Hi all

Probably worrying unnecessarily here but...
I have a 1970s ranch style bannister arrangement. The planks of the
handrail etc are jointed into the newel posts and look like they may be
giving quite a bit of rigidity to them.
If I cut out the planks and replace with spindles and handrail, will the
newel posts be too weak to handle the impact of 2 teenage kids?
The posts are 90mm square which seems pretty standard from what I have seen.

Phil

TheScullster wrote:
Hi all

Probably worrying unnecessarily here but...
I have a 1970s ranch style bannister arrangement. The planks of the
handrail etc are jointed into the newel posts and look like they may be
giving quite a bit of rigidity to them.
If I cut out the planks and replace with spindles and handrail, will the
newel posts be too weak to handle the impact of 2 teenage kids?
The posts are 90mm square which seems pretty standard from what I have seen.

Phil


Rout some groove along the post and let some steel bar in to strengthen
the post?
Alternatively use the steel bars to beat the teenagers into being
careful around the house?

Bob

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
TheScullster wrote:

Hi all

Probably worrying unnecessarily here but...
I have a 1970s ranch style bannister arrangement. The planks of the
handrail etc are jointed into the newel posts and look like they may
be giving quite a bit of rigidity to them.
If I cut out the planks and replace with spindles and handrail, will
the newel posts be too weak to handle the impact of 2 teenage kids?
The posts are 90mm square which seems pretty standard from what I
have seen.
Phil

I did the same thing a few years ago - and my newel posts were still rock
solid with the rails removed. If yours are like mine, they'll be 'built'
into the house!

Are you keeping the whole of the original posts, or cutting them off and
fitting new top sections? Some systems have an expanding dowel to join the
two bits together. I've no idea how rigid *they* are.

I used the Burbidge 'Fusion' system in which heavy metal sockets bolt onto
the top of the cut-off newel post, to take the (almost) circular section
wooden posts. I made mine extra rigid by using Gripfill inside the sockets -
in addition to the normal fixing screws.

If it's of any interest, you can see 'before' and 'after' photos at:
http://www.mills37.plus.com/before.JPG and
http://www.mills37.plus.com/after.JPG

--
Cheers,
Roger
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"Roger Mills" wrote

I did the same thing a few years ago - and my newel posts were still rock
solid with the rails removed. If yours are like mine, they'll be 'built'
into the house!

Are you keeping the whole of the original posts, or cutting them off and
fitting new top sections? Some systems have an expanding dowel to join the
two bits together. I've no idea how rigid *they* are.

I used the Burbidge 'Fusion' system in which heavy metal sockets bolt onto
the top of the cut-off newel post, to take the (almost) circular section
wooden posts. I made mine extra rigid by using Gripfill inside the
sockets - in addition to the normal fixing screws.

If it's of any interest, you can see 'before' and 'after' photos at:
http://www.mills37.plus.com/before.JPG and
http://www.mills37.plus.com/after.JPG

--
Thanks Roger
Photos very useful.
I intend to keep the posts as they are, just strip, renovate and paint them,
but have wood handrail/spindles in-between.
Bit of a compromise but avoids cutting down/replacing the originals which I
don't have the confidence to do well .
Also, a builder informs me that the posts are not high enough to take a
handrail that conforms to the current regs.
My top newel is built in similarly to yours from what I can see. Having a
180 degree return on the stairs, I have an intermediate newel which goes
right down to ground level. So they should hopefully do the job.

Thanks again

Phil

On Mon, 18 May 2009 13:51:08 +0100, "TheScullster"
wrote:

Hi all

Probably worrying unnecessarily here but...
I have a 1970s ranch style bannister arrangement. The planks of the
handrail etc are jointed into the newel posts and look like they may be
giving quite a bit of rigidity to them.
If I cut out the planks and replace with spindles and handrail, will the
newel posts be too weak to handle the impact of 2 teenage kids?
The posts are 90mm square which seems pretty standard from what I have seen.

Phil

I have just looked at mine and consulted The Oracle of SWIMBO, and our
opinion is all out, new in, too weak for alteration.

"EricP" wrote

I have just looked at mine and consulted The Oracle of SWIMBO, and our
opinion is all out, new in, too weak for alteration.

Have you looked at Roger Mills' photos?
My newels are built in like his - are yours?
Is your house more recent and therefore not as solidly built perhaps?

Phil

On Tue, 19 May 2009 09:04:11 +0100, "TheScullster"
wrote:


"EricP" wrote

I have just looked at mine and consulted The Oracle of SWIMBO, and our
opinion is all out, new in, too weak for alteration.

Have you looked at Roger Mills' photos?
My newels are built in like his - are yours?
Is your house more recent and therefore not as solidly built perhaps?

Phil

I did try to interpolate the photo to my situation and think your
reasoning may be valid. My newells appear much narrower and if yours
are more robust, you have room to play with them. Either way they are
all rooted in the bowels of hell and a major job to remove at base
level. (

EricP wrote:
On Tue, 19 May 2009 09:04:11 +0100, "TheScullster"
wrote:

"EricP" wrote

I have just looked at mine and consulted The Oracle of SWIMBO, and our
opinion is all out, new in, too weak for alteration.
Have you looked at Roger Mills' photos?
My newels are built in like his - are yours?
Is your house more recent and therefore not as solidly built perhaps?

Phil

I did try to interpolate the photo to my situation and think your
reasoning may be valid. My newells appear much narrower and if yours
are more robust, you have room to play with them. Either way they are
all rooted in the bowels of hell and a major job to remove at base
level. (

The trick is to remove them above the base, and use the bottom bit for
holding something pretty!



--
Cheers,

John.

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