The new/old handrails and columns

Column/baluster work progresses.

All of these balusters were rotten on the bottom. We milled and doweled new fir on the bottom, and repaired any cosmetic blemishes which would hold water with Abatron's Wood Epox. We left a lot of 'character' marks, though.

Each baluster is primed, taking care to fill the end grain with primer. This is where outdoor elements always fail; when they soak up moisture through their end grain.

The final sanding before we spray the first top coat. The second top coat will happen in the field after installation.

This doesn't look like much, but this is our super high tech dehumidifying tent. Under masonry blankets for insulation, 2 dehumidifiers with hoses to drain them and all of the wet historic material sit for days. When their relative moisture content has dropped below 12-15%, they're ready for epoxy and primer. I like to let chemical dipped material get very low, 10-12%, but wood that's just acclimated to Virginia's humidity, 15% is fine.

Handrail repair