Expert: Joseph G. Swallow - 10/15/2009

Question
I read your answer to a question 7/4/2008 on removing a staircase in a Victorian home.

I am considering something similar, but it's forming the wall between the kitchen and dining rooms, instead of neatly against a wall.  (There's a stair down to the basement and a staircase up to the second floor)  

This, too, is Victorian construction.

Is it crazipants to want to remove both of these and have floor constructed where the stairs used to be?  On the upstairs, it could be closet space instead of traffic space.

So a) Can it be done (safely) at all?  b) Does it require heavy machinery / equipment? c) What is the rough scale for how expensive it would be (hundreds? thousands?  tens of thousands?)

Answer
Livia,

I don't see why it cannot be done.  There won't be any heavy machinery, just your basic tools: chop saw, access to radial arm saw or sabre saw, drills, hammer, etc.  Most of the work is removing the walls and stair stringers and repairing drywall.  Beyond that it should be pretty basic.

Cost-wise I don't have a clue unless I saw actual plans.  I don't usually get involved in heavy remodeling work except the removal of stair parts and the reassembly of the same in new materials.  We have the home owner bring in a remodeling contractor to do all the rough work for us.  Usually your trades are segregated and performed by different subcontractors:  Framer, drywall contractor, painter, stair builder....  The general contractor acts like the conductor to coordinate.

Thank you!