Beginning to finish the basement of my 2 storey 10 year old house. At the very bottom of the basement stairs is a post going from floor to celilng made from two 2×4’s barely nailed together.
The post is made from what looks like scrap 2×4 from the constructions site, they are all split and warped. Plus they are only toe nailed into the joist with 2 nails at the top, and another 2 into the concrete floor. I suspect it’s only real purpose is to be there to receive the handrail.
I don’t see how this rough 2×4 post could be a key structural element given the way it is built.
I want to know if I can remove it altogether and replace it with a 4 foot newel post at the bottom of the stairs instead another floor to ceiling post.
Is it normal to have a post at the bottom the basement stairs for structural support of the floor above?
My Question, Is it structural and if I remove it am I compromising anything.
thanks Mark
Replies
Hello Mark
To find if the post is structural or not, look for a pair of doubled or tripled floor joist running to the exterior wall. Typically, a box of built up floor joists is framed to create the stairwell. Look upstairs, also, to see if there is a bearing point load in that area ( post with header, fireplace,etc.) If you find the build ups & no point load you're in!!
LOL, Tom
Can you post a picture of your post and what is resting on it?
It would help alot in giving structural advice.
Stairwells get doubled or tripled members to help carry all the joists that hang off them.
Woods favorite carpenter
My bet is it is not structural,
Is the post under the joist or beside it? if beside, it's definitely not structural, and I'm still leaning toward non-structural if it's under the joist, it is a common practice, given the age of the house, to use the post for the handrail attachment, as you suspected.
Geoff