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Post at bottom of staircase
Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.45 PM
I have a street house built around 1900. At the bottom of the staircase is a vertical timber pillar from downstairs floor to upstairs ceiling. I want to remove this pillar and the staircase rails that are attached to it. Does this pillar simply provide an attachment for the staircase rails, or does it have an additional role of supporting the upstairs floor joists for the second bedroom above the stair well. Thanks for your help.
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4 Answers
Birchwood
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
What is the dimension of the pillar?
Have you lifted the floorboards above to see if the joists have been trimmed out correctly?
Is there a supporting wall to the other side of the staircase?
Can you see if the pillar is attached through the ceiling plaster or the ceiling is cut around the pillar?
It would be better not to take it out unless you have checked the above.
Answered4 October 2019
2
Anonymous user
It sound like it could have structural reason, would better lift the floor above to see if it is part of the upper floor trimmer, and could be supporting floor joist JFD
Answered5 October 2019
1
Stuart Allen
Rating: 5 out of 5
This newel post does not directly support the joists, but the staircase string is tenoned into a mortise in the post.
Answered4 October 2019
0
Homefinish
Rating: 4 out of 5
Personally I would open a inspection hole either in the ceiling or in up stairs bedroom floor to see if the newell post is supporting the floor joists or stairs. I suspect there is a good reason for it running from floor to ceiling.
Answered5 October 2019
0