Just make it fit! - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

WNYcarpenter · 06-13-2007, 07:55 PM

stop whining and make it fit.

WNYcarpenter · 06-13-2007, 07:56 PM

Plain and simple, this is the most difficult project I've faced in a long time if not ever.

I carefully removed most of the moldings to simplify things, but I'm struggling. any advice? I have to be done tomorrow so I'll post a finished pic....I'm a little afraid to though!

WNYcarpenter · 06-13-2007, 07:58 PM

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WNYcarpenter · 06-13-2007, 07:59 PM

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WNYcarpenter · 06-13-2007, 08:00 PM

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WNYcarpenter · 06-14-2007, 07:29 PM

Tough crowd...Here's 3 more pics...Anything you'd like to see different?

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WNYcarpenter · 06-14-2007, 07:30 PM

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WNYcarpenter · 06-14-2007, 07:31 PM

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Forry · 06-14-2007, 07:33 PM

Looks pretty good 'cept the bottom rail seems to be sitting on the stair tread.... might not be good if it's in a wet environment. Tree duff and water sitting in the cracks can't get away. Looks nice though.

WNYcarpenter · 06-14-2007, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forry

Looks pretty good 'cept the bottom rail seems to be sitting on the stair tread.... might not be good if it's in a wet environment. Tree duff and water sitting in the cracks can't get away. Looks nice though.

Supposedly the entire railing system is being redone next fall, so this only has to last for the summer season. I could've done many things differently, I wish I had another go at it!...I'll mention that to my PM so when he puts a quote in this summer or fall that this should be addressed.

Tom R · 06-14-2007, 08:41 PM

I dunno, - - maybe I'm crazy or just looking at it wrong, - - but isn't that railing at a much steeper descent that the steps?? Looks like the bottom newell-box isn't tall enough . . .

WNYcarpenter · 06-14-2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom R

I dunno, - - maybe I'm crazy or just looking at it wrong, - - but isn't that railing at a much steeper descent that the steps?? Looks like the bottom newell-box isn't tall enough . . .

Awesome!! That's exactly it....not only is it too short, but it's narrower!! I was working by myself so I couldn't step back and look at the situation clamped together!....do the spindles look plumb?? Plumb enough? Centered?

I could have followed the stair plane, but if you look at the first set of pics, the spindles would be way out!

Tom R · 06-14-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WNYcarpenter

Awesome!! That's exactly it....not only is it too short, but it's narrower!! I was working by myself so I couldn't step back and look at the situation clamped together!....do the spindles look plumb?? Plumb enough? Centered?

I could have followed the stair plane, but if you look at the first set of pics, the spindles would be way out!

The spindles (of the stair rail) definitely appear to go a little bit 'wide left' at the tops, - - I wasn't sure if it was just maybe the angle of the picture, though.

They also seem (are) closer together than the others, - - but I take it they're 'pre-set' and get narrower as the rail gets steeper.

If so, - - getting the spindles plumb is a matter of where you cut the ends of the railings. In this case, - - I don't think you could do much more than you did with it, - - because of the bottom newell being too short (or too close, - - take your pick) . . .

WNYcarpenter · 06-14-2007, 10:03 PM

I'm seeing it the same way! Two reasons...I should have lifted up the bottom section atleast as high as the cap of the newel for run off, and that would have made for straighter spindles....also that would have given more room under the railing. I f'ed up my first cut, so I was kinda stuck....

The gated community where we work doesn't allow any contracting/construction to be done for 9 weeks during the summer...this season starts a week from tomorrow. This'll have to do for now!

I certainly appreciate the input!...How would you cut this thing? I used a circular saw, sawzall, and belt sander....

Tom R · 06-15-2007, 06:13 AM

Once I scribed it to the contour, - - I'd probably cut all the way around it with a short-bladed jig saw, - - but hey, - - whatever gets the job done . . .

tcleve4911 · 06-16-2007, 10:22 AM

errr.....ah......hmm........rebuild the newel post correctly?

Tom R · 06-16-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcleve4911

errr.....ah......hmm........rebuild the newel post correctly?

Or set it up on the first step, - - where it was (possibly?) designed to be.

tcleve4911 · 06-16-2007, 10:35 PM

BINGO!!!!!!

WNYcarpenter · 06-18-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcleve4911

BINGO!!!!!!

What I left out (which sounded like a whine) was that I had nothing to do with this job... I was called in to help. The foreman I was helping, as he was leaving for another job, asked me to set the railing. Without looking first I asked if there was anything I needed to know and his reply was "just make it fit"...I've set railings before so I didn't immediately run over to discuss details. I was working on something else at the time.

I think the appropriate term would be "buddyF'd".... I have my suspicions this is exactly the reason everyone ran off in a hurry!

nywoodwizard · 06-18-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom R

I dunno, - - maybe I'm crazy or just looking at it wrong, - - but isn't that railing at a much steeper descent that the steps?? Looks like the bottom newell-box isn't tall enough . . .

Thats what i see,looks to be almost a 45-50 degree angle maybe more,should be in the ballpark of 35 degrees,the post is too short.The bottom rail on the stairs is not the same size as the one on the top of deck ,the rail would of run into the post panel. That alone should of been flaged for a flagrant foul !

Tom you aren't crazy ,but the height of that post is.