We have a split entry that is minuscule with stairs heading either up or down and a tiny landing. I would like to remove the wall separating the up from the downstairs (it may be the only wall that the stairs are attached to as one side of the stairway is a brick wall) and make the entry look a fraction bigger. How can I know if this is safe to do?
If not, can I remove the upper drywall and add molding to the studs to create a visually more open space? Would the studs be too large to be appealing? We have been remodeling our home for the last couple of years but the entry has me stumped. Don't want to weaken the house structure but it looks bad.
The house was built in 1968 so it is 48 years old.
Best Answer
This is a very difficult question to answer without pictures or plans to look at. If I am understanding your scenario right, as you enter the house you have an immediate landing and then stairs either going up or down into different levels of the house. While these walls may not have a lot of bearing on the structural integrity of the stairwell they may have bearing on the rooms above and below the stairwell. Depending on how the architect drew the plans there could even be a beam involved for support of the upper level. Removing sheetrock to determine how the structure is built, in general, isn't hazardous to the structural integrity assuming the the structural engineer didn't factor in the sheetrock as part of a shear rating of that wall.
My best recommendation would be to have a licensed framing carpenter come in and have a look at this wall before you proceed further. It is always better to pay a little extra for a professional opinion.