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basement stairs

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01-23-01, 12:09 PM

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We have a basement to remodel. I want to start with the stairs, they are too steep, too narrow on each step and about 3/4 of the way down, you hit your head on a support for the floor above. I think it there used to be a door there to go into the basement, sort of like a cellar door, but flat on the floor (does this make sense?)
Anyway, I think we have the room to begin the stair descent somewhere other than where they start now, to mkae the stairs go down and then have a quarter turn the rest of the way down. How do we plan/design/restructure these stairs?

thanks!

Ken and Sharon

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01-25-01, 04:18 AM

Jack the Contractor

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There is an easy way and a hard way. I will go the easy way. Estimate how many steps dow before your landing. It will be 3 or 4. Then go to your Home Improvement store and buy your risers. you will need three of them. Now measure your height of them, straight up or down. A 3 step will be about 24 to 26 inches. Now build your landing and install your first set of risers on top of your landing to your upstairs floor. Then measure the distance from the top of your landing to the floor and go back and get three more risers to fit that distance. An easy way to find out how many steps you will need total is to measure from the upstairs floor to your basement floor, and divide by 8".
The hard way is to cut your own risers. You can buy the risers already made cheaper then you can buy the lumber to make them yourselves. Good Luck

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Basements, Attics and Crawl Spaces
basement

on Jan 24, 2001

My son is finishing off the basement of his 70 year old home. He just bought it. the foundation is made of red clay blocks. He plans on putting a waterproof paint on the walls over these red clay blocks. do the studding, then put in insulation, he doesn't know weather to use wood studs, or steel, then sheet rock. Is this the correct order, does he need any type of plastic vapor barrier.? . Some say use steel studs, in case of water damage and termites. This will be his first project ever, so any help you can give him would be greatly appreciated. that's nana
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Basement Finishing Advice

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