vintage amateur balustrade

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rokosz

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12 years ago the balustrade imaged was installed. I did it. And I was way inexperienced. So, quite a few of the balustrades were shorted by millimeters on length. To get them in place I shimmed one end.

I took one down last week to replace some of the balusters that were rotting (yeah, pretty likely amateur painting -- more omission than commission though)

A fews reqs for help/suggestions on reinstallation:

1) Any ideas on how I can remediate the shortness? Best I can think of is a shim cut from scrap pieces of top and bottom rail -- then _applied to the existing piece. but how to apply? ss screws? magic glue?

2) in the pic you can see the clearance btwn floor and bottom rail. the kit manufacturer's instructs said to install L brackets and then screw into posts. I saw this as an issue. Whether I attach the brackets to the post or the rail first didn't matter -- how the heck was I going to drive the screws with no clearance for a driver?
Is there a magic driver? Would one of those Minnie Drivers used by electricians have enough torque?

3) given 2's issues. Are there, I'll call them "rests": A u-shaped, U standing up, which is attached to the posts in the four corners. then align the 'strade above the Us and drop it into place. I suppose they'd have to be custom shaped to provide a bit of snugness, but it seems like they could be stronger -- and you could easily put the 'strades away for the winter, clean the floor more easily etc. ach, so convenient. maybe not so cosmetically desirable but paintable or kerf-y could help that...

Hah! if i had these brackets, maybe I wouldn't need to shim too!
 

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12 years ago the balustrade imaged was installed. I did it. And I was way inexperienced. So, quite a few of the balustrades were shorted by millimeters on length. To get them in place I shimmed one end.

I took one down last week to replace some of the balusters that were rotting (yeah, pretty likely amateur painting -- more omission than commission though)

A fews reqs for help/suggestions on reinstallation:

1) Any ideas on how I can remediate the shortness? Best I can think of is a shim cut from scrap pieces of top and bottom rail -- then _applied to the existing piece. but how to apply? ss screws? magic glue?

2) in the pic you can see the clearance btwn floor and bottom rail. the kit manufacturer's instructs said to install L brackets and then screw into posts. I saw this as an issue. Whether I attach the brackets to the post or the rail first didn't matter -- how the heck was I going to drive the screws with no clearance for a driver?
Is there a magic driver? Would one of those Minnie Drivers used by electricians have enough torque?

3) given 2's issues. Are there, I'll call them "rests": A u-shaped, U standing up, which is attached to the posts in the four corners. then align the 'strade above the Us and drop it into place. I suppose they'd have to be custom shaped to provide a bit of snugness, but it seems like they could be stronger -- and you could easily put the 'strades away for the winter, clean the floor more easily etc. ach, so convenient. maybe not so cosmetically desirable but paintable or kerf-y could help that...

Hah! if i had these brackets, maybe I wouldn't need to shim too!

Oh also, since I have issues with wicking on those sloped bottom rails -- Caulk the meet between baluster and slope rail? or just a good oil prime and top coat in the v-notch of the balusters?
Since the ones i've removed have some cracks, I've been caulking the cracks. Maybe a thin shmear of caulk in the v notches could help while still allowing water to move under the v's on top of the slope rail once reinstalled?
 
Clear or white POLYSEAMSEAL is paintable.

I'd be shimming at the top, where it would be less noticeable.

Why are you asking about a "U" atop of an inverted "V"?

Forget the screws, use a finish nailer, or use trim screws.
 
Snoonyb, thanks. so the PSS and shim, or PSS the shim to the end of the 'strade and then install? or, either, it dont mattah?

The U and V are two different things: the V is just a characteristic of my 'strades. the U is a Shark Tank idea for making (any) porch balustrade _really_ convenient in many ways. Anyone want in? Looking for $50K seed. (ed. note to moderator: yes it is pandering, but only for LOLs not endorsement)
 
This is not utube, so please include a dictionary when you stray from longhand, or no one will understand you.
 

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