Is it possible to move the direction of the staircase in your home? How much would that work cost? Details below. (hardwood floor)

[d_vader123]

The situation I am about to explain may be hard to describe, but I will try my best to be clear.

I visited my cousin at his new home and was overall very impressed. The only thing that I told him was that the kitchen was a tad on the small side. (We have a good relationship and often share these things without taking anything personally.)

Anyway, I think that the reason for this is because of a staircase that starts from the kitchen to the basement. There is wall space near the stairs that is not being used because the stairway entrance is in the way.

I am wondering if it is even remotely possible to move the direction of the staircase. In other words, can I move the stairs such that it starts on the other end of the kitchen down into the basement instead of where it starts now which is deep inside the kitchen?

Making this change would then open up the use of the wall to create more floor space or space for additional counters. The way it is now, the space is currently being occupied by the stairway entrance.

The complicated part about all this is that if he is able to move the entrance of the staircase to start at the other end of the kitchen down into the basement, then there would be a hole where the previous stairway entrance used to be. Is it easy to fill that up with the hardwood floor that is on the rest of the house? Obviously, he would need to fill it up with foundation all the way down to the basement, but my question is is that even possible? Are professionals able to do this? And, how much would this kind of work cost?

We discussed these things and thought that it would be cool to even add a spiral staircase if things are able to work out.

Just wanted to hear some of your thoughts. Thanks.

[nybbler]

With money, many things are possible. Including this. You'd have to get estimates on how much; I have no idea, but it would not be cheap or simple. Replacing the floor is the easy part; it's building a new staircase which will cost.

[Kthnry]

Is that the only entrance to the basement? Or is there a door to the back yard? Because you will need to be able to get major appliances and equipment (washer, dryer, boiler, water heater) in and out of the basement. If that's the only access, then a spiral stair is definitely out of the question.

[d_vader123]

Originally Posted by Kthnry

Is that the only entrance to the basement? Or is there a door to the back yard? Because you will need to be able to get major appliances and equipment (washer, dryer, boiler, water heater) in and out of the basement. If that's the only access, then a spiral stair is definitely out of the question.

I agree. Spiral might be a bad idea because of the reasons you stated.

[qrysdonnell]

I'd think of something like what you're talking to be in maybe the $20k (if you're lucky) to $50k range. If there are nightmare conditions and there are a lot of mechanical elements that need to be moved it could certainly rise.

Often if things are kind of weird, there's usually a reason, so it's often best to expect the worst.

[jaymoney]

This is what one would consider "a major renovation." It will be in the 30-50K range as qrysdonnell mentions. It will take much longer than anticipated. It will result in the upstairs and the kitchen being unavailable to access for at least a week. It will be no fun and expensive and not add a lot of value to the home. There will be structural issues when you change the load of the main staircase from one side of the house to the other. Much beam sistering and probably adding of columns will be done. A structural engineer will be involved.

And all for what again? To make the kitchen larger? You're better off blowing out the back wall or something similar and leaving those stairs where they are. That would be cheaper and easier and accomplish the same thing.

In other words, yes, it is entirely possible but they will never make that money back because no future homeowner will ever care.

[d_vader123]

Originally Posted by jaymoney

This is what one would consider "a major renovation." It will be in the 30-50K range as qrysdonnell mentions. It will take much longer than anticipated. It will result in the upstairs and the kitchen being unavailable to access for at least a week. It will be no fun and expensive and not add a lot of value to the home. There will be structural issues when you change the load of the main staircase from one side of the house to the other. Much beam sistering and probably adding of columns will be done. A structural engineer will be involved.

And all for what again? To make the kitchen larger? You're better off blowing out the back wall or something similar and leaving those stairs where they are. That would be cheaper and easier and accomplish the same thing.

In other words, yes, it is entirely possible but they will never make that money back because no future homeowner will ever care.

Well, I thought the home value would rise because of the added space from removing the staircase entrance out of the way. But I can see what you all mean when you say that it might add a lot in cost without a significant amount in returns.

There is a wall that can be torn down to add a kitchen and dining room expansion. The project, AFAIK, should be simple as adding another room.

[jaymoney]

Originally Posted by d_vader123

Well, I thought the home value would rise because of the added space from removing the staircase entrance out of the way. But I can see what you all mean when you say that it might add a lot in cost without a significant amount in returns.

There is a wall that can be torn down to add a kitchen and dining room expansion. The project, AFAIK, should be simple as adding another room.

It will rise, slightly, but you're talking what, ten, twenty extra square feet? That's a cost of two thousand dollars a square foot while impacting the structural integrity of the main transportation device between floors.

If you want to add value you have to make big changes to the floorplan, not just shuffle around some internal things at a huge cost. It would be like moving your front door over a few feet to make a coat closet. Thousands of dollars of work that nobody will ever notice.