This was the first time I’ve installed a newel post for a stair. I’d often wondered how a post can be attached at a right angle to a beam, and be sturdy enough to support a hand rail. Well, there’s a trick. It’s not just nailed down.
There’s a threaded steel rod embedded into the end of the post that bolts down to the beam below. It’s all hidden. First I need to drill a hole down the post. I had to get a long drill bit for this, because the rod needs to go about 8 inches into the post.
To get at the end of the rod, and put a nut and washer on it, I need to drill a large hole into the side of the post. It’s so nice having a drill press.
Above left, you can see the rod inside the post, with a washer and nut on it. I painted wood preservative all over the bare wood. After the post was solidly in place, and i was sure it was right, I made a plug out of the same wood, and glued it in with a waterproof glue.
Above left is a view from underneath the deck at the beam that is under this post. I drilled a hole through the beam for the threaded rod, and pushed the rod through from the top, with the post attached. Then I put a nut and washer on it, and tightened it.
Tada! A post, sticking straight out of the deck, and it’s quite solid. There’s a bit more to it than I showed: To get the post vertical, I had to fiddle a bit with the angle of the cut on the end of the post. Because the deck slopes, if the post was cut perfectly square, it would slope, also. So now I’ve got the framing in for the first two flights of the stair. Just one to go.
Mole’s brother Jason gave me some clamps as a Christmas gift, years ago. They are unusual, because you can tighten them with one hand. I don’t think he realizes how useful they are; I’m using them almost every time I work on the stairs project to hold things in place while I adjust lengths, or fasten the other end. Above left, I’m starting to put in the hand rails.
Above right: Another project – I need to repair the window sash in the garage. This window is so rotten that it just fell apart in place and the glass fell out of it. The previous owners had plumbing pipes running up the outside of the house, and entering above this window. Rain would run down the outside of the pipe, and run into the window. I’ve moved the plumbing, but now the window needs help.