www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

hi im thinkin of moving the position of my staircase but wouldnt know where to start how much it would cost to get someone in how long it would take etc, if anyone can give me any sort of advice it would be much appreciated, is this even worth thinkin about doing yourself as a reasonable diy'er !!!

It's not something I would attempt and so I would get a pro in.

something like this takes some careful thought to do properly, without seeing the layout it is impossible to give much advice. either post some pics/diagrams or ring a couple of builders/chippies to come and have a look.

it involves structural work to your upper floor, joists will need to be sistered and trimmed

i suggest you get real paid for advice, ie a structural engineer

without it the local bco will have a heart attack and condemm it outright

thanks for the advice guys, gfuess wat i wanted to know was, wat is the first port of call, is there some kind of qualification i should be looking for wen getting people in or better still any reccomendations from you guys who have done anything like this kind of work? thank you

Hi bozwell,

I did a job this summer where I had to remove a set of stairs from a house and replace them as per the BCC's (building control officers orders).

The previous owner of this property decided to convert their loft by themselves. They did a cosmetically alright job, but really cocked up structurally.

They came to sell their house, but when the survey was done, very loud alarm bells started ringing. The new owners basically got house minus 12k off the asking price.

The new owners got me in to remove the lot. Beam and brace out the loft conversion and switch and reinstall a nice winder staircase. It was a very very messy job. Dust and crap everywhere. No way the owners could live in the house during the work (2 weeks) All in all the job cost them just over 5k including all the finishing and decorating.

I'd reccomendfinding a carpenter who has done their NVQ's in carpentry. Check their credentials with the CITB. Only use someone who has done a few staircases before. Make sure they have photos, and call the customers and have a chat with them.

The best way to find a good carpenter, is to talk to a busy one face to face. Go down to a local building site and ask if there is one about and talk to them in person.

Good luck

when can you start!!!!!!
thanks for the advice, i was really hopin you weren't gonna say living there isn't an option i dont really have any other option!!!

I'd suggest investing in plenty of clear polythene sheeting, gaffer tape and a staple gun!! Take up yer carpets and get used to climbing a ladder. You'll have to take up quite a few floor boards to get the new joists in and bolted together. So book a storage space with a self storage facility for your furniture. So choose one room for food consumption (kitchens a good one) , one for sanitary stuff (bathroom jumps out at me, rather than a the shed) and one for sleep and rest (you're choice). Write off the rest as they'll be dusty, packed with crap and probably unusable till you're done!!

Then make a plan, draw a chart, write a timeline and make a order scheme! Stick to it religiously or it'll cost you double> Don't stick to it and you'll be living in a building site for years!!!! NO JOKE!!!

Invite a few strong mates round for the heavy stuff. Rely on coach bolts to bolt beams together. And Hilti resin to anchor your stairs to brick!! Measure and measure and then measure again!!!! Get stuck in!!! Have fun!!

Sorry for all the exclamation marks. I've had a hard day!!!!!! opppps?@#~

As for me starting! I'm fitting most of the fire doors on the £250,000,000 new shopping/cinema/luxury apartment complex in the center of Bristol for the next few months!!! Cabot Circus its called. Mad job. Over 2000 tradesmen working on it. Soon to triple in the next few months! Epic job of inordinate proportions!!!!

As for the new year. I'll be mainly dangling off scaffold over the sea fitting western red cedar to a luxury harbor side development in Devon. That takes me into March, where I get to have a few days off and then start a Church restoration and conversion in Wales!!!

So very sorry, but if you want it done before June, then I can't help....