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I have a Craftsman home that dates to 1914, and the staircase to the second floor is very difficult to use. It is very narrow (24" wall to wall) and steep (not even remotely up to modern code). This renders my second floor mostly useless. However, thanks to a recent stock sale (thank you, Elon Musk!), I would like to remodel my house so that the second floor is usable. This means completely moving the stairs, as any expansion would render my bathroom inaccessible. (The bathroom is L-shaped and wraps around the staircase footprint.)
Has anyone done this type of work? Online estimates are very vague, of course, but it would be nice to hear about the experience from someone who has been through it. Were there any big surprises? Was the cost of the work within your expectations? Inquiring minds want to know!
I'm going to include improvements to my second floor as part of the work. Unlike downstairs, which has mostly plaster walls, everything upstairs is drywall. Therefore, I'm going to knock everything down and open up the space for a master suite. Luckily demo doesn't cost too much... If I have money leftover, I want to put in a bathroom upstairs and remodel the one downstairs to take advantage of the extra space.
I am guessing that is the servant / cook's staircase. It was common for the staff to live upstairs / away from the owner's family. If it is the only staircase I would be surprised. FWIW - check out the old Sears Catalog house "The Magnolia" for an example of two staircases for two classes.
I am guessing that is the servant / cook's staircase. It was common for the staff to live upstairs / away from the owner's family. If it is the only staircase I would be surprised. FWIW - check out the old Sears Catalog house "The Magnolia" for an example of two staircases for two classes.
Funny you should mention the "Magnolia"- that is my very favorite of the Sears homes! I would have loved to have built (an "updated" version) one for myself. But I don't need a house like that anymore!
A not so WAG- $100k (here; ATL) In Cali, probably twice as much!
There's a lot more to than you see-
Not going into a long dissertation- consult with a local architect for possible plans/layout.
Ouch! Definitely more than I was hoping. I plan on consulting an architect for sure, and hopefully they can come up with something that doesn't break the bank.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jetgraphics
I am guessing that is the servant / cook's staircase. It was common for the staff to live upstairs / away from the owner's family. If it is the only staircase I would be surprised. FWIW - check out the old Sears Catalog house "The Magnolia" for an example of two staircases for two classes.
This is the only staircase, thus my desire to relocate it. My home is around 1,300 sf and there are several in the neighborhood. All of them have upstairs living, but at least one has been retrofitted with external access to the second level. I'm hoping to keep the steps inside, but we'll see...
There's no way to know if it's $10k or $100k without a lot more information. A floor plan would be a good place to start. There needs to be a place to move the staircase on both floors. This will most likely involve a lot more renovations than you think.
Talk to an architect, preferably one familiar with Craftsman style houses. He can tell you the options, provide a rough budget number based on what you want to spend, and suggest reputable contractors to give you realistic estimates.
Stairs are complicated structural elements. The joists above have to be engineered to transfer the loads around the opening, you need adequate headroom (typically min. 6’-8”) and the space required for a code complying unit, min. 3’-0” wide, 7 1/2” riser, 11” tread plus min. 3’ landings you are looking at ~100sf - about the size of a small bedroom.
I’ve designed a few in Craftsman homes and they are challenging to incorporate that required space without typically cannibalizing a small room. If the space upstairs is potentially functional - enough square footage, head height, windows, plumbing etc., it can be well worth capturing it. You need a designer who can provide you with a “big picture” concept to analyze it.
Stairs are complicated structural elements. The joists above have to be engineered to transfer the loads around the opening, you need adequate headroom (typically min. 6’-8”) and the space required for a code complying unit, min. 3’-0” wide, 7 1/2” riser, 11” tread plus min. 3’ landings you are looking at ~100sf - about the size of a small bedroom.
I’ve designed a few in Craftsman homes and they are challenging to incorporate that required space without typically cannibalizing a small room. If the space upstairs is potentially functional - enough square footage, head height, windows, plumbing etc., it can be well worth capturing it. You need a designer who can provide you with a “big picture” concept to analyze it.
Thanks for the dimensions. Yes, it's worth it from a space perspective. I have 2 bedrooms downstairs and 2 more upstairs, so sacrificing some space downstairs should hopefully translate into the creation of a usable master suite (with bathroom and office) upstairs.
In case anyone has curiosity, here is what the stairs look like from the first and second level, plus a shot that shows the staircase overhead in the bathroom.
Well, from three photographs it seems to me that you would have a chance simply to widen the stairs that are there, by relocating the entrance to the bathroom on the first floor and letting the stairs encroach on that space. That MIGHT be the lowest cost option.
That upstairs area looks like it's been messed with. I don't believe it looked like that in 1914.
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