I want to remodel/move stairs in my house

[TheSiege]

the yellow pages has like 3 carpenters any ideas?

 

[amdskip]

Ask around, find out who is good.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: TheSiege
the yellow pages has like 3 carpenters any ideas?

well that going to help narrow it down

ask family and friends. check references. I would make sure they are insured if you are doing structural work.

 

[Greenman]

Yellow pages is a scary way to find a contractor. Referrals from friends, family or coworkers is best.
Where are you located?

 

[Steve]

Do you have stairs in your house?

 

[TheSiege]

utah, and yes i do have stairs, but i want to move them to expand the kitchen. i want to move them to the hallway, which would fit perfect

 

[DrPizza]

I'm doing the same thing: expanding our kitchen by moving a set of stairs. From what you've posted so far, is your question actually, "where do I look to find a good carpenter"? Or "I'm going to move stairs, where do I look for information on how to do it." If it's the latter, depending on the area you live in, it might be easier than finding a good carpenter

edit: referrals from people who are satisfied with a carpenter's work, plus it doesn't hurt to inspect the carpenter's work if the person referring you will allow you to. (What some people are happy with, other people wouldn't be satisfied with. You don't want to be on the wrong end of that one, where a carpenter put in stairs for someone else and they're uneven, yet the person is satisfied that it's "good enough!"

 

[bctbct]

All in all moving the stairs is not that hard to do. The problem you will run into is finding a place to put them. Will they be running the same direction?

 

[TheSiege]

Originally posted by: bctbct
All in all moving the stairs is not that hard to do. The problem you will run into is finding a place to put them. Will they be running the same direction?

same direction? if you are asking if the stairs will be rounding or straight, then the answer is straight. The only problem is the stairs will be taking place of a closet upstairs and down, granted they arent needed. but i really need him to tell me and check to see if everything will still be structurally sound seeing as the house was built in 1922.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

siege,

The question of direction is in regards to the framing in your floors. The easy way (only cheap way) to move them is to make sure you choose a new location that runs with the floor joists. It's probably how the stairs run right now. Floor joists are the 2x8s or 2x10 ro 2##s that support the load from your floor. Go in your basement and look at how hte floor is supported and you should realize why direction is important.

I don't know your plans, but finding a non-load bearing wall and knocking it down to expand ht ekitchen is probably a abetter idea if it is possible. In a ranch, that is usually any wall.

 

[bctbct]

Yes I was asking if the stairs will be going the same direction geographically. If you are talking about a typical set of steps, off hand I think you will have to remove a min. of 16 ft of flooring IIRC. Best case senario the stairs would run parallel to the floor joists so you only have to remove 2 floor joists and cap each end with a triple header. If you switch the other direction you have to do much more structurally.

I have looked at doing this 4-5 times in houses and only been able to do it once because of structural problems. You are limited on cutting out joists because of structural beams in the basement. If you start moving beams and such the cost adds up fast.

 

[Greenman]

When you do find a contractor (do yourself a huge favor and hire a contractor, not just a carpenter) you can check him out here.
https://secure.utah.gov/llv/llv

That will at least tell you if he's had complaints filled against him.

 

[TheSiege]

it looks like the the stairs run into the floor joists, but it will be run parallel to the main load bearing wall.

 

[Wapp]

Originally posted by: Steve
Do you have stairs in your house?

lljk

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Wapp

Originally posted by: Steve
Do you have stairs in your house?

lljk

 

[TheSiege]

Ok so here is a picture of the where i want the stairs. notice how it goes against the joist but goes with the main support beam. the stairs actually will go on the opposite side of the main beam, but the ceiling is not open so you cant see it.

Stairs In Future

Stairs now

 

[DrPizza]

Heck, it's a basement. You can always support a few joists with a 6x6 beam and some jacks. For what it's worth, there's the other option: putting in bilco doors and only being able to enter your basement from outside. Use the basement much? We're opting for that solution because we don't have anyplace else to relocate the stairs, but our kitchen really really really needs to be expanded. (it's 9'1 by 9'3 from wall to wall; after appliances, counter, cupboards, there's not much room left. We'll gain over 4 feet with the remodel.) The bilco doors are a somewhat expensive way to go - more expensive that I expected anyhow... But, the only thing I use the basement for is to flip breakers (a problem that will vanish when I rewire the kitchen during the remodel), and to add salt to the brine tank of the water softener. Oh, and to change the whole house filter every month or so.

 

[TheSiege]

i actually already have an entrance to the basement, there is a side entrance, but yeah i would need to get to in from the interior, i have the washer/dryer down there and 2 bedrooms a bathroom and another family room, plus a storage room. but yeah maybe i will just resupport the joists.

 

[TheSiege]

anyone have any ideas?

 

[Squisher]

You really need to get some people out there who know what they're doing to give you some estimates. You'll probably learn a lot by what they tell you need to do accomplish to your goals.

I wouldn't just look at "carpenter" in the yellow pages, contractors, re-modelers, etc. might turn up some more names.

For a referral you could call the local building inspector and see if he's got some names. He'll probably be the one most aware of the capabilities of all the locals that could do this work.

 

[Greenman]

It's actually a pretty straight forward framing job. Very simple to add a beam to support the floor system. I still recommend you get a good contractor. like most things in life, it's easy to do and easy to screw up.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Heck, it's a basement. You can always support a few joists with a 6x6 beam and some jacks. For what it's worth, there's the other option: putting in bilco doors and only being able to enter your basement from outside. Use the basement much? We're opting for that solution because we don't have anyplace else to relocate the stairs, but our kitchen really really really needs to be expanded. (it's 9'1 by 9'3 from wall to wall; after appliances, counter, cupboards, there's not much room left. We'll gain over 4 feet with the remodel.) The bilco doors are a somewhat expensive way to go - more expensive that I expected anyhow... But, the only thing I use the basement for is to flip breakers (a problem that will vanish when I rewire the kitchen during the remodel), and to add salt to the brine tank of the water softener. Oh, and to change the whole house filter every month or so.

Don't those beams need a footing underneath?

Originally posted by: TheSiege
Ok so here is a picture of the where i want the stairs. notice how it goes against the joist but goes with the main support beam. the stairs actually will go on the opposite side of the main beam, but the ceiling is not open so you cant see it.

Stairs In Future

Stairs now

Kinda looks like a lot of electrical and plumbing is going to need to be rerouted too.

 

[TheSiege]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Heck, it's a basement. You can always support a few joists with a 6x6 beam and some jacks. For what it's worth, there's the other option: putting in bilco doors and only being able to enter your basement from outside. Use the basement much? We're opting for that solution because we don't have anyplace else to relocate the stairs, but our kitchen really really really needs to be expanded. (it's 9'1 by 9'3 from wall to wall; after appliances, counter, cupboards, there's not much room left. We'll gain over 4 feet with the remodel.) The bilco doors are a somewhat expensive way to go - more expensive that I expected anyhow... But, the only thing I use the basement for is to flip breakers (a problem that will vanish when I rewire the kitchen during the remodel), and to add salt to the brine tank of the water softener. Oh, and to change the whole house filter every month or so.

Don't those beams need a footing underneath?

Originally posted by: TheSiege
Ok so here is a picture of the where i want the stairs. notice how it goes against the joist but goes with the main support beam. the stairs actually will go on the opposite side of the main beam, but the ceiling is not open so you cant see it.

Stairs In Future

Stairs now

Kinda looks like a lot of electrical and plumbing is going to need to be rerouted too.

no, thats the not where the stairs are going, they will be on the other side, where it is finished, and dont worry im an electrician, ill take care of that