Patent ID: 8418335

Claim:
A method of retrofitting a stair railing system having a hand railing disposed above a plurality of steps with a plurality of existing balusters disposed between a lower surface of the hand railing and an upper surface of the steps; the method comprising the steps of: removing at least one existing baluster without removing the hand railing or any of the steps; providing an adjustable-length baluster having a lower baluster portion and an upper baluster portion that are slidable with respect to each other to adjust the overall length of the baluster; the upper and lower baluster portions having non-circular cross sections with a portion of the lower baluster portion disposed inside the upper baluster portion; the adjustable-length baluster also having a lower attachment and an upper attachment; connecting the lower attachment to the upper surface of the step at the general location where the existing baluster was removed; sliding at least one of the upper and lower baluster portions with respect to the other of the upper and lower baluster portions until the overall length of the adjustable baluster is less than the distance between an upper surface of the lower attachment and the lower surface of the hand railing; inserting the lower end of the lower baluster portion into the lower attachment; expanding the adjustable baluster until the upper attachment is disposed against the lower surface of the railing; and connecting the upper attachment to the lower surface of the hand rail.