HEIGHT OF NEWEL POST

A newel post may be installed in a number of ways, but the first is to cut the stair newel post to the right height. This height is determined by the typical handrail height for your balustrade, which is determined by the local building requirements. According to local requirements, floor-level balustrades must typically be at least 36" or 42" high, while stair guardrails must be between 34" and 38". Even though these are the standard specifications outlined by the International Residential Code, local building rules may differ, so before you start, be sure you are aware of them.

Make a newel post height calculation.

The first step in installing newel posts is to calculate the newel post height. Posts at floor level and posts at the top of stairs are the two most typical situations. Installing newel posts with winder treads is a third option, but this is a little more challenging, so I will cover it in a later post. Stay tuned, then,

The goal when utilizing turned newel posts is to have the stair handrails end in the middle of the top block in all cases. When employing box newels, the "top block" may or may not be a space that is visibly delineated by a molding. If your newel post doesn't have this, there isn't really a rule; the handrail just ends someplace close to the newel post's top. In the other cases, the computation is rather easy when there is some sort of visual top block. The stair handrail will be centered in the top block by applying the following formula:

The following formula is used to determine the height of floor-level newel posts such that the stair railing will be in the middle of the top block: Post Height = Bottom of Rail Height + Rail multiplied by 2, Top Block multiplied by 2, and Cap Mold (if applicable).

Remember that this dimension will not be included in the formula if you are using a turned newel post or a box newel post without cap molding. If the newel post does not sit on top of the shoe, you must also add the thickness of the shoe.

Example.

Using a box newel post and a 2 1/8–6701 large traditional handrail with a finished stair handrail height of 37", the following example is provided:

40.1875, or 40 3/16" to the Top of the Block (Bottom of the post cap), is equal to 34.875 + (2.125 2) + (6 2) + 1.25.

Ascending stair newel post heights are determined as follows: The example that follows assumes a stair rail that is 37" high.

Place a marker at the top block to indicate where the newel post will meet the middle of the stair handrail.

By laying a section of the handrail on the stair tread nosings and then piping up to determine the thickness of the handrail on the pitch, you can determine where the top of the handrail will be. After that, double this amount by two, and then add that distance to the above-mentioned center mark. The top of the rail will be located here.

Mark the tangent line of the stair tread nosings as indicated on the bottom block, and install the stair newel post with the mark facing up the stairs.

Mark the post once again after measuring 37" down from the rail's top mark.

Cut an amount "X" from the bottom of the post equal to the distance between the 37" mark on the bottom block and the tangent line. Your beginning newel is now in place.