mairin - I guess there's a chance they'd mess up the finished floor if they did that now? Anyway, I wanted the newel just 1 step up, same as it would be if we had a bullnose step and volute/turnout, they could still notch it out to snug up to 2nd tread. But 1st guy didn't want to do that, wanted permnission in writing from building inspector (and now 9 months later I'm even more reluctant to go asking), 2nd guy never got back to me after coming out for a quote and nodding his head yes the whole time, and my cousin who has been doing all the trim in my house (and building new window jambs and stools where the builder didn't do them right) says that he doesn't want to do it, even if we put blocking under the first tread. I guess when they're on the floor they actually are attached to a joist? I showed him pics of crazyhouse6's newel and he didn't think it would hold up to lateral forces (swinging), though it was fine for someone just pulling straight on it. So what do you think of my newel options? Which should I choose? It will be 2 weeks to get the oak contemporary newel that I posted first. The 2.5 x 3.5 blocks of cherry are here, just need to get cousin to cut and route them, I can put clear finish on and get them up but I don't know how they look with oak rail. My favorite is still the vertical volute with a newel somewhere near the bottom, but I haven't even thought of balusters (BC newel and rail with oak balusters?), and I need to find someone to install it.

OK, "pointed question" was the wrong term. I guess I view the building department and inspector as my ally in insuring that things get done correctly, even when I'm doing the work myself. They certainly can't see everything. If builders in their jurisdiction are "always using" a method that is very unlikely to meet a safety-related code requirement it should be useful to alert them to that so that they can incorporate checking that among the things that they prioritize in inspections. I'd hope they would welcome such feedback. If it turns out that are choosing to allow a substandard system then my question might become more pointed. I know it is ultimately the owner's responsibility, but most owners, to be honest, don't have a clue, and rely on their builders and inspectors to do the right thing. Third parties who do have a clue can be an important component in keeping the whole system honest and working.

Thank you Mark. Yes, the style fits me. We are having new hardwood (4" white oak stained dark walnut) installed and this banister has to go. Did you notice that this newel is a tiny bit wider than the wood behind it? That's what I was wondering about. If we feel like we are walking around it to go up the stairs. I will show you a picture below.

Thanks, If I'm reading @mdln post correctly, the handrail is not to code. That's what I was afraid of. I will ask the builder on Monday. It's strange because they talked about code (continuous railing and height....) as my old stairs (built 1973) were not to current day code. I will speak with the builder on Monday.