What's the best way to replace piece of wood missing from my bannister?

john9876

The previous owners had a cupboard over the stairs and to keep it in place they cut a piece out of the bannister. See photo.
Do I try and build it up with filler or carve a piece from wood or some other way?
The missing piece is about 1.5 inches long and 3/4 of an inch deep.
Thanks

jack of all

Depends on your woodwork skills and tools available, I'd say. If going the wood route- using a sharp chisel to pare back paint in the notched section, back to bare wood. Get a small piece of nice tight grain softwood, oversized, shape roughly to fit, glue and cramp in place. When dry you chisels, rasp and sandpaper to shape. Otherwise car body filler (2 part like Isopon) will do a perfectly good job. I'd still pare back paint to bare wood, drive in 2 or 3 wood screws as "anchors" and wrap some wire around them to form an armature. Then build up in filler, 2 or 3 separate applications might be better. Cut, file and sand to shape. Caulk the joint at the wall with decorators caulk, prime, undercoat and finish.

listermint

I'd say leave it as is.

jack of all

listermint wrote: »

I'd say leave it as is.

Where's the fun in that? Nice little project that would while away a few hours!:)

looksee

Agree with both listermint and jack of all! I had a few of these quirks around the house when I bought it, mostly where odd things had been done to door frames. Initially it was of great importance that they be fixed but other jobs got in the way and now I don't even see them. Part of the house's history. On the other hand huge satisfaction without much expense to make it look new!

john9876

Thanks guys ... particularly Jack.

I'll probably go down the car filler route as it sounds easier & cheaper ... I don't have chisels to carve a piece of wood.