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I am looking for some advice.
I am going to build a level railing which will protect an interior stairwell. One end of the railing will be anchored to a wall. The other end will be a post (or “starting newel”) at the top of the stairs. The post base lands on a doubler joist. So, the post cannot go through the subfloor and be bolted to the side of the joist or a block. How would you securely attach this post?
Because it is at the top of the stairs, it will be pulled from side to side during use. Maybe use a steel plate with long lag screws down into the doubler and up into the post? Thanks for your help!
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Tom,
You got it, those plates are readily available around here. It is about 1 1/2" bigger than the post bottom all the way around with a lot of countersunk screw holes in it. Just attach it to the post and then the floor. The toughest part of it is getting the post plumb.
Red dog
*Tom,There is a piece of hardware that you should be able to buy from any lumber yard that carries stair parts. It's called a Key Lock. It mortises into the floor below the newel and is small enough not to be seen after installation. These things are too good to be true. I've been using them for years. The guy that invented these things should win the Nobel prize or something. The back of the package says "Fastener Unlimited, Inc. 26283 Olinda Trail, Lindstrom, MN 55045. Get one and use it. It makes for the strongest newel you could ever need.Good luck,Ed. Williams
*Tom, this is arather detailed approach but it works well. I came up with this idea when I had to mount a newel on concrete in a basement. Cut your newel to the desired height, then using a 1" dia. drill, drill a hole straight up the center of the newel, 8 to 10" deep. (I use a long electricians bit.) It is important that the hole be perfectly sraight. One caution the post will try to spin so hold it firmly or clamp it in place. Then drill a hole in the desired location on your landing, again keeping this hole very plumb. depending on your floor joist material 8" is usually deep enough. Then take a length of 3/4 black iron pipe the total of your two holes and grind a small flat on one side, this flat allows glue to escape. Cover one end of the pipe with adhesive, which also acts as a lubricant and hammer it into your newel. apply glue to the rest of the pipe and using a block and hammer, pound the newel into the landing hole. secure with a couple of toenails. This method may sound somewhat archaic, but it really produces a very strong post. Good Luck, Steve
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I am looking for some advice.
I am going to build a level railing which will protect an interior stairwell. One end of the railing will be anchored to a wall. The other end will be a post (or "starting newel") at the top of the stairs. The post base lands on a doubler joist. So, the post cannot go through the subfloor and be bolted to the side of the joist or a block. How would you securely attach this post?
Because it is at the top of the stairs, it will be pulled from side to side during use. Maybe use a steel plate with long lag screws down into the doubler and up into the post? Thanks for your help!