Rose City Park Stairway Remodel

After a dangerous fall down the basement stairs convinced these homeowners it was time to remodel, they hired our team at Lamont Bros. to upgrade their staircase and improve the safety of their basement.

The old staircase did not meet construction code regulations, and was so steep that it presented a tripping hazard. Unfortunately, space in the basement was limited. The stairwell sat right over top a basement bar that was built in the mid 20th century. As a result, bringing these stairs up to code would require extensive design work.

There were also concerns about hazardous materials. Both the flooring and the countertop on the bar contained asbestos, which can pose serious health risks if not properly contained.

The homeowners decided early on in the design process to remove the old basement bar to make room for the new stairs. With such little space available, it became clear that in order to bring the

stairs up to code and prevent future injuries, the old bar would need to go.

As our design team developed the plans for the new staircase, we realized that there would be two major challenges. The first was the head height, or overhead clearance, required above the staircase. The second was the placement of the door at the bottom of the stairs.

To solve the overhead clearance, our build team demolished part of the ceiling and moved a header board above the stairs. Then, to resolve the issue of the door’s location, we moved the door at the bottom of the staircase so that the new stairs would not cover it.

At the end of the project, the homeowners were not only excited that their new stairs were completed on time and within budget, but also that they could now enjoy their basement without having to worry about fall or injury.