Opening up under the stairs

diy79 · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:04 pm Post Subject: Opening up under the stairs

Hi,

I was wondering if you guy's could give me some advice on opening under my stairs & if a wall underneath my stairs is a supporting wall?

Basically it's 1970 house & the upper larger half is where the boiler is installed as usual & I would like to open up the bottom half of my stairs to use for storage.

I've had a look & the wall is made of the hollow concrete bricks with some normal bricks & motar to meet the stairs.

Although on closer inspection the wall only comes up to a piece of plasterboard which is only fixed to the bottom of the stairs by 1 little batten running up the stairs.

So is this actually a supporting wall for the stairs since there seems to be a gap in between the top of the wall & the stairs?

There is also a small triangular shaped wall (60cms wide) at the bottom of 1 side of the stairs only, not both which seems to be support the stairs? But why only 1 side?

Apart from that there don't seem to be any other fixings or supports for under the stairs.

Thanks

chappers · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:51 pm Post Subject:

A picture or two would speak a thousand words, but I doubt the wall is holding up your stairs, would be quite unusual.

diy79 · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:05 pm Post Subject:

Hi Chappers,

Sure, what is the best way to put up some images?

Cheers

DIYnot · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:11 pm Post Subject:

Here are diy_79s pictures:

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4

masona · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:23 pm Post Subject:

No idea why the wall is there. You could support the staircase temporary when removing the wall and see how the string is fitted to the side wall then take it from there, nothing to stop you supporting the string if need be afterward.

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diy79 · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:30 pm Post Subject:

Hi,

Thanks for putting up the photos.

Pic 1 = Top of wall meeting the Pasterboard.
Pic 2 = Gap between PB, Batten & Stairs.
Pic 3 = Small Wall on one side only.
Pic 4 = Corner view of Pic1 with actual load bearing wall on right side.

I've also worked out what going on with the small wall on the side.

There is wall for that side of the bottom section, so they built a wall to sit flush with the edge of the stairs. So thus its underneath the stairs.

Cheers

diy79 · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:47 pm Post Subject:

Hi,

I've had a look at the stringers & can't see any fixings to the side walls at all.

Apologies previous message should have said.

"There is NO wall for that side of the bottom section, so they built a wall to sit flush with the edge of the stairs. So thus its underneath the stairs."

I'm guessing since all the walls are brick in this house & there is not 1 stud wall, just liked brick!

If I remember the advice about lintels, a sheet of plasterboard & a batten wasn't really considered up to the job !?!?

I guess putting in some bolts for extra support can never hurt either.

Cheers

chappers · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:03 am Post Subject:

No need you stair will be supported by the floor joists upstairs, those walls aren't supporting your stairs or shouldn't be.

masona · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:55 pm Post Subject:

diy79 wrote:

I guess putting in some bolts for extra support can never hurt either.

Although you don't need to but I always do! I just feel it just to give a bit more solid feel and less springy.

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