Consider custom milled balusters for your porch restoration. Carefully remove an original baluster for replication. The millwork will use this as a model to create a plastic profile. The profile is placed in a copy lathe. A pin follows the profile and adjusts the knife to duplicate the balusters. When finished, the original balustrade will be restored.
Stair railing and balusters are installed. Bob Ryley describes the techniques used and the various checks and balances to make sure the posts are level and center.
wife loves the look of the neighbor's balustrade around their patio. So much so, that called Fypon that makes a lightweight balustrade system. http://www.fypon.com the prices at the local lumberyard the balustrade could easily equal the price of our