Stair Refurb

[SaraW]

Hi all, someone has previously removed the newel post at the bottom of the stairs. As well as looking awful the banister is not as stable as it should be.
I am looking for suggestions on what I should replace it with, I’ve tried salvage places but not sure what to look for!
Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[Cubist]

There have been, and still are, many styles of wooden newell posts available. I've attached a link below to one of the many providers but a simple google search should reveal many others. You will find that the range of patterns available is quite wide and based on traditional designs used in may Period homes.

That aside though, the important issue you will face is selecting a pattern/design that can readily be installed into your home without major surgery to your staircase to accommodate and provide the 'hidden' foot or base of the newell post itself. As a general rule the foot or base of the post is anchored by being fixed to the face of a joist which is either located below the last stair or on the floor immediately ahead of and into the first riser of the stair and fixed with long screws. The banister rail provides a secondary fixing point only and much of the rails stability is provided directly by the newell post.

The instability you are seeing is a direct result of a rather poor repair in the past. In my opinion the foot or base of the original post either rotted out, was broken or damaged in some way or perhaps the timber on which it was mounted below your last stair was damaged in some way. As a consequence the original or a replacement square profile timber post was simply cut to sit on the thin wooden pad that can be seen in your photo which would have been screwed into place in the foot of the post itself and the pad then fixed to tread board it is sitting on. In your shoes I would investigate by temporarily removing the newell post to determine what lies beneath that pad before choosing a replacement for the post itself.

Newel Posts Stair Parts | Stairparts Direct

stairpartsdirect.co.uk

 

[SaraW]

Thanks for your reply, I’ve found a company that installs stairs to check it out and hopefully make something more suitable to secure it.

 

[Stevers]

It might be a camera effect, but I'm wondering if there is the start of a curve down to one of these:

Ravenscourt - Handrail Creations Ltd

Handrail Creations designed and installed Sapele handrails and plain white spindles for a slimline balustrade in a West London residence.

handrailcreations.co.uk

(Top row second from the left)

 

[SaraW]

It might be a camera effect, but I'm wondering if there is the start of a curve down to one of these:

Ravenscourt - Handrail Creations Ltd

Handrail Creations designed and installed Sapele handrails and plain white spindles for a slimline balustrade in a West London residence.

handrailcreations.co.uk

(Top row second from the left)

Yes it would have been something like that or a monkey tail but it’s been removed completely so a reproduction like this would be ideal