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Upper newel post protrudes down through floor

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  • 26-08-2013 5:14pm
    #1
    Dum_Dum
    Closed Accounts Posts: 587 ✭✭✭


    The top baluster in our house (newel post?) protrudes down through the floor and appears as a 5in stump in the kitchen ceiling underneath.

    I was just wondering why this is? The bannister is stable and everything is OK - I was just wondering does this contribute to the stability. And if it does, why isn't this done everywhere. The house is circa 1991 so less < 30yrs old.


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    #2
    recipio
    Registered Users Posts: 2,804 ✭✭✭recipio


    Dum_Dum wrote: »
    The top baluster in our house (newel post?) protrudes down through the floor and appears as a 5in stump in the kitchen ceiling underneath.

    I was just wondering why this is? The bannister is stable and everything is OK - I was just wondering does this contribute to the stability. And if it does, why isn't this done everywhere. The house is circa 1991 so less < 30yrs old.

    I'm guessing its because it minimizes the chance of splitting when a screw is driven in near the bottom of the post - and the carpenter didn't want the hassle of trimming the post to hide it.
    Older houses 1930-60 often have quirky features which were cosmetically acceptable back then but yours is relatively new and probably a victim of building to a certain cost. ?


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    #3
    recipio
    Registered Users Posts: 2,804 ✭✭✭recipio


    Eh......apologies to all carpenters/joiners. It seems that the Newel post is left long because the Stringer is inserted with a mortice and tenon joint and some wood has to be left below the mortice. So now I know !


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    #4
    1chippy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,716 ✭✭✭1chippy


    Newels nearly always come in standard lenghts of 500, 700 and so on. Its not a shortcut. i nearly always give the option of dropping the newel fully as an end cap or finial ball can be fitted which will compliment a lot of stairs. the bit left on is as recipio says good for stability however with the fixings and glues avaiable now it is not a necessitie. some of the older stairs often used a double tenon however nowadays its just a single tenon used with most lads. jmaybe the lads chiselling just got tired and said sure its easier cut a bit out of the tenon .


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