Changing Newel Post BASES

[IJWS15]

THink I know what the answer will be but here goes.

We have a modern house, around 8-9 years old with a straignt run of stairs, single Newel centred on the second riser at the foot, newel each side at the top centred on the top riser.

Stairs are probably pine painted white (as long as we have had the house)

Will the Newels be structural or would I be able to change them - would involve a bit of work at the top as I can only see about 1" of each side of one newel beside the stringer and the other is completely burried below floor level.

Now I can get Burridge newels which will fit to one cut off at floor level (solves the problem at one side at the top) but will I be able to chgange the partly visible Newel ?

I know a picture will help.

 

[IJWS15]

See pictures

Top RHS Newel

• IJWS15
• 5 May 2011
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Top LHS Newel

• IJWS15
• 5 May 2011
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Top looking down

• IJWS15
• 5 May 2011
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Bottom Newel

• IJWS15
• 5 May 2011
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Wife will shoot me for not moving the clutter.

 

[IJWS15]

Question should really have been can I change the Newel BASES?

 

[IJWS15]

Well lots of views but no answers . . . .

Still "digging"

The newel at teh base appears to end level with the bullnose tread, moving the carpet allows me to slide a scraper in to the ssame dept as the stringer under the newel.

Top left is cut over an engineered joist which appears to be a little longer than the staircase =- not found the other end yet. There is a block wall perpendicular to the stairs and just under the head, one of the two block walls in the house and the joists beyond the stairs rest on it and run parallel with the stairs but away from them.

Looks like I need to lift some floor to see but will the stringer rest on the wall or will the stringer sit in the newel and the newel rest on the wall?

Builder did a crap job, stairs sit 1/8" higher than the landing floor and the chipboard was laid with a 3/4" strip along the top of the stairs, in bits and gaps filled with sealer.

Marked heights yesterday evening and the existing bases are not high enough for Burbidges system - unless I cheat and use slightly longer Newels cut from handrail!

Some photos in the album - newels ARE supporting the stairs.

 

[IJWS15]

Lets try a simpler question . . . .

What glue do I use to fix oak Newel bases to Pine strings? Assume it will need some gap filling qualities so not PVA but will no-more-nails/Gripfil do - that is what they seem to have used to fix the head of the stairs.

I know they will want dowelling as well.