When I set newel posts I run them down through the floor and bolt them into the floor joists. I have run into stairs in new and old houses with wobbly newels just sitting on the floor.
I have fixed these unstable newels with small metal brackets that come in kits with wood trim to hide them. The kits had four brackets that fit around each of the four corners of the post. Each bracket was attached with four screws into the post and four screws into the floor. The addition of some construction adhesive and those 32 screws, running in different directions, works magic.
I have searched and have not been able to find them online or from local suppliers. Anyone familiar with these? I could really use a few.
Thanks,
Basswood
Replies
LJ Smith makes a kit. It's called an L bracket newel post anchor. Here's a link to their site...
http://www.ljsmith.net/products.asp#
Greg,Thanks for the link. That is the kind of thing I'm looking for. The one I really like provides even more stability, as each little bracket actually wraps around each corner of the post and "ell's out" on to the floor in perpendicular tabs. I may need to post a drawing.