Newell post

[Captainpugwash]

Can someone advise?

I have just got back the survey report for a house we hope to buy. One of the things the report mentions is "the newell post on the 1st floor landing is loose. This has occurred becouse the newell post has not been securely built into the floor structure" The report then advises us to "obtain competitive quotations for securing the post"

Is this likely to be a difficult job and therefore expensive? Or is it something that someone with minimul DIY expertise (like myself can do). Or should I get the vendors to get the job done before signing contracts on the house?

 

[anobium]

Difficult to say without seeing the detail of the fixing. Most newel posts are fixed to the stair string, and fastened in position with dowels, and others are just screwed to the side of the string. I think I would tell the vendors to have it fixed and than checked by the surveyor.

 

[noseall]

if the newell post supports the stairs directly then: a. it needs to sit on supporting masonry. b. it needs fixing to the trimmer joist/beam adjascant to it (provided the installers have left the newell long enough). p.s. proper stairs are built with the stair string morticed into the newell post.

 

[anobium]

if the newell post supports the stairs directly then: a. it needs to sit on supporting masonry. b. it needs fixing to the trimmer joist/beam adjascant to it (provided the installers have left the newell long enough). p.s. proper stairs are built with the stair string morticed into the newell post.

Correct I forgot to mention the mortice and tenon,but there are quite a lot , particularly those built in the 60s & 70s where the newel post is simply screwed to the side of the stair string, and they are prone to becoming loose
You haven't seen some of the staircases which I have altered.
Unless there is another flight directly above, the top newel post is purely for carrying the handrail and does not need to be sat on a wall,as it is not load bearing. The stair strings carry the weight of the staircase and are notched over the top joist or trimmer.

 

[stric]

If you really want the house I wouldn't bother messing the vendors about because of a loose newell post.
Normally they are loose because someone has replaced the original post and not secured the new one properly.
You should be able to remove some of the floorboards around the post and then get a better fixing in below the flooring.
At worst its probably going to mean fitting a new post which is not expensive.

 

[noseall]

anobium, houses constructed with kite winders or sub landings, and don't have an end trimmer to support the outer string ('cause the end trimmer would be below the ceiling line and sit on fresh air!) require solid newell support.

 

[anobium]

anobium, houses constructed with kite winders or sub landings, and don't have an end trimmer to support the outer string quote]

Point taken, but these are the exception these days and he was referring to a newel at first floor level where a kite winder would be even more unusual.