It's good to build it over a level floor because it will be easier to take out later. Single steps are a trip hazard and an impediment to the handicapped and elderly.

Less than 6" is an even worse hazard. The two different floor surfaces should be easily distinguishable.

I agree with Macv. I would highly suggest keeping it level. Why? Well, that step up may not seem like a big deal now, but it may be someday. 5 years ago, my healthy, very active/athletic husband was in a terrible car accident. Now he suffers with immense hip pain and in both knees and it has been strongly urged that he has them replaced. Any small step up or down are very painful for him. If not for yourself, consider not doing it for guests or resale.

gardengirl,

I think he is building it this way because it is easier.
If you have a basement it could have been a few inches higher under the living room.

I do not know the guy but it is hard to believe that he "forgot" and if he did you neeed to pay close attention to what he does.
Did he install the subfloor? If he did not, maybe he is planning to use 2x8's directly over the joists to get that 7.5" in which case you should not have the "hollow sound" issue.
If he already installed the plywood, then he could use 2x6" blocking to get a total od 6.25" step.

I agree with Macv, those steps are a hazard. I hate those platforms (personal preference). Is it going to make your living ceiling some inches lower? Usually this is not desirable.

If you love to have one, you could use a totally different type/color and texture of flooring as a warning of the change of level (say, light frieze carpet and dark smooth hardwood)

Macy, I agree that the mistake could turn out to be a good thing and that having the feature to take out the step up later would be a good thing. Even, I understand your concerns as I have tried to make this house elderly friendly. The living room will really end up being a library and its off to the side and probably will get very little use except for me reading in it or listening to music so I decided when designing it to keep the step up to give the house some "old world" character. As I said before, that mistake could end up being a very good thing, as if I ever need to sell the house or there is a problem I can take the platform out! Very happy about that and I haven't had to pay for the time for the platform :)

I remember walking through a subdivision model home in the '70s where it seemed every main floor room was either a step or two up or down. Talk about building in tripping hazards!

I too will have a library that will be one step up from the great room. We don't have the hardwoods in yet but there isn't any problem with the plywood covered platform sounding hollow. I think it is 3/4" plywood over a platform built of 2x6s spaced 12" apart.

I do agree with other posters though about such steps potentially being hazardous (and particularly if they are less than 6 inches high). There has to be enough difference in the floor levels to be EASILY visible and, if you're going to have such steps, they need to only be in well-lighted areas.

Sounds like your design and mine may have some similarities. My library sits at a 90 degree angle from my great room and dining area and I wanted to take out the wall between them so that light from the library windows would reach the dining area. But, at the same time, I wanted to keep a very clear visual demarcation between the rooms. I thought long and hard about it but finally decided that a "step up" would be the best way to accomplish the look I wanted. So then I gave some real thought to how to do it so it would be safe.

The great room will have ceramic tile floors while the library will have hardwoods. And to further reduce the risk of anyone falling because they fail to notice the difference in floor levels, there will be a railing across the opening between the libary and great room that matches my staircase railing. Actually, the staircase is in the library and is situated at right angles immediately to the left of the opening in the railing going down to the greatroom. And the finished library platform will be exactly the same height as each step up the staircase. So in a way, the entire library is really just one big "landing" on the way up or down the staircase.

Done this way, its pretty near impossible to miss seeing that step, so I think its pretty safe.

On the other hand, my boss has a gorgeous million-dollar-plus home where every room is a step up or down from the next room! Every year he has a big Christmas party - one of those shindigs where 100 or more guests spread throughout the entire house playing casino games. And every single year, someone nearly throws themselves headlong into the kitchen island because they miss seeing the 5" step down from a rather narrow and dark butler's pantry/passageway that leads from his formal dining area into the kitchen/den. So far (knock wood) nobody has actually been badly hurt. But you couldn't pay me to take that house!

So, although I'm doing it too, my message is "Proceed with extreme caution!"

I think after reading the messages for safety sake I'm going to install an attractive wrought iron handrail on either one side or both sides of the entryway, which will call attention to the fact that "something" is going on here. Even if its very short it would look very decorative and would be useful for someone handicapped to use to help them maneuver the stair and also I think add a little character. The wall opening is 6 inches wide there so I think that might at least help. Thanks all for your feedback.