HELP!
I am trying to figure out how to tighten up a loose newel post that is attached to the base of a set of stairs on a house that was built in the early 1990s. The newel post is round and has a collar at the base of it, however there is no visible plug that would cover up a bolt type fastener. The collar spins but will not slide up the post and appears to be held in place somehow. I have attached some photos and any suggestions you have would be helpful.
Thanks
Zoning ordinances attempt to tackle housing shortages and affordability by allowing designs that increase density, but with new regulations come some challenges.
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Replies
Is the tile set up to or under the riser?
Do you have a basement or crawl accessible under this first step?
If you can figure out or guess, is there a sub tread under that oak tread?
I belive the tile may be set under the bottom stair...seems strange to me. I do have access to the basement and more than likely will have to create a access hole in the subfloor to find out how it is attached
I have never done a newel post install like that.
Have you searched some of the spindle/rail/newel companies yet for their recommended installations?
Colonial revival?
If you could raise that bottom cover you could toe-screw through the newel into the tread and with luck, down into some solid blocking.
Have all the balusters loosened as you go up?
balusters seem to still be tight as you go up the stairs, but the bottom section of the volute (arond the newel) is loose.
If you grab the hand rail it wobbles....
https://youtu.be/_RYmI_2HoA4?si=WOpS1cnK1EDBbVyZ
If the structure is solid, what is the concern with the collar that moves?
Does it rattle as you walk around?
Could you score and very carefully split the collar into two pieces and remove it from the post? You could then epoxy and toe screw the post to the tread and possibly stiffen the assembly. Then glue the collar back together. Not the best approach but something that might work without taking the whole thing apart.
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That is a thought....I will take a closer look at the bottom collar
Sorry for this, but I thought about this clip when I read the title.
https://youtu.be/0IcFNiNDb8E
LOL....that was easy :-)
Every Christmas since it first aired.
And quoted often since we got the camper.
Cousin Eddie.
"the s***** full"
Yup!
A more vivid interpretation can be found on the movie RV with Robin Williams.
When you say "loose" does that mean it just spins or does it wobble?
It wobbles