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You may not need an entirely new staircase. Think of what holds any staircase together, the bones. Whether for residential or commercial stairs, balusters are an extremely important part of any exterior or interior staircase. They can be made of a multitude of materials, such as wood, glass, stainless steel, or wrought iron. More previously known as spindles, balusters hold up the handrail. The banister is actually used as a name for a staircase baluster, although it is commonly referring to the handrail of the structure.Ī balustrade is comprised of the railing system, (top rail, balusters/spindles, and often a bottom rail, posts (newels).Īs mentioned above, a baluster is the support system of any staircase. The term baluster is interchangeable with the word spindle. Balusters can be made of wood, iron, and other materials. Therefore, baluster was chosen because it sometimes mimics blossoming pomegranate flowers. The term baluster comes from 17th-century Italy the Italian word for pomegranate flowers is balaustra. These are the vertical pieces holding up, supporting, and safely connecting the stair handrail (railing) to the floor and stair treads of a staircase. Three staircase parts that sometimes get used interchangeably are baluster, banister, and balustrade. Let’s break this down and turn you into a stair expert yourself.
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What Exactly is a Baluster and a Banister? Let’s define and explore the importance and beauty of this staircase part. One of the most common confusions in stair terminology is the use of “balusters” or “banisters.” At Southern Staircase, our expert custom staircase builders are more adapted to using “baluster.” Customers always ask, “Does it really matter if you say baluster or banister?” No, it doesn’t, as both can be used to describe the support systems of a staircase.
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