Removing a staircase

18 years ago

My house has two staircases, and I'm thinking of removing one to get more storage space. I'd like opinions.

As you enter the house, there is the main staircase right in front of you on the right, with a hallway leading through to the kitchen and the back of the house on the left. Just before the kitchen is a second staircase, which we rarely use.

If I removed this second staircase, I could get a big coat closet or pantry on the first floor (we currently have a small coat closet and no pantry) and a nice linen closet on the second floor (we currently have none). The only downside I can see is that if you're at the back of the house, you'll need to walk to the front to go up the stairs.

What do you all think?

Featured Answer

vjrnts

18 years ago

Personally, I'm just opposed to changing the structure of an old house that much. I live in a neighborhood of older homes (1910 - 1930, most of them), and quite a few have "back stairs" that were used by the maid. Some of those stairs are more like ladders. They'd never pass code now, but the owners preserve them because they reflect the times that the houses were built. I have an attic room that has its own little bath, as do many or most of the houses around here. It was a maid's room.

We have french doors leading to the back yard, opposite from the front door. Right next to the french doors is another door, which leads straight to the basement stairs or up to the kitchen. Again, one entrance for the family, one for the maid. Our house was built for a tailor, not a captain of industry, but back then the middle class had live-in domestic help.

An old house is more than just a building, it's a little bit of history.

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Comments (11)

Carol_from_ny
18 years ago
I'd leave it for fire escape reasons.
bas157
18 years ago
Depending on the size of the current stairs in the back, can you put in a spiral staircase which should take up less floorspace and maybe give you room for an additional closet on each floor (though smaller then what you'd get if you took them out)
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Debbie Downer
18 years ago
My inclination would be to leave it in, if it's a big enough house (assume so if it has 2 staircases) theres probably room for other storage options - free standing wardrobe closet type things or built in pantries. Maybe shelving and/or hooks could be installed on one wall of this little used stairwell

Sometimes when people start messing with a house it really can throw off the whole flow and feel of it (the law of unintended consequences). Conceivably there could be a time when you're going up and down the stairs more-- if a baby or young child in the house for example you might want quick access from the kitchen.
amprib
6 years ago
Hi I know this is a very old thread..just wondering what you decided to do? We have a 40 year old house that is definitely not large and has an extra staircase that doesn’t get used. I think it was a weak attempt in in the 70s to create the illusion of a more open floor plan from 2nd floor kitchen into 1st floor family room. I could REALLY use a nice pantry in the kitchen and an additional closet in the family room. I’d love to know what you decided to do
HU-759642215
6 years ago
I agree. I would like to know as well. I have the exact scenario that he posted. I want to remove the second steps so I can move my kitchen wall further back.
lwmccoy
6 years ago
We have a 70s house as well with a back staircase we don’t need. The plan is to now remove it and make more space on both floors for much needed storage and such. My architect cousin thinks it’s not a real complex change at all. He said it’s a matter of floor joists. I also found another example online where a guy did just that and once he finished the floor joists he was “ready to roll”.
Sharma Brown
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I’m curious as well what you decided to do. We are looking at buying a house with a “split” staircase... it branches off at the landing. It starts as two stairways downstairs (one from front entry, another near kitchen) and then merges into a single set of stairs towards the second floor. It wastes lots of space. The house was built in 1988 and is 3600 square feet. Not a historical gem! 🤣 It looks like it’s trying to be fancy when it’s not! Anyway, if we buy the house then I think I would like to remove it.
HU-675466913
5 years ago
Did you want to remove the front entrance steps or the steps to the kitchen? I am considering the former (i.e., wide stairs at the front entrance) b/c it will greatly increase the open space at the front of the house. Just concerned about how it will affect resale.
res2architect
5 years ago
I've learned to not comment on such ideas without a plan. There are just too many other issues.
res2architect
5 years ago
Is there a basement?