The 100 Year Old Stairs

 Before we owned the whole house and we rented the upstairs apartment, 

I was in love with the banister.

Granted, we didn't really see much of it since it was in the landlady's portion of the house 

behind a makeshft wall,

but when I would go down to help her out I would admire it.

So imagine how disappointing it was to discover

that when the house was converted into apartments,

the contractor hacked off the end of the railing

and 2 spindles were missing.

Big E screwed a scrap piece of wood to the ends of the railing

to keep it together, but it wasn't an appealing look.

We spoke to someone about repairing it,

but the cost was going to start at around $450 just to remake the end.

I found one of the missing spindles in the attic, 

and I hoped I might find the missing banister there too.

Big E thought the chances were slim to none, closer to none.

But while poking around a stack of old doors and windows, 

I found it.

You can read about it here

Fast forward a bit to present day.

I had a thought that the old piece of railing could be attached

by using wood biscuits.

(I'm always full of thoughts and great ideas).

So Big E called in a friend who likes to do woodworking projects,

and he said he thought he was up for the job.

The idea was to reinforce the entire section of railing, 

not just the missing piece.

(I'm glad I didn't have to witness these steps, 

I would most likely have panicked silently)

There were also a few loose spindles 

that were reinforced with dowels

 Everything was also screwed together with finishing screws.

 When I arrived on scene, 

they were putting the missing corner piece back on.

Biscuits weren't possible because they spilt the one piece into 3 pieces.

Apparently being over 100 years old and sitting in an attic for 40+ years

makes one brittle. 

All in all, the finished product is fantastic.

I couldn't be happier to finally have the banister in one piece.

 Next step is to strip the paint off the wood.

I'm pretty sure the wood is walnut, and I'd rather have a stained wood railing 

than a painted one.

Then we'll need to fill some gaps, slightly smooth down some rough spots,

paint the spindles

(rip up the ugly carpet, clean up the wood floor, strip the steps....)

and finally it will really shine.

Attic Archaeology

 I've always said my favorite thing in the house was the banister.

Every time I walk up the steps, 

I think about how many hands must have slide along the railing.

 When we tore down the walls that separated the upstairs from the downstairs

into apartments, 

we discovered that the end of the railing had been sawed off.

It was rather depressing, 

more so when we were told it would cost around $400 

to have that section replaced.

 So we slapped a piece of wood on the end to keep every thing as stable as possible.

Rummaging in the attic,

I found one of the missing spindles in a box.

I thought for sure I'd find the piece of the missing railing too.

But Big E said that was unlikely, 

and in my rummaging, we didn't find it or the other spindle.

So just this past Monday, the day after Christmas,

Big E finally installed a second light in the attic.

He too rummaged around, but didn't find anything.

Then yesterday evening, 

I went up to the attic in search of a door for the old kitchen.

There are several old storm windows, 

old fashioned window screens, 

old windows and old doors

piled on one side of the attic.

Armed with a measuring tape, I was determined to find the door for the room

that was once the upstairs apartment's kitchen.

I had to move all of the windows and lean them against the chimney.

Once I did that, I saw that there were some panes of glass

with something under them.

I couldn't quite tell what it was, but at the same time, 

my brain was registering that it was something to get excited about.

 It was the missing railing piece!

I can't even begin to describe the excitement about finding this.

Plus, I also found the other missing spindle.

While it has been sawed, 

beat up, 

and missing about a 2 inch chunk,

I definitely want it reattached.

The abuse it has suffered only adds to its story.

I can not wait to have it back to its original glory.

And...

there were a couple other finds in the attic too.