stairs

[woodchip]

I have 3inch square newel posts top and bottom of my stairs with two planks joining them. I want to replace them with a spindle staircase How would I fix the new newel posts.

[Fliss]

Have a look at www.richardburbidge.co.uk. (I think that is the right website address) They do a bracket fix system for replacing that style staircase with spindles. There is a modular newel post kit. You saw of the top of the existing newel, drill a hole in the bottom bit and insert a new top half. You sand down the top edge of the bottom half to match the new top. Then you connect a new base and top rail between your two newel posts - the base rail is screwed down onto the existing string and the top rail fits to the new top half of the newels with a bracket. (Their leaflet and video explains this much better!) Looks great. We replaced our stair rail this weekend. Total cost about £200. We ordered our parts online from Stairpartsonline - free next day delivery, but you can get them in most diy stores.

Hope this helps.