The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Estimating Frame And Brick Houses
Balusters, Newels, Etc.
It is also impossible to quote prices for balusters, newels and rails that will accord with the prices obtained in different sections of the country. We give a few, however, more as guides where local prices cannot be obtained, rather than as prices to be followed where there is a chance of getting current quotations.
Newel posts, plain turned, made of cherry, black birch, oak or ash, 5 inches in diameter, with cap, are worth $3; if 6 inches in diameter, with cap, complete, they are worth $3.50; if 8 inches, $4.
Octagon posts, made of the above materials, with ornamental cap, are worth, each, 8 inches diameter, $7; 9 inches diameter, $8; 12 inches diameter, $10.
Newel posts, veneered with fancy woods, with carved plinth and cap, molded side panels, are worth all the way from $15 to $75 each, according to the amount of work on them.
Plain balusters, turned, of material as the foregoing, 11/2 x 11/2 inches, are worth 7 cents each; 2 x 2 inches, 12 cents each; 21/2 x 21/2 inches, 16 cents each. Fluted or octagon balusters, 2x2 inches, 16 cents; 21/2 x 21/2 inches, 20 cents 13x3 inches, 28 cents. Fancy balusters for firstclass stairs, made spiral or carved, may cost anywhere from 25 cents to $1 each. Balusters for Colonial work, which at this writing is the prevailing style for domestic buildings, are worth from 8 to 15 cents each.
Stair rails of every conceivable section may be obtained from any well appointed factory and the prices will run per foot, for straight rail, 31/2-inch section, 12 cents; 4-inch section, 15 cents; 41/2-inch section, 17 cents; 5-inch section, 25 cents. Raised toad back rails cost about 25 per cent, more per foot, and fancy raised back rails, with 6 or 7 inch sections, will vary from 50 cents to $1 per foot, running measure. Ramps, goose necks, twists and level turns in a rail will cost from $1.50 to $5 per foot, according to the character of the work. Where possible this work should be given out to a professional stair builder and the cost ascertained before the contract is taken.
Since these figures were obtained there has been a general advance in prices of about 15 per cent, in all hardwood stairwork in New York, Chicago. San Francisco, Boston and some other of the larger cities. So far as I can learn, the advance in prices in the smaller towns has not been nearly so great in either materials or labor, though the larger cities generally set the pace in prices for the smaller towns. There are conditions sometimes, however, that cause considerable differences in prices.
