Question for DIY home renovators (wall related)

[Niximus]

I have bought and moved into a townhouse recently, below is a photo of the stairs.


Now, there is a lot of wasted space under the stairs. It can't really be used for anything and so I would like to enclose it and put a door on the end turning it into an out of the way storage area.

In addition to that I would like the wall that is put up to be strong enough to mount an LCD TV on.

Anyone have experience with anything similar that can offer tips/advice on how to go about it? My other option is to get a builder in and see how much that would cost.

 

[JADED]

Deadringer for a townhouse I lived in for 5 years (clovelly park)

For what it's worth I had my TV under the stairs (including the ent unit which i pushed under the lowest stair it could fit)

Can't you just put a lowline ent unit under there and tv on that?
Easy enough to put a wall and door in if you have to.
Timber frame is the easy part. Cutting gyprock (plasterboard) to fit, easy enough but all the taping, filling and sanding is very messy. (dusty)

Under the first 3 stairs (before it turns) is a great place to have a safe. Cut and hinge the wood so it lifts up.

Can't say i miss townhouse life and hearing the neighbours. The angled roof upstairs makes it hot as. sure yours has the "feature" exposed beam to. Not a heap of places to put air cond either.

 

[Willow_2000]

Nick how handy are you with tools?
Because your going to need to knock up some frame work for what you wanna do.

If you cannot do that yourself your going to have a hard time finding a builder that will do it because the job is so small.

 

[Niximus]

Deadringer for a townhouse I lived in for 5 years (clovelly park)

I have had so many people say that, I'm sure everyone has lived in this house at some time

For what it's worth I had my TV under the stairs (including the ent unit which i pushed under the lowest stair it could fit)

Can't you just put a lowline ent unit under there and tv on that?
Easy enough to put a wall and door in if you have to.

I could but with the size of the TV it would have to be completely to the right hand side in order to fit under and not obscure the picture and I really want it to the centre for a better viewing position.

Timber frame is the easy part. Cutting gyprock (plasterboard) to fit, easy enough but all the taping, filling and sanding is very messy. (dusty)

Yeah no doubt it would be rather messy but mess can be cleaned.

Under the first 3 stairs (before it turns) is a great place to have a safe. Cut and hinge the wood so it lifts up.

I actually said that to the GF just the other day

Can't say i miss townhouse life and hearing the neighbours. The angled roof upstairs makes it hot as. sure yours has the "feature" exposed beam to. Not a heap of places to put air cond either.

So far we haven't heard a thing. It does get quite warm upstairs but there is a split system A/C down stairs and a refrigerated AC in the master b/room.

 

[Niximus]

Nick how handy are you with tools?
Because your going to need to knock up some frame work for what you wanna do.

If you cannot do that yourself your going to have a hard time finding a builder that will do it because the job is so small.

I would rate myself as intermediate, I'm not shit, have done minor repairs/plumbing changes around the house.

My dad is quite good though so if need be I can always rope him into helping.

 

[Willow_2000]

I would rate myself as intermediate, I'm not shit, have done minor repairs/plumbing changes around the house.

My dad is quite good though so if need be I can always rope him into helping.

Yeh you should be fine. If you have any issues the internet is your friend.

 

[raskolnikov]

I bought a fairly old house over a year ago and have spent the last year renovating. I repainted the interior and had the floorboards polished as well as had an interior wall demolished to make an open living space.

I'm not sure how expensive it would be but if I were you I would be tempted to demolish that staircase and put a spiral one in the corner to make more space.

 

[saj_21]

I have bought and moved into a townhouse recently, below is a photo of the stairs.

Now, there is a lot of wasted space under the stairs. It can't really be used for anything and so I would like to enclose it and put a door on the end turning it into an out of the way storage area.

In addition to that I would like the wall that is put up to be strong enough to mount an LCD TV on.

Anyone have experience with anything similar that can offer tips/advice on how to go about it? My other option is to get a builder in and see how much that would cost.

Make sure you line you frame work with chipboard, in the area you want to mount the tv, before putting plaster over the top. This we give something for the tv bracket to secure into, plaster alone will not support the tv itself.

 

[Niximus]

Make sure you line you frame work with chipboard, in the area you want to mount the tv, before putting plaster over the top. This we give something for the tv bracket to secure into, plaster alone will not support the tv itself.

Cheers, that's exactly the sort of advice I was after.

 

[Willow_2000]

Make sure you line you frame work with chipboard, in the area you want to mount the tv, before putting plaster over the top. This we give something for the tv bracket to secure into, plaster alone will not support the tv itself.

Yeh or you just set out where your tv will go and put an extra stud there. Would make it a hell of alot easier

 

[yeah-nah]

I have bought and moved into a townhouse recently, below is a photo of the stairs.

Now, there is a lot of wasted space under the stairs. It can't really be used for anything and so I would like to enclose it and put a door on the end turning it into an out of the way storage area.

In addition to that I would like the wall that is put up to be strong enough to mount an LCD TV on.

Anyone have experience with anything similar that can offer tips/advice on how to go about it? My other option is to get a builder in and see how much that would cost.

Couple of points imho

- with those type of open stairs you will be able to see thru them into your storage space. Need to change the type of stairs to ones with risers so its all enclosed. Not a small job

- before cutting in a door in that wall load check needs to be made to make sure this is ok to do. Your whole top story is sitting on the walls below, including this one. It already has an archway that I can see. Perhaps other openings as well.

- chipboard wont hold shit. Build a frame, dress the inside, plaster the outside and screw TV unit into studs. Pre fab frame and nail securely into floor, bottom of staircase and wall (into studs). Studs and noggins for your frame per building regulations off the interweb. Pine will be good enough.

- Obviously will need to dress false wall with architives/fancy quads etc to finish job

Hope this helps

 

[Niximus]

Couple of points imho

- with those type of open stairs you will be able to see thru them into your storage space. Need to change the type of stairs to ones with risers so its all enclosed. Not a small job

Yeah that is true however I dont think we necessarily need to completely change the stairs. Have experimented underneath there and I don't think it would look too bad simply running a flat sheet of something below the stairs to create a sort of ceiling.

- before cutting in a door in that wall load check needs to be made to make sure this is ok to do. Your whole top story is sitting on the walls below, including this one. It already has an archway that I can see. Perhaps other openings as well.

While we're not 100% sure of this, there are a couple of places we know to be load bearing and they feel very solid. If I bang on the part where I wish to place the door it echoes a bit and you can hear it on the other side leading me to believe it is hollow.

That said the door part was always something I entended to pay to have done as there is also a power point there.

- chipboard wont hold shit. Build a frame, dress the inside, plaster the outside and screw TV unit into studs. Pre fab frame and nail securely into floor, bottom of staircase and wall (into studs). Studs and noggins for your frame per building regulations off the interweb. Pine will be good enough.

Cheers

- Obviously will need to dress false wall with architives/fancy quads etc to finish job

Yeah I'm sure if I look in the right places someone will be able to match it with the rest of the house too.

Hope this helps

It does, thanks

 

[0497]

Woodworking forum. Many with similar questions.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/

 

[we57st]

Woodworking forum. Many with similar questions.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/

I love that forum. Been a great source of information for me over the years. The Renovate forum (http://www.renovateforum.com/index.php) also has similar kinds of advice on all aspects of home renovation.

 

[magic_johnson!]

personally, i would plaster (and make it thick enough with whatever materials needed) the side of the stairs aswell, or else your tv would have to be tucked into the top right corner because it is such a small space and i think it would look better right in the middle.