What is the best way to attach the newel posts to the floor ?

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Nothing worse than a wobbly newel post. Your best strength comes from the internal structure below the posts, and using full lag bolts in two separate places. Bury them deep, and they will last forever.
 
This is the geometry of the place, under the stairs (both) that is all crawl space
So you are saying a bolt screwed from below into the post ?

XcdYtD3.png
 
Yes, I'd plunge cut through the floor and secure it to the side of that first step going down.
so I am not screwing it into both the floor and further into the post coming from below ?
Are you thinking about this
bac482f35bbba03535a2cfffe312e219.jpg
or this
newel-install.jpg
or simply use a bolt screwed into the post from below ?
 
For real support, you need to attach below the floor. Anything else is just a plate mount. It may pass inspection, but one kid swinging around that newel post and it could just come down. I'd recommend plunge cutting thru the floor and sliding that newel post down to something secure and lag bolt it in.
 
I am split on the plunge cut justifications since if the bolt is long enough to get into the wood that is under the hardwood it won't really matter would it ? It this was a plate mount I would agree since the plate screws will manly attach to the hardwood board and might not fully reach into the framing wood located underneath
 
You have to do what is best for you and your family. If a plunge cut to get into the meat of the structure is out of the question, then expect lateral movement. You just want to mitigate as much movement as possible.
 
Think of it as a telephone pole. They are sunk down 1/3 of their height to stop lateral movement. Now place the telephone pole upright, resting on the ground, and throw a lag bolt at the base. I don't know about you, but I sure wouldn't park anywhere near it.
 
I get the idea but you would laugh if you see what has been there for posts -they used nails to secure them in place and
like they do with the spindles in this picture
maxresdefault.jpg
 
I won't get a lot of benefits on at least one edge since it will be thin and close to the edge
That goes for all the posts, they will have one side facing an open space -no
If it would not be for aesthetical reasons I could notch the posts and bolt them on the side (might be too late for that I ordered them to be 2.75"x2.75" not sure if it is safe to notch them
gIRS3ra.png
 
If the newel post is next to the stair then I definitely would lag into the stair as well as from underneath. If you’re relying solely on an underneath connection then a lag bolt is your best friend but the lag bolt has to be through more than just the subfloor and hardwood. You gotta have some sort of 2x or 4x material underneath the subfloor that is securely fastened to whatever then lag through everything. When shit hits the fan and somebody grabs onto the newel post because they’re falling, it has to be securely fastened. This is the worst case scenario but that’s what you have to plan for otherwise why not just hot glue a plastic post in place for looks.

When I’m building things like bunk beds n such in trailers I build them as if I were the one who would be using it. People, fat people, are gonna be drinkin and doing who knows what out in the woods, that’s what I have to build to. Your newel post is no different. Yeah it’s gotta look nice but it’s real purpose is what happens when some fat F falls and needs to grab onto it for support. That’s what you have to build to. That’s what it’s purpose is. Think of a newel post as a structural part of your house. Or maybe you can think of Aunt Ethel falling down the stairs cus the newel post gave way when she fell. Now you’re gonna be the talk of Christmas until the end of time.

Since you have access to underneath I would definitely mount the newel post as Havasu has described. Cut the hole tight. Maybe you use a multi tool as opposed to a skill saw, doesn’t matter how you cut the hole, just cut the hole tight. Now you’ve sunk the post through the subfloor, and your hardwoods, now you need something solid to fasten it to. Generally there is some framing down below that you can lag into, maybe you add some. Doesn’t matter how you do it as much as the fact that you did it.

As far as lagging into the stair from the side, which I’m a fan of, you can always bore a hole to countersink the lag then plug the hole.
 
Agree with all the above
Lagging as you call it will not be aesthetically pleasing because of the notched segment protruding from the surface it is bolted to
 
The top newel is already stable. If you stabilize the lowest newel post, that would strengthen the center newel considerably.
yes I was looking at that aspect when you posted -the top one will be anchored to a stud in the wall to the left via the handrail
the first one, closest to the wall it the one that is probably most easily to secure from below as it has lots of framing (2x4 underneat)
The middle one is not bad either -only the top one was questionable but I just realized it will secured on two directions so if I manage to anchor the bottom ones very well then it will be good
It will certainly be better than what is currently there
Not sure why they put the small spindle next to the post you can guess at the bottom right corner of this picture
p18dTXD.jpeg
 

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