Newel – Our Word of the Week

Newel

Newel, or Newel Post – a newel, or newel post is the post at the bottom of a flight of stairs, or at turning points in the stair. A newel supports the handrail. It’s usually larger and more detailed than the other posts (balusters) that make up the handrail support system. The newel post is where the…

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Room at the Bottom of the Stairs

Bottom of Stairs

How much room do you need at the bottom of the stairs? How big should your Foyer be? I received this question the other day. Jackie asked: “We are reconfiguring our stairs and would like to know what is an adequate space to have from the last step to front door?  It is currently 74…

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An Architect Can Be Your Advocate

Architect Advocate

I comment on other websites from time to time. One very good website that deals with homebuilding and remodeling is www.askthebuilder.com. Not too long ago I commented on an article about building stairs. Another comment was posted there this weekend from a person who seems to be pretty frustrated with his builder. He wrote: I’m having…

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Designing Stairs and Steps

Interior Stair Design

Designing stairs is more intricate task than many people realize. And it’s not just about how the stairs look. Proper proportioning is critical to comfort and safety. Set the tread and riser sizes carefully. For  I recommend 10″ treads with a one inch nosing. The nosing is the projection forward of the tread beyond the…

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