staircase. Indeed, the newel post is the fundamental anchor of the entire balustrade. That's why it's important to choose a good newel post early on, so you can proceed more meticulously with your balustrade construction.

A Review of Essential Stair Parts

Staircase carpenters should purchase extra stair parts--particularly extra spindles, risers, and treads--in case of fracture or damage during assembly. Indeed, you may want to buy a few parts just to practice assembling the base rail baluster apparatus on your own. Preparation will help prevent warping, fracturing, and botched measurements.

Before you hammer a single nail, triple check your measurements and architectural diagrams. Measure the rise of the flight of stairs from the base (from where the newel posts will go--not from the floor directly under the opening of the above landing). Even relatively flush floors may warp, and you don't want to be off on your measurements even by a millimeter.

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