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Hi guys.
This lady I know wants me to remove her 5 foot long wrought-iron handrail and replace it with a wooden spindle style railing. Her house has a raised living room (3 steps up from entranceway to living room), and this railing attaches to a wall at the one end, and runs to a newel post at the other end.
At present, the wrought-iron railing’s post is simply screwed to the floor. It has very little lateral support and is quite loose.
The new railing that I am making for her will have the spindles screwed into a decorative bottom plate instead of directly into the floor board. (this is her idea, not mine. Carpeting will butt up to bottom plate.)
I will have a mounting face plate that will be screwed into the wall studs and will be my wall attachment point for the one end of the new railing. But what about the newel? Lady does not want me to cut into and attach to top of stairwell. When I mentioned I could drill hole through floor and attach to joists below (Basement below Living room is unfinished and allows me access to this), she gave me a dirty look. I could tell that she does not want me to do this.
So, any ideas? I saw a package deal that contains metal plates that attach to the newel post and screws to the floor. The plates are hidden with pre-cut moulding. I don’t think it will be too strong. Saw another method involving a very long lag bolt attachment; whereby the lag goes through floor and into solid blocking; and then newel post gets drilled and fits overtop and then gets drilled again for side acces to bolt onto lag and this hole is filled with a wooden plug. If I do this method, I’m drilling thru the floor anyway.
The total length of this railing is only 5 foot long and 36 inches high. Its to be a “paint grade” railing.
Any advice how to steady this newel post would be greatly appreciated. As of yet, I’m uncertain as to go with a solid post or a hollow version. Whichever will ultimately allow me to make the strongest connection, I will go with.
Thanks again.
Davo.
Replies
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Hi guys.
This lady I know wants me to remove her 5 foot long wrought-iron handrail and replace it with a wooden spindle style railing. Her house has a raised living room (3 steps up from entranceway to living room), and this railing attaches to a wall at the one end, and runs to a newel post at the other end.
At present, the wrought-iron railing's post is simply screwed to the floor. It has very little lateral support and is quite loose.
The new railing that I am making for her will have the spindles screwed into a decorative bottom plate instead of directly into the floor board. (this is her idea, not mine. Carpeting will butt up to bottom plate.)
I will have a mounting face plate that will be screwed into the wall studs and will be my wall attachment point for the one end of the new railing. But what about the newel? Lady does not want me to cut into and attach to top of stairwell. When I mentioned I could drill hole through floor and attach to joists below (Basement below Living room is unfinished and allows me access to this), she gave me a dirty look. I could tell that she does not want me to do this.
So, any ideas? I saw a package deal that contains metal plates that attach to the newel post and screws to the floor. The plates are hidden with pre-cut moulding. I don't think it will be too strong. Saw another method involving a very long lag bolt attachment; whereby the lag goes through floor and into solid blocking; and then newel post gets drilled and fits overtop and then gets drilled again for side acces to bolt onto lag and this hole is filled with a wooden plug. If I do this method, I'm drilling thru the floor anyway.
The total length of this railing is only 5 foot long and 36 inches high. Its to be a "paint grade" railing.
Any advice how to steady this newel post would be greatly appreciated. As of yet, I'm uncertain as to go with a solid post or a hollow version. Whichever will ultimately allow me to make the strongest connection, I will go with.
Thanks again.
Davo.