In many situations, you can move a staircase to a different location in your home.
Moving a staircase may seem unusual, as homes are often designed around the staircase. Moving a staircase can dramatically change the look, feel and operation of a home, so careful planning is advised.
Today we’ll take a look at the process of removing stairs and suggest when you should hire a contractor to help.
Why would I want to remove the ladder?
Moving a staircase is a fairly common job and probably not as difficult as it seems. Moving a staircase is often easier than building a new staircase if the floor height is the same in both locations. Most of the work required to move a staircase is actually in finishing the floor and trim after moving it. Here we will discuss two common reasons for moving stairs. remodeling elevator installation
Stairs are moved for a variety of reasons, but most are moved to make room for a remodel. Stairs can be any size or shape, so there’s no better time to integrate a new staircase design than during a remodel. If your remodel project will involve a new design, such as replacing a regular staircase with a spiral version, hire a professional. Accidentally removing weight-bearing floor joists can be devastating to the home’s structure.
A completely new design may require significant changes to the framing, and professionals will have the training and skills to do the job correctly. Some stairs rely on an outside wall for support, while others are self-supporting, so it’s important to know what type of stairs you have. If you have any doubts, consult a professional for advice. Saving a few dollars on labor is a bad deal if doing the project yourself creates more problems than it solves.
Can I remove stairs myself?
If you have a good deal of experience working with wood and power tools, you can probably move your ladder yourself. Moving a ladder can take a lot of time and money, so it’s a good idea to plan to minimize both. A ladder is really just a comfortable step that connects two levels, so many times the ladder can only support its own weight. In these cases, moving the ladder can often be done over a weekend.
In other designs, stairs are built parallel to an exterior load-bearing wall, such as a foyer staircase. Professionals strongly recommend involving a structural engineer in these situations, as structural damage can occur when modifying a bearing wall. Moving the staircase is often still possible, but will require a permitted, certified design. For example, most hidden staircases have solid walls on both sides, so removing one could cause the other floor to collapse.
How do I move a ladder?
Moving a staircase is done in several steps. In this section, we’ll describe the general steps involved in moving a staircase and why they’re important. In this example, we’ll move the staircase from the foyer to a more prominent location in the house, such as the living room. We’ll assume there are no bearing issues, so we’ll only be moving the stair treads and railing. Step 1. Disassemble the Old Staircase Step 2. Prepare the New Location Step 3. Install Stringers and Cripple Studs Step 4. Completion