Basement stairway manufactured home on foundation

[Roselynn]

My manufactured home is secured to a foundation with only an outside entrance. I want to remodel and put an interior stairway from the first level to the basement. My contractor tells me that the space where I can put this will not accomadate a tradtional stairway. The basement ceilings are 8 foot I believe. He wants to intall a modified spiral staircase ( a kit ). I am told this will not meet code. Has any one had this problem. Will this make resale of the house a problem with this inside stairway ?

[rmurray]

If your home is not designed for a factory installed stairwell, I would not suggest the project...Do Not build a major project that violates the local building code...You will risk large fines and possible orders to remove the structure...Codes are for your protection....You might want to work on ideas to make your current entrance more useful and appealing...

[admin]

It seems that if you have 8 feet from floor to ceiling that you should be able to construct a standard set of steps... unless there is some other limiting factor, like the width of the available space where the stairway would have to go. I would talk to more than one contractor. See if there is someone around with more imagination that can work without a kit and within the limitations of the local building code. Building is slow around the country today and I'm sure you can get several contractors to come out at no cost to you and offer ideas and price estimates.

I agree with Mr. M. You don't want to make any major modifications to your home that are contrary to the applicable building codes. Home renovations can be very rewarding, enjoyable but costly and doing it twice can be a heart and bank breaker.

[admin]

Depending on what part of the country you live an exterior set of steps can be very decorative and enhance the uniqueness of your home and eventual the resale price. For example replacing a window in the home with a new exterior door with a landing platform and set of steps that goes to a second landing and doubles back to the basement can look great. Another idea is to build a porch around the corner of the home from where the basement access is and run the stairs from the porch.It seems that if you have 8 feet from floor to ceiling that you should be able to construct a standard set of steps... unless there is some other limiting factor, like the width of the available space where the stairway would have to go. I would talk to more than one contractor. See if there is someone around with more imagination that can work without a kit and within the limitations of the local building code. Building is slow around the country today and I'm sure you can get several contractors to come out at no cost to you and offer ideas and price estimates. I agree with Mr. M. You don't want to make any major modifications to your home that are contrary to the applicable building codes. Home renovations can be very rewarding, enjoyable but costly and doing it twice can be a heart and bank breaker.

[RockyRivard]

You probably don't understand about rise and run, but that is what makes up the combination of a stairway. The rise that you have is 8 feet, now the run would be the well opening ( which is the hole that you would have in your floor). Example: You have 8 feet from your basement floor to your finished floor up stairs, Your well opening is 9 feet 10 inches. Your stairs would have a riser of 7 3/8 inches a tread width of 9 13/16. you could more than likely make that a 10 inch tread as long as you have a minimum of 36 inches at the bottom of your stairs and a minimum of 6 feet 8 inches of headroom standing on your last step. Are you confused yet.