Can i remove this Stud? (Under stairs space)

[Tom345]

Hi all,

I want to make use of the space under our stairs and i have already opened it up and was planning on boarding it out as you see in the pictures below. I have removed one stud that was in the middle of the large gap you can see and i was going to play it safe and leave it at that. But i would really like to remove the stud you can see on the right as well as it would make the space more practicle, look nicer and be easier to board out.

I've done a little research about how stairs are constructed/supported and it seems to me that the stairs are mostly supported by stringers running all the way up and down, and the studding is just there for the plasterboard to be fixed to.

Thoughts?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I've done a little research about how stairs are constructed/supported and it seems to me that the stairs are mostly supported by stringers running all the way up and down, and the studding is just there for the plasterboard to be fixed to.

In the main for a straight closed riser stair, yes, the studs are not supporting the stairs, only the plasterboard. When you get into kite winders and the like with potentially multiple newels it can be a bit different

What you may need to watch out for is how the handrail and ballusters are supported - are they integral to the stair or integral to the top of the stud wall? (Not really clear from the photos - but the first picture appears to show them integral to the top of the stud wall)

 

[Tom345]

Thanks for the reply. The handrail sits a top the stud wall as you predicted. Here are some more (hopefully) useful pictures.

 

[mattylad]

If you remove the vertical studs, can you add a long diagonal one under the stair rail to support that and still make use of the space?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Yes indeed, OP, I think you need to fix the tops of the studs to the side of the stringer with some pretty big screws (something like 5 x 100mm or 6 x 100mm, two per stud) from the stairs side if possible before you cut away the bottoms of the studs. After that you can tie the bottoms of the shortened studs together with a piece of timber and make good the plasterboards. Because it probably isn't possible to ascertain how well the stud wall is fixed to the stringer I'm taking a belt and braces approach. The screw heads can be counter bored and countersunk and filled with 2-pack before sanding off and repainting

 

[Tom345]

Great, thanks. I'll crack on with those suggestions.