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SNYDERSTAIRS
Lehigh Valley foyer staircase fitted with powder-coat black iron balusters against a white railing

Iron Baluster Replacement · Lehigh ValleyA fresh look doesn't have to meana whole new staircase or railing.

Most homeowners don't even know this is an option. We swap the wood balusters for iron and re-set them in your existing spaces — one day on site, very little mess.

─── Call line
(610) 443-2240Send us a few photos · budget range on your first call

How long does an iron baluster swap take?

One day on site. We pull the wood balusters and set satin-black iron in your existing spaces — handrail, newels, and treads stay put, and the stair is usable that evening.

Reviewed July 2026 · Nick & the Snyder Stairs team, Whitehall PA

Same footprint, new soul

How does it work?

In many homes, we can replace the wood balusters with iron while keeping the existing handrail, newel posts, and staircase intact. It's a simple upgrade that can completely change the look of your home. Drag the slider to compare the before and after. Same staircase. Same footprint. A completely different look.

Center Valley stair — finished black iron balusters with red oak treads after the swapAfter
Center Valley foyer — original oak railing and wood balusters before the iron baluster swap
Before
Center Valley residence · Lehigh Valley · one day on site
Why it's a swap, not a rebuild
  1. 01

    Pull the wood

    The wood balusters come out. Your handrail, newels, and treads never move.

  2. 02

    Re-set in your existing spaces

    We clean and re-drill your current spaces and re-set the iron there. No new layout, no structural changes — that's why it's a swap, not a rebuild.

  3. 03

    Set in a day

    Each iron baluster is set in construction adhesive and trimmed. The stair is usable that evening.

Pick the pattern your foyer wants

Find a style you'll love.

From clean and modern to traditional and timeless, we offer more than 10 iron baluster styles in satin black, with additional finishes available by request. We'll help you choose the one that looks right in your home.

  • Single-basket wrought-iron baluster on a twisted picket, satin black — Twist & Basket seriesIron

    Twist & Basket

    twists, baskets & knuckles

  • Single-ribbon wrought-iron baluster in satin black — Ribbon seriesIron

    Ribbon

    soft curved ribbon detail

  • Hammond Edge wrought-iron baluster — hammered stock with basket and feather details, satin blackIron

    Hammond Edge

    Hand forged and rustic appeal

  • Contemporary square wrought-iron baluster in satin black — Contemporary seriesIron

    Contemporary

    clean geometric profiles

  • Hammered Face wrought-iron baluster with a hammered texture, satin black — Hammered Face seriesIron

    Hammered Face

    hammered-face texture

  • Gothic wrought-iron baluster with knuckle-and-spoon detail, satin black — Gothic seriesIron

    Gothic

    knuckle-and-spoon period detail

  • French-scroll wrought-iron baluster in satin black — Scroll seriesIron

    Scroll

    ornamental french scroll

  • Round wrought-iron baluster in satin black — Round seriesIron

    Round

    round stock, plain or spooned

  • Heavier 3/4-inch Mega wrought-iron baluster in satin black — Mega Baluster seriesIron

    Mega Baluster

    heavier 3/4-inch stock

What's included

What to expect from start to finish.

From your first consultation to the final cleanup, we'll take care of every step. Here's what you can expect when you work with Snyder Stairs.

  • Free consultation & measuring

    We'll look at your staircase, answer your questions, and make sure everything is a perfect fit—at no charge.

  • Choose your style

    Pick from more than 10 iron baluster styles in satin black, with additional finishes available by request. We'll help you find the right look for your home.

  • Site prep

    We take care of the demo and clean the existing baluster holes to fit with the iron.

  • Professional installation

    We carefully install your new iron balusters while preserving the rest of your staircase, so there's no unnecessary rebuilding.

  • Clean before we leave

    We haul away the old balusters, clean up the workspace, and leave your staircase ready to enjoy.

  • We're here after the job is done

    If you ever have a question or concern, just give us a call. We stand behind our work.

Family-owned, two generations. If part of your stair doesn't need touching, we'll tell you not to spend the money on it.

What to expect

Here's what you can expect.

An iron baluster swap is one of the highest-value, lowest-disruption projects we do for homeowners.

(610) 443-2240
  • 01
    Material lead~2 weeks
  • 02
    Deposit50% on accepted proposal
  • 03
    Free measurementOn-site, ~30 min
  • 04
    Install on-siteOne day, little mess
  • 05
    We come backIf it's not right
“
Had a great experience with Snyder Stairs in updating our staircase! They were very efficient and the project was knocked out in a week. Very flexible and easy to work with!
─── AttributionChase Mather · Lehigh Valley
Right fit

Iron baluster swap: the stair shop vs. a box-store kit.

A drop-in kit assumes your stair is standard. We measure your real spaces, match your handrail, and stand behind the swap — start to finish, one crew.

Who shows up
Snyder Stairs
One crew, measure to install
Big-box / online parts
Box on a pallet — you install it
General contractor
Handed to whoever's available
Where it's built
Snyder Stairs
Built in our Whitehall shop — parts coordinated in-house
Big-box / online parts
A box of parts you assemble yourself
General contractor
Ordered in and handed off
Code compliance
Snyder Stairs
Code-compliant by people who install daily
Big-box / online parts
Specs are on you to verify
General contractor
Depends on the sub's day
Getting a number
Snyder Stairs
Budget on the first call — no form
Big-box / online parts
Add to cart and hope it fits
General contractor
Wait for a site visit + quote
After it's installed
Snyder Stairs
If something loosens later, we come back and fix it
Big-box / online parts
Returns and restocking fees
General contractor
Punch-list, if you can reach them
What it's made of
Snyder Stairs
American hardwoods + powder-coated iron, fit and finished in-shop
Big-box / online parts
Whatever's in the box — fit is on you
General contractor
Whatever the supplier stocked

Family-owned & veteran-owned in Whitehall, PA since 1987 — two generations of stair specialists. If something loosens later, we come back and fix it.

Maintenance & durability

Satin-black iron you never have to think about.

It's the upkeep difference: wood balusters chip, split, and need repainting. You keep your posts and handrail, so the only thing that changes is the balusters.

  • Powder-coat finish

    Won't chip, rust, or need painting — wipe it down and it looks new.

  • Nothing to maintain

    No staining, no resealing — unlike the wood balusters it replaces.

  • Built to last

    Satin-black iron, set in your stair to stay put — a family shop since 1987.

✦ What a swap runs

The one-day swap, in real numbers.

Ranges to set expectations, not a quote. We'll tell you what doesn't need doing, so you only spend where it counts.

  • Most asked
    $2K–$3K

    One stair

    a front or back stair · re-set into your existing spaces · one day

  • 02 / 03
    better per-baluster

    Add a second stair

    do the front and back together · lower cost per baluster

These are ranges to set expectations — not a quote. We tell you what doesn't need doing, so you only spend where it counts.

Frequently asked

The questions every homeowner asks.

↳ Or call (610) 443-2240
Are iron balusters better than wood?

It's less about better and more about the look and upkeep you want. Iron balusters are nearly maintenance-free, won't crack or loosen the way wood can, and give a cleaner, more modern line — which is why most of our swaps go wood-to-iron. Wood reads warmer and traditional. Tell us your floors and trim and we'll tell you which reads right in your home — and if your stair doesn't need it, we'll tell you that too.

How much does an iron baluster swap cost?

For one stair — a front or a back stair — plan on about $2,000–$3,000, driven mostly by the pattern you pick. If you're doing a second stair at the same time, the per-baluster cost comes down. These are ranges to set expectations, not a quote. We'll give you a real ballpark on the first call, and if part of your stair doesn't need touching, we'll tell you not to spend the money on it.

How long does the swap take — is it really one day?

Material lead time is about two weeks after we measure. The install itself is one day, very little mess — we pull the wood balusters, re-set iron in your existing spaces, and the stair is usable that evening. It's one of the lowest-disruption projects we do for homeowners.

How disruptive is it — can I still use my stairs?

Very little mess. We pull the wood balusters and re-set the iron in the same spaces, so we're not touching your treads, handrail, or newels — no drywall dust, no structural work. The stair is usable that evening, and we haul the old wood balusters away before we leave.

Will the new iron balusters match my handrail?

Yes — satin black pairs cleanly with every wood handrail finish (oak, walnut, cherry, maple, painted white), and oil-rubbed bronze is available if you'd rather. Want to see the patterns in person? Stop by the Whitehall shop and hold them against a sample before you decide.

What if my baluster spacing is older or non-standard?

We measure your stair first so there are no surprises. Most stairs the iron re-sets right into the existing spaces. On some older homes we clean and re-drill the spaces to seat the new iron — still a one-day job, and it doesn't change the cost much.

Can you do just one stair?

Yes — that's the usual starting point. A lot of homeowners do the main front stair first, then add the back stair later once they've seen it. When you do both at once, the per-baluster cost is better than doing them on separate visits.

Can you add a full railing while you're there?

We can. If you'd rather replace the whole handrail and newels — not just swap the balusters — that's a railing project, and the scope and budget are different. See our railings page for what that involves, and we'll fold it into the same conversation.

How does Snyder stand behind the work?

If something loosens later, we come back and fix it. Our own crew that set your balusters is the crew that comes back. We're a family shop, 39 years in — not a pressure-sales outfit. If something on your stair doesn't need doing, we'll tell you not to spend the money on it.

Why iron vs. new wood balusters?

Cost and upkeep. New wood balusters are custom millwork — higher cost — and have to be fit back into your handrail joints. Iron comes from stocked patterns, arrives pre-finished in satin black (no staining to match), and re-sets into your existing spaces without disturbing the rest of the railing.

Talk to a personStill have a question?
Call (610) 443-2240

Stairs and railings are what we do, every day, since 1987. If something loosens later, give us a call and we'll come back and fix it.

Black iron balusters and oak treads in a sunlit foyer — Center Valley railing project

Flooring contractor on a remodel?

Need a railing specialist for your project?

If you're remodeling a home and the staircase needs an update, we'd be happy to help. We work alongside flooring contractors, remodelers, and builders to coordinate schedules and keep projects moving. Need materials only? We also offer contractor pricing on iron balusters and railing components.

  • One-day swap
  • Refer or sub
  • Trade pricing

Where we do this work

Iron baluster swaps across the Lehigh Valley — see how the job runs in your town:

Ready when you are

Refresh your stair.

Free measurement, then a real budget range on the first call. An iron baluster swap is one day on site, very little mess — and we don't touch your treads, handrail, or newels.

Budget on the first call · (610) 443-2240 · Whitehall, PA

A grand staircase with black iron balusters and dark-wood treads — Snyder Stairs