Under stairs storage space

Discussion in 'Carpenters' Talk' started by turf3red, Jan 3, 2023.

  1. turf3red

    turf3red Member

    Hi
    I’d like to take out the spandrel panel under my stair to make a cupboard. Nothing too special, I just need a place to hide the hoover. Our stairs already have a loo under them, pic attached so I don’t have a lot of room, but probably just enough. but when having a look through the gaps between the risers and the treads it looks like there is brickwork under there running parallel to a riser but a fair distance away from where the wall behind the loo should be. Any ideas? I daren’t open up the space if I’m going to find bricks that I can’t remove, but I can’t work out why they’d be there?!
    It’s a 1930’s semi if that helps?
    Thanks
    Rach
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Jord86

    Jord86 Screwfix Select

    It probably is brickwork, but they will be easy enough to remove with a hammer and cold chisel. Take them out, they aren’t supporting anything.
     
    turf3red likes this.
  3. turf3red

    turf3red Member

    Thanks Jord86
    Any ideas why they’d be under there in the first place?
    I’ll get on with the project now that I don’t need to worry about them :)
     
  4. Jord86

    Jord86 Screwfix Select

    Seemed to be the done thing 100 odd years ago to build the dwarf wall or spandrel framing in brick, was done with whatever material was close to hand or cheaper. Just watch you don’t damage the wall backing onto the toilet when you start banging.
     
  5. big all

    big all Screwfix Select

    you wont get much room in that space
    you may have pipework in there
    you probably wont get an upright vacuum in their' upright or lying down whatever height and width you have in the toilet at the low wall the other side will be about 5" lowers but same width [4" stud and plasterboard]
    i would think about an inspection hole in the toilet as not constantly visible if you decide not to do it after inspection
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2023
  6. turf3red

    turf3red Member

    I think I’ve found out what the bricks under my stairs were for! It seems as if it was an old coal shed that’s been bricked up on the exterior wall. At least that’s my best bet. my next conundrum is whether the bricks are toothed into the exterior wall where the entrance to the coal shed would’ve been.
    Any thoughts?
    I’ve attached a photo. Hopefully it’ll be clear what I mean!




     

    Attached Files:

  7. Jord86

    Jord86 Screwfix Select

    Probably, snap them off with downward blows with a lump hammer and bolster chisel.
     

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