Removing a Second Staircase

standmatt

All,

This is my first time posting here, so bear with me.

I just bought an old row house in Baltimore that was completely renovated (new plumbing, electrical, appliances, old structure) a few years back. The only thing I don't care for in the house is the old second staircase. The house isn't that big (~1500sqft) and it just takes up space. What I'd like to do is put joists over the stairwell upstairs so that I can expand a small bedroom closet and build a second story laundry room. Downstairs, the steps are back off the kitchen in an alcove, so I plan to build a wall floor to ceiling and turn the alcove into a pantry.

My biggest concern is the laundry room. My current plan is to basically build the floor of the laundry room like a shower with a floor drain, set down from the level of the adjoining hallway, so that there's not a lip between the hallway and the washer and dryer. To do this, I'd obviously need to set the joists down a few inches.

Really all I'm looking for from everyone here are better ideas, potential problems with my plan, or just general advice on how to get this done the best way possible.

Thanks!

-Matt

Jackofall1

Hello Matt and welcome to the best darn DIYl'r site on the web.

I would slope the new floor in the repurposed space, that was you don't have to deal with any variation in elevation from the hall to the room

Mark

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GBrackins

if you are concerned about a leaking washing machine why not install a washing machine pan under it and connect the drain into your existing plumbing.

https://www.google.com/search?q=wash...=hp&channel=np

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joecaption

Just a guess but that second stairway me be required by code in your area for a fire exit, better check.

standmatt

I did check on that, like I said, the house is pretty small, all the bedrooms have full size windows, and the first staircase is only about 15 feet from the furthest bedroom, good advice though.

Since I'm building the floor myself, I figured there was a better solution than a washing machine pan, maybe I'm just over thinking it though.

Thanks! And the more I think about it, the more I agree with you, I'll just slope the floor slightly from the hall back towards the wall. What would you suggest for slope?

Also, how would you guys suggest framing in the stairwell opening. The far wall is brick.

Thanks,

-Matt