How to Nail Stair Banisters

Purchase nails to use on the banister. If you're replacing nails that have loosened or come out completely, purchase nails slightly longer and thicker than the previous ones. Hardwood trim nails are especially durable and are coated to minimize the chance of splitting the wood during nailing.

Remove any nails currently in the banister. Use the current holes for the new nails.

Pre-drill the nail holes, especially if the baluster -- the vertical rail -- is particularly thin. Use a small bit size so the nails won't be loose. Drill diagonally upward from the side of the baluster just under the handrail.

Hammer each nail in the pre-drilled hole diagonally, up through the baluster and into the handrail. Typically, each baluster has two nails, but previous owners may have used more. Repeat this step for the bottom of the baluster and the base, aiming downward at a diagonal when pre-drilling and nailing. Repeat this step for all balusters.

Check the handrail's underside for fillets -- long, slender wood pieces that are sometimes used to secure balusters. Remove any old nails there, then hammer in new ones using the old holes. Drill new holes if the current ones are too large.