Hall project - Extra storage

[pody]

Im guessing the building forum is the best place for this.

Im about to start work on our hall/stairs/landing and are looking to create additional storage.

The first area where I was looking to add storage is under the stairs, this is currently closed off, last house had a door and boiler under the stairs and was a usefull space.
Ive yet to make a hole to have a look, its plasterboard on he wall so assuming some tibmer support for this, pic of the winders shows the floorspace that should be available inside.
Is this space worth putting in a door? If I have to remove a vertical timber in the middle do I just double up the timber at either side and the top (seen this done on Velux on roof)

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• pody
• 21 Feb 2012
• 1

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• pody
• 21 Feb 2012
• 1

The next area is the eaves on the upstairs landing, feel that this is a total waste of space and could be used for storage. This area is around 2.7m long by 90cm wide.
Again still to poke a hole in and see what timber support is im place - will not be removing anything in here. Im hoping the struts are equal spacing apart and theres enough space inbetween them.

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• pody
• 21 Feb 2012
• 2

Thanks
Pody

 

[ibby]

The only way you will know is to make a hole and look inside

 

[pody]

Well, attempted to make a hole in the plasterboard but its not plasterboard. Wondered why my knife was not cutting as normal, it was a sheet of mdf!

Drilled some holes and knocked thorugh a larger hole for a look, it looks like the space has been boxed off to save decorating.

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• pody
• 25 Feb 2012
• 1

You can see the orginal black floor tiles and the tiny skirting.
The wall on the righthand side is 3mm hardboard, pulled it back and theres more space under there.(original brickwork with no plaster on top.

There is a large wooden beam near that top that looks to be the main structure, are the struts and noggins below supportive or just for the board to fix to?

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• pody
• 25 Feb 2012
• 1

This makes the hall look bigger but the extra space will not be used as its right under the stair so will be re-building the stud wall a bit further back as it was to far infront of the main staircase post. With door of course

 

[urbanite]

The edges of the stair (stringers) sit over this beam, the end of that beam looks like it is fixed to the newel post. The small timbers are not really big enough to provide structural support so it appears they have only the function of holding the building board in place.
Quite often small spaces like these were blocked up because of pets using the space to do their business.
You may also find it a struggle getting to the very back of the storage space having to empty 70% of what's in front, or do a kind of Tetris juggle but that's for you to decide upon.
If you are really looking for some neat storage ideas for stairs you could always try to do some tread drawers.
http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/stairstorage.jpg

 

[pody]

LOL tread drawers look cool.

Didn't bother breaking under the second part of the stairs as urbanite said - a lot of stuff to move to get to the stuff stored in that area.

Fraame build and door fitted, just to find handle that girtlfriend likes

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• pody
• 4 Mar 2012
• 1

And its full of my cak already.

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• pody
• 4 Mar 2012
• 1