Hi,

I have a typical split entry Ryan home built in 77' and I'm drywalling the basement. The framing around the stairs necessary to support drywall was barely secure and the wood was so chopped up it could not be used. Is there a good technique for framing around stairs? Also, I will be framing along side of the stairs to support drywall but is it ok to attach drywall directly to the underneath of the stair runners? I could supply a diagram if necessary.


Marty

 

Marty,

I am assuming you have a fold-back set of stairs. Normally, drywall is attached directly to the stringers for fire protection as per code. The sides would have a 2x4 wall which would extend from slab to or in some cases through to the upstairs. Sometimes the stair opening is just big enough for stringer location and the remainder is framed in as if doing a wall.

Is there something here that I am misunderstanding?

 

Doug,

I'm not familiar with the term fold back stairs, would you describe it? To describe the layout a little better, there are no stairs leading into the family room. I'd just be drywalling the portion of the stairs that protrude into the family room, which would be the landing and about 6 steps going up to the living room. I'd like the space under the stairs to be open so I wasn't planning on framing it in. I've seen alot of people with similar houses frame a closet under their stairs but the open space is more valuable to me. I started framing out(16in. on center) from the front of the house (along the side of the landing) and I'm just getting to where the steps begin. At this point I was going to cut an angled 2x4 to run along side of the bottom(but on the side of) the one stringer. This 2x4 would strart at the end of the landing and run in an angle to the ceiling along side the stairs(with studs still running 16in. on center for support until it reached the ceiling). I wasn't sure if I had to run boards across the bottom of the stringers to support the drywall or if I could attach them directly. From what you mentioned, it sounds like I can attach the drywall directly to the bottom of the stringers. Do you know if 5/8 drywall is required? Does my design/plan make sense?

Additional info: the family room is on the lower level. When you walk in the front door of the house, there is a landing, a set of 6-7 steps to the right going up to the living room and a set of 6-7 steps to the left going down to a hallway connected to the family room which is to the right.

Thanks,

Marty

 

Marty,

5/8 Type X is required under the stairs.

You do have fold back stairs but unsure of your layout one sent going down/one set going up.

Drywall is usually attached to the stringers.

Applying framing to make it as you describe should be simple but I must be missing something.