Fitting false ceiling above stairs...

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

helpimcrap

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Joined
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Leicestershire
to make it into the same height as rooms all the way along and block off the 'wasted space' on stairs.

I've measured the bottom - standing on floor to ceiling is 7ft. So gone up stairs and measured 7ft from step to where ceiling will be. I've then tapped 2 nails in and tied string around them to get a straight line. Will put wooden lengths onto walls to screw plasterboard up from underneath. Thinking i'll need to stick few pieces of wood across at top, bottom and couple in middle to strengthen fixing so 9mm plasterboard doesn't sag.

Then once done, get it all skimmed over, paint it and job done.

sound as easy as what I'm thinking?
 
I'd use metal stud as 9/10 long lengths of timber aren't very straight. You can cut it with tin snips and it'll all nicely overlap without the need for notching or packing out.

Check the walls for pipes and wires.
 
maccapacca said:
I'd use metal stud as 9/10 long lengths of timber aren't very straight. You can cut it with tin snips and it'll all nicely overlap without the need for notching or packing out.

Check the walls for pipes and wires.
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Noted cheers. I've got all the fittings and wood needed - the guy at Wickes was actually knowledgeable and good about suggestions.

I've got a metal detector scanner thing. I have to hold it away from my body though or it goes off because of titanium in my forearm and hand lol.
 
helpimcrap said:
Noted cheers. I've got all the fittings and wood needed - the guy at Wickes was actually knowledgeable and good about suggestions.

I've got a metal detector scanner thing. I have to hold it away from my body though or it goes off because of titanium in my forearm and hand lol.
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Just make sure your timber is straight as you install it. :)

Also ensure you aren't messing around with a fire break under a set of stairs. Mostly if it's three storey or if the stairs aren't yours but you haven't given enough information to be able to tell.
 
maccapacca said:
Just make sure your timber is straight as you install it. :)

Also ensure you aren't messing around with a fire break under a set of stairs. Mostly if it's three storey or if the stairs aren't yours but you haven't given enough information to be able to tell.
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2 bed semi. I have no idea what you are on about so I'm sure it isn't an issue lol.

The timber is planed and i'll be screwing each length in every meter or less. 2.4m - screw in every 60cm.
 
maccapacca said:
Perimeter

http://m.buildingmaterials.co.uk/mf6a-plaster-board-ceiling-perimeter-3600mm.html

Intermediates

http://m.buildingmaterials.co.uk/mf5-plaster-board-ceiling-section-3600.html
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If I'm right in thinking I can't actually use them because there is nothing there currently as it will be a fresh ceiling.

For e.g.
_______

| /
| /
| /

will become
______

| / /
| / /
| / /

| = vertical wall on stairs
/ = stairs
/ / = stairs and false ceiling

Does that make any sense? lol

edit - didn't post as it suggested - imagine the / are straight lines lol.... sigh.
 
7ft floor to where the false ceiling would be at start of each step. :)

Knocked up a U shape bit for top of stairs. Problem now is that I've just worked out now I have to drill and screw it to the wall 7ft+ above the step.... hmmmmm. Issue... lol
 
Had a go at putting the wood up - looks ok, and I've put couple of pieces of plasterboard up.

My question is - I have 90cm wide plasterboard, I have put a rail on the wall on each side and am screwing the plasterboard to that in 60cm long chunks.

Am I ok to carry on fitting it all or will it need bracing across the stairs at the 60cm gaps to screw to horizontally?

It is 8mm plasterboard I think.
 
I do not understand this at all. Any chance of some before and after pics to try and grasp what you are going on about :)
 
attachment.php


Don't know if you can see this?
 
helpimcrap said:
Had a go at putting the wood up - looks ok, and I've put couple of pieces of plasterboard up.

My question is - I have 90cm wide plasterboard, I have put a rail on the wall on each side and am screwing the plasterboard to that in 60cm long chunks.

Am I ok to carry on fitting it all or will it need bracing across the stairs at the 60cm gaps to screw to horizontally?

It is 8mm plasterboard I think.
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You need the intermediate pieces. I suggested that with timber it would be difficult to get the intermediates to work without a great deal of work and the metal all slots together.

It'll just sag eventually
 
9.5mm plasterboard is recommended to have fixings at 400/450mm centres. So you would either need a third support running parallel to the ones either side on the wall like ||| . Or you need to put cross beams in all the way up at 400/450 centres like |-| . Convention is 600mm for 12.5mm boards, 400 for 9mm boards. Plasterboards usually come come in 240x120cm (8x4) or 180 x 90cm (6x3). The 600/400 centres work well with 8x4 boards but not so much with 6x3 where 450 centres are required.
 
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Still working in bits - got 4 pieces of bracing up which need screwing in. Had to tap them in with a hammer as it was snug which is good as it's pushed the wood hard and flusher against the wall. :)

I'll do more when I have more than 5 mins due to exams and get some more wood and plasterboard (12mm).
 
Do you mean like this.

2016-01-14%2012.31.18.jpg


2016-01-14%2012.52.02.jpg


2016-01-15%2014.07.45.jpg


2016-01-15%2015.21.51.jpg


Put some in the last house too.
2015-11-06%2014.46.16.jpg


Great way to make use of a waste of space.
 
Thanks for that - very useful to see. I was essentially tidying up the stairway as wasted space which looked ugly. I considered doing exactly what you've done there but would mean knocking a hole out of the wall out in the bedroom and doing what you've done there but that would mean extra expense and time (and also supports for the wall in case it's a supporting wall). I'm trying to do this cheap and make it more practical. So far I'm up to about £30... need to buy some more wood and plasterboard - would be £50 then.

Then get a plasterer in to finish and skim it - <£100. Then get decorator in to finish off landing and get them to paint it whilst they do that <£100.
 
helpimcrap said:
Thanks for that - very useful to see. I was essentially tidying up the stairway as wasted space which looked ugly. I considered doing exactly what you've done there but would mean knocking a hole out of the wall out in the bedroom and doing what you've done there but that would mean extra expense and time (and also supports for the wall in case it's a supporting wall). I'm trying to do this cheap and make it more practical. So far I'm up to about £30... need to buy some more wood and plasterboard - would be £50 then.

Then get a plasterer in to finish and skim it - <£100. Then get decorator in to finish off landing and get them to paint it whilst they do that <£100.
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I really don't see the motivation for this if your not doing it for storage? All you will do is make the stair case feel dark and enclosed and you will have less money in you back pocket.
 
What Simps has done is a clever use of space. But your on the cheap plan is gonna just give you a darker enclosed staircase with no added benefit.
 
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