Interior stairs
I am looking into putting a private interior stair in a duplex to connect only the ground and first floor. Ideally I would like to avoid cutting out any beams. Does anyone know what the typical span between beams is in a 18-20′ wide brownstone??
I am looking into putting a private interior stair in a duplex to connect only the ground and first floor. Ideally I would like to avoid cutting out any beams. Does anyone know what the typical span between beams is in a 18-20′ wide brownstone??
Check in your basement, as the spacing will be similar. In older (pre-1860) it is not uncommon to find 24-27″ on center. There is no reason to expect that a joist on one level is immediately above another on another floor, but you might luckout and only have to box out one joist and still get a straight stair in. Metal is legal and stringers are thinner.
If you plan to move anything up or down the stairs (i.e. furniture, groceries, laundry) you might want to think twice about a spiral/corkscrew staircase. A straight run stair, while taking more room, is much easier if you’ve got to move anything remotely bulky. Personally, I think stairs are a job for a pro.
Who said anything about DOB…that’s another story.
Doing work legally or doing work illegally…you’re the home owner.
I always recommend doing things by the books. Fines for doing work without a permit are sky high.
Thanks that helps.
I figured that I would have to suck in to make this one work. Also I am assuming that I need to contact DOB about getting a work permit for interior/structural work…was hoping to avoid that.
spans between joists can vary….I’ve seen 12″ center to center (it was an older house) and average 16″ center to center, but it won’t be big enough to avoid not cutting and reframing for a stair opening….unless you’re supermodel skinny and plan on putting a fireman pole.
As Rick said, it’s not a big deal for someone who knows what they’re doing.
16″ or 24″ span is usual. So even if have a skinny 36″ stair (which I wouldn’t recommend, spirals are much easier to negotiate at 48-60″), you’d have to cut 2 or 3. But this is quite standard stuff for a framer.
Well, That depends…. How thin are you? Speaking from experience, I’m sure you will have to cut a beam and frame the opening for the new stairs. It’s not a big deal for people who know what they’re doing. If you would like some help, you can reach me through my website under my user profile.