Newel Posts are the main focal point of your wood stairs in your home. WoodStairs.com offers a wide variety of Turned and Box Newel Posts as well as custom newels. Contact us anytime for a free quote on custom newel posts! We regularly turn and manufacture custom Newel Post profiles from all available wood species. If you can dream it we can make it! Learn more about Newel Post styles and uses below.
Balustrade Systems are broken into two categories that are used to determine the type of post that can be used. These balustrade systems are Post-to-Post and Continuous.
Post-to-post systems are those in which the newel posts have a top block into which the handrails terminate. These include many variations of Turned Newel Posts and virtually all Box Newel Posts. They are often topped with decorative finials such as balls, acorns, spheres, and so forth.
Continuous or Over-The-Post systems are those in which the handrail attaches to the top of the newel post and continuous uninterrupted. Newel Posts used in Continuous Balustrade systems are generally Turned Newel Posts or Wrought Iron Newel Posts that correspond with their post-to-post counterparts with the exception that they are either dowel-topped, pin-topped or tapered to accommodate the handrail. Handrail fittings are used to make transitions around corners and often include an expanded “bubble” that fits over the top of certain turned newel posts. These types of handrail fittings are called Tandem or Capped fittings.
Finally there is the third option. It is not unusual to have both continuous and post-to-post systems in a single balustrade utilizing the two associated types of newel posts. An example of this is a post-to-post system that terminates with a volute at the start of the stair.
Once you’ve decided which of the two balustrade systems you would like you can then determine which type of post you want. There are basically two styles of post; these are Turned and Box Newel Posts.
Turned Newel Posts are solid wood posts that are turned or milled in unlimited design possibilities. Most models are designed with variations that work in either Post-to-Post or Continuous systems. In addition most models include variations that will accommodate any situation, such as differing lengths, top block sizes, etc. These top blocks include the standard smaller 5” to 6” top blocks, often called starting newels and larger top blocks of 10” to 13” which are often called landing or transition newels. These transition newels allow for two handrails to attach to the top block at differing heights, such as at an intermediate landing on a stairway. Finally Turned Newel Posts are also available in Pin Top, Dowel Top or Tapered Top to accommodate Continuous systems. Turned newel posts are available in a wide variety of styles, sizes, wood species. In addition, turned Newel Posts are often available plain, fluted, twisted, beaded, and so forth. Most Turned Newel Post designs have matching wood balusters that are regularly used together.
Box Newel Posts are hollow boxes that include caps, bases, panels, carvings, plant-ons, mouldings, inlays, and more. All of our posts at WoodStairs.com are manufactured from solid wood (not veneers) in a wide variety of standard species. Box Posts are available rectangular, tapered and WoodStairs.com offers man Box Newels with Hidden Boxes. Box Newels require a Post-to-Post system. They are commanding by their very size and profile and are an excellent choice for many balustrades.
