More than a cupboard
In terraced and semi-detached homes, the staircase and the walls around it often fill a key part of the floor plan. Opening up the under-stairs area can allow a downstairs WC, utility space, pantry, better storage or an easier route to the cellar. Some owners want to widen a hallway or remove a wall beside the stairs, and others want to change the stair itself.
Why stairs need care
A staircase is a structure. The walls beside it, known as string walls or spine walls, may carry floor joists or the roof above. The stair stringers can be built into walls, and the flight itself may be supported by the wall below. Removing or cutting into these elements without a plan can cause sagging, cracking or worse.
Typical alterations
- Forming a WC or cloakroom beneath the flight
- Opening a cupboard to a hallway or kitchen
- Removing a wall beside the stair and supporting what is above, see steel beam installation
- Creating a cellar access or lowering the entrance to the cellar, see cellar floor lowering
- Replacing a winder or tight flight with a safer arrangement
- Strengthening a worn or sagging stair
Building Regulations
Stairs have rules on rise, going, headroom, handrails and balustrades. Changing a stair, or the space it opens onto, may affect fire escape routes, especially in a three-storey house. If a stair is the only route out, new openings and doors need to be considered. Approvals are normally needed for structural alterations. See GOV.UK.
Plumbing and drainage
If a WC is planned, we must be able to reach a drain, and ventilate the room. Under-stairs areas may be far from a soil pipe, so macerators or routing waste under the floor can be considered. Suspended timber floors can make drainage runs more complex, see subfloor ventilation.
Older homes
Victorian and Edwardian houses across Newcastle and Tynemouth have original stairs worth keeping where possible, and listed buildings need consent for alterations. Check with the Planning Portal for rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove the wall beside my staircase?
Possibly, but it may be load-bearing and support the stair or floors above. We investigate what it carries and arrange for a beam if needed.
Can a WC fit under the stairs?
Often, if there is enough headroom where you stand and a route for the waste. The room also needs ventilation. We check practicality on site.
