Installation Guide

B.2 – All About Newels

Newels are turned from large-diameter lumber and designed

for rigid attachment to the treads and/or stair carriage.

Each of the two basic balustrade styles (post-to-post and

over-the-post) have completely different newel designs.

B.2a – Post-to-Post Newels

In post-to-post balustrades, the tops of the newels project

above the handrail, and newels are always square in cross

section at points where handrail or shoe rail will be joined

to the newel.

The projecting (top) portion, or finial, usually features a

decorative carving. Crown Heritage collections offer finials

in the popular pineapple, mushroom, acorn, and ball top.

Plain (chamfered) styles are also available.

Post-to-post newels come with flat bottoms (no dowels, see

Fig. 9-1) and are mounted with a combination of horizontal

lag bolts and vertical mounting screws. (Use Crown

Heritage Hardware Kits nos. 3005, 3006, 3008, 3009/3019

and 3072.)

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B.2

SECTION B

B.1b – Mark the Newel Positions

Newels are the primary support members of the balustrade.

They should be placed at each point of stairway transition:

the beginning (“starting newel”), at landings and balconies,

and/or at the intersection of baluster lines where the

stairway changes direction. Most codes allow 12' maximum

spacing between newels on level balconies. Crown Heritage

suggests 8' maximum spacing.

Newels should be positioned on the baluster line in exactly

the same centerpoint position as the first baluster on a tread

(see Fig. 8-1 and 8-4). (Newel position on a starting step is

an exception, see Step B.3.) Since newels are larger in

diameter than balusters (diameters vary depending on which

Crown Heritage Collection you select), the newel must be

notched to fit around the tread and riser to position it on

its centerpoint (notching the newel is covered in Step B.3b).

SECTION B

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B.1b

Available

in ball top

pecify “BT”

FIG. 9-1 - Typical post-to-post newels