What can I do about this step up

Hi All.

We are going through the process of extending hte house, just ralised that one of the beams specified by the engineer is higher than the ceiling joists. This has introduced a step upstairs just before the door, this affects 2 rooms only.

I am worried about kids not knowing this and tripping. I was thinking would it be ok to have a firring fitted so its going to be a slope instead of a step or if there are any other solutions.

Thanks in advance.

No, it hasn't created a step upstairs, you fitted them too high. Just means the ceiling downstairs would have been lower in the new room then the ones in the rest of the house.

Ahh got you.

The issue is that its not just a single beam, there are 2 and it will have an L shape. Dont think anyone would like a lowered ceiling downstairs with a L shape.

The kids like you will get used to it no time, seriously. Familiarity will rule the day! It's more of a worry if it were on say a guest bedroom and those using the doodoorway were unfamiliar. I wouldn't worry just board and carpet over it or whatever.

platforminc said:

Ahh got you.

The issue is that its not just a single beam, there are 2 and it will have an L shape. Don't think anyone would like a lowered ceiling downstairs with a L shape.

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If it matters down stairs as well, then the joists need to be the same floor thickness. So in order to do that, you would shorten the span. So if it's a long room upstairs, rather than putting joints in across the short way across the room, you will have to go the long way but put I beams in the short way so the shorter span allows you to fit the right depth of beam. Or, increase the width the beams and closer together so yo can educe the height of them.

The guy that drew the plans up would have just written in the size of beams for that span. The builder doing the job, would/should check as he/she goes along.

So you can either strip it out now, get it designed to work and then fir new, or, put a step in upstairs.