why is it called newel post

by Kaley Schimmel Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

newel (n.)

Klein's sources suggest the French word may be from Gallo-Roman *nucale, from Latin nux "nut." The carpentry meaning "tall and more or less ornamental post at the top or bottom of a staircase" is from 1833 (newel-post in this sense is from 1798).

How do you spell newel post?

Mar 17, 2020 · Why is it called newel post? noun obsolete A novelty; a new thing. noun (Arch.) The upright post about which the steps of a circular staircase wind; hence, in stairs having straight flights, the principal post at the foot of a staircase, or the secondary ones at the landings. Also called newel post. Click to see full answer.

What is the purpose of newel posts?

Jun 01, 2016 · What is a Newel? Newels are the anchor of a stairway. A newel post serves as a support pole that helps bear the weight of the rest of the stairway. Newels are always found at the foot of a flight of stairs and you will also find newels at the top of the stairway in order to maintain symmetry.

What does newel post mean?

A newel post is (the often highly decorative) post at the end of a stair that anchors the railing. Newel posts are an architectural detail that had many style changes throughout history. In the early American colonies, simple lathe-turned posts, often similar in profile to the balusters of the railing, or simple tapered square posts were used.

How to spell newel post?

May 04, 2021 · Why Does a Staircase Need a Newel Post? As mentioned, newel posts are found at the foot of the stairs and at every turn (at a landing or any 90-degree turn), whether the staircase is inside or outside. Just as a house has load-bearing walls for support, a staircase has newel posts to bear the weight of the staircase. When being built, the ...

What is the meaning newel post?

n. (Architecture) the post at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs that supports the handrail.

What is the difference between a baluster and a newel?

is that baluster is (architecture) a short column used in a group to support a rail, as commonly found on the side of a stairway; a banister while newel is (architecture) a sturdy pillar at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, supporting the handrail.

What do you call the post at the bottom of the stairs?

The post (also called a newel) is the vertical structure that connects the stair or floor to the railing system. Spindles, which are vertical wood or metal structures, are interspersed between posts to provide a safety barrier along the stair system. Shoe is the bottom plate that spindles (or glass) are set into.

Why are newel posts used?

Stairs are used to create a pedestrian route between different vertical levels by dividing the height between the levels into manageable steps. Stairs, in particular in domestic premises, may include guarding to one, or both sides, in the form of a banister, that is, an assembly of uprights and a handrail.Jul 9, 2021

What is a baluster vs spindle?

A baluster and spindle is actually almost the same thing, but the word spindle is more commonly used because it is easier to remember and say. Balusters usually rest on a footing; this could be a step, floor or deck, whereas, spindles are supported by a horizontal rail at the bottom that is attached to the posts.Jan 23, 2020

How is a newel post attached?

Basically you will be installed an access hole on the side of the newel with the 1-1/2″ drill bit and then drilling a 5/8″ hole up from the bottom. This allows you to set the newel post down over the lag and tighten it down with the washer and nut. Step 2 – Screw the lag bolt into the floor.

What is the end post of a banister called?

Newel post

Newel post: what is a newel post? A newel post is the heavy, vertical post at the end or turn of a handrail.Jan 24, 2021

What is the end of the banister called?

newel post

A newel, also called a central pole or support column, is the central supporting pillar of a staircase. It can also refer to an upright post that supports and/or terminates the handrail of a stair banister (the "newel post").

What is the top of a step called?

The landing of a staircase is either a platform where the direction of the staircase changes or is located at the top of a staircase. The outer string is the side of a staircase where the treads and risers can be seen from the side. A riser is a vertical board that forms the face of a step.Sep 17, 2019

Is a newel post necessary?

Further, for code-compliance, a newel post is necessary on balconies where the length of the handrail is eight feet or longer. Therefore, if you have a sixteen-foot balcony, you will need three newel posts, one at the beginning, one in the middle, and one at the end.

Is newel post structural?

A newel post is the structural upright post that fits at the beginning and the end of a staircase and supports the handrail of a stair banister. The most important job of a newel post is to provide structural support, but that does not mean that they can't be used to enhance the look and feel of your stairs.

What is a box newel?

Box newels are usually constructed like a box, often having a hollow center, and are usually square rather than turned on a Lathe. Each of our box newels are individually hand-made by experienced craftsmen.

What is a newel post?

What is a Newel? Newels are the anchor of a stairway. A newel post serves as a support pole that helps bear the weight of the rest of the stairway. Newels are always found at the foot of a flight of stairs and you will also find newels at the top of the stairway in order to maintain symmetry. Further, newels are placed at junctures where ...

What is a turned newel?

Turned newels, offered in any wood species, are the perfect statement piece at the beginning of a decorative stairway. They offer unique designs that, though often smaller than box newels, look perfect on an ornate stairway. Box newels and turned newels are similar in many ways but both offer various advantages.

Can you stain a box newel?

Box newels can also be manufactured to any wood species, and may be made stain grade with a finish or primed, ready for painting. You can find oak newel posts for stairs that beautifully match both the treads and handrail in your stairway. Turned newels, like box newels, are offered in many variations.

What is the difference between a box newel and a turned newel?

Box newels and turned newels are similar in many ways but both offer various advantages. Box newels are bigger and make quite a large impression as the starting piece to your stair while turned newels are typically smaller but offer unique design characteristics.

What are the different types of newels?

There are two main types of newels: box newels and turned newels. Both are great choices to give support to your stairway and they only differ in terms of stylistic preferences. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between them.

What is pyramid cap?

The pyramid cap is, as the name would suggest, a triangular cap that culminates in a single point at the top of the box newel. This cap works especially well with simpler box newels, such as the plane box newels because it adds a little more visual interest.

Parts of a Staircase

In the movies, when a princess or bride elegantly descends a staircase, most eyes are probably on her. Well, maybe not all. What about that elegant staircase? Stairs are ubiquitous features in many homes, but there's more to them than meets the eye.

Newel vs. Newel Post

The newel post is an important feature, but it's not the only term you'll hear. The other one is a newel. While these two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, technically they refer to different kinds of stair supports. Newel posts are the final posts of any staircase, but newels are only found in spiral staircases.

Function

Now that we understand both what a newel post is, what does it actually do? The newel post serves two very important functions. First and foremost, it is a structural element of the staircase. Since it is not always possible to fix one (or both) sides of a staircase to the wall, the newel post is the load-bearing element that supports that side.

Styles and Design

The newel post is an important decorative element, so there are literally as many newel post designs as there are styles of interior decorating and architecture. In general, we can categorize our newel posts in four ways.

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