Balusters provide one of the most important style influences on your staircase. The choice of material, the rake alignment, and the design of the baluster itself all play important roles in how your staircase will look. Check out the tabs below for some basic guidelines when making your baluster choice.
Baluster Alignment.
Baluster Collections are often designed with one or more intended means of alignment. Accordingly, they are offered in systems that include lengths which will allow for the intended alignment.
All characteristics of a baluster align horizontally when utilized on horizontal landings.
Baluster Block Size or Diameter.
Wood balusters are manufactured from square “blanks”, of various lengths, that begin as 1.0″, 1.25″, 1.5″, 1.75″, 2.0″, etc. Metal balusters are typically formed from either round stock or square bar stock sized at .5″, .625″, .75″, 1.0″, etc.
Baluster Style.
There are two key areas to consider in selecting your baluster style:
1. How many balusters do you want on each step (tread)? Building Codes require a minimum of two balusters per tread with a maximum spacing as such that a 4 3/8″ diameter sphere cannot pass between any two of the balusters. A 4″ diameter sphere cannot pass between any two landing balusters. It is not unusual to opt for three balusters per tread and in some designs more. The spacing between the balusters on the stairway is typically maintained throughout the landings.
2. Uniform style or alternating? Do you want the same baluster style throughout? It is not uncommon to design with two or three related or complimentary baluster styles grouped and repeated from tread to tread.
Wood Balusters
We have a vast selection of wooden baluster options. Here is a selection of just some of our styles to give you some ideas about what is possible.
Iron Balusters
Iron balusters have been gaining popularity in recent years and they can give your home an elegant touch while remaining unobtrusive. As with wooden baluster options, we have many styles to choose from.
Here are some photos of some of the iron baluster styles available.
