Relocating stairways

[nytmare60]

We would like to relocate our stairway to the second floor, which are in the kitchen right now, to the living room. Also the stairs to the basement (which are by the bathroom right now), to run under the relocated stairway. Will both sides of the new stairway (in the livingroom) require studed walls? Or can the side facing the livingroom be open with a railing? This is an old home, 1930ish and the second story floor (1st floor ceiling) is sagging where the new stairway will be. This is hard to explain without writting a book (ugh) :roll: but my main question is-Will the ceing/floor have to be supported by 2 studed walls if we put a stairway there? Thanx

P.S.-At the present time, both stairways are about 2 1/2' wide by aprox. 6' long (Jacob's Ladder!) Or as my daughter calls them..the stairs of death lol

[Rich]

It will depend on what the loading conditions of your upper floor, lower floor, and roof are. Your best bet would be to have someone (contractor or engineer) come into your home and give you an assessment. If there are no bearing conditions that need to be met - then you won't need to have walls around them.

[nytmare60]

Thank you for the quick reply. We have thought about having a contractor look at it but hardly any around here(small town) want to mess with smaller( or older home) projects or check out something they are not going to be doing the work on. Or we get the ol' "I can take a look at it in about 2 months, I'm really backed up in work" routine lol. But we will probably go with your advice and make sure it's done right. Thanx again