Newel post dilema - Newby

[neyleopc]

I'm thinking of replacing the horrible boards I have with some spindles, however, the height of the spindles will mean that the handrail is too high for my bottom newel post which I didn't want to replace as not sure how to remove this without wrecking staircase.

Is there such a thing as an extension for a newel post?

 

[eddyo]

Spindles are usually found in two sizes, 1100mm for any horizontal handrail and 900mm for the handrail that runs up the stair. If the 900 mm are too long and reducing them is not an option (bearing in mind that there are building regulations governing the height of balustrades)
you could cut the existing newel off above the string and fix a new post directly on top using a dowel screw into a couple of well-centred pilot holes along with a bit of wood glue.[/url]