Share
Hello @jaiprak
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's marvellous to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your question about using the bottom of your stairs for storage.
Before I make any recommendations, would it be possible for you to post a photo of the stairs and the covered portion? This will give our members a chance to assess how the stairs were covered. We can then make recommendations on how to proceed. Some of the things we'll be looking for is how the stair cover was covered up and finished. Can the panel be removed with minimum damage? What tools will you be needing to remove the panel?
If you need a hand posting the photos, please let me know.
Eric
Hi Eric - Thanks for your welcome and response. Here are the pics attached. The sixth picture is the view from the right side of fifth. Let me know if you need more pics. It is covered with plasterboard (curved on the sides and straight on end in second pic).
I don’t have any special tools for plasterboard cutting but have free utility knife and other things.
The first four pics is the house with same layout
where they have opened up and put a door
Hi @jaiprak,
Given the houses have the same layout, it appears entirely possible that you could install a door in the same location. Bear in mind that the other house might have had additional stud work installed to compensate for what needs to be removed for the doorway. In a perfect world, you'd be able to cut the plaster away and expose two vertical framing timbers, one on either side of the space where a door jamb can be installed within. What's the width of the space, and where are the timbers located? Doors typically go down to 520mm wide, so hopefully, there should be something pre-made that can be installed. Here are a couple of helpful step-by-step guides: How to install a door jamb and How to install a door.
If you get stuck after installing the door jamb, we do offer an in-home door installation service.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
With any manipulation or removal of framing structure, you first must assess whether something is structural and essential for the rigidity of the structure @jaiprak. You can open up the plaster and check inside. However, if there is a third verticle timber in the middle, you will not be able to tell whether it is structural. Only an experienced professional can assess the surrounding stud work to determine whether a section can be removed.
You might like to have a carpenter come in and at least do the work of opening the wall and adjusting any stud work. In saying that, by the time you pay the call-out fee, it likely wouldn't cost a whole heap more for him to install the door jamb. You could then install the door yourself to save some money.
Mitchell
Hi @jaiprak
Do you still have access to your inspection camera? If you do, is it a proper cable inspection camera? If it is, I suggest drilling a small hole in the panel so that you can slide the inspection camera in the wall.
However, if you wish to make a bigger cut in the panel, I suggest having a look at the Craftright 3 In 1 Multi Saw Set. This saw set will allow you to cut into timber and plasterboard covers. Please use your stud finder to make sure that there are no electrical conduits where are cutting into. Try to keep the cut as clean as possible so that you can re-use the panel that you've cut out.
Please make sure to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a dust mask when cutting into the panel.
Here are some handy step-by-step guides:
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
You might also like
