Where the stairs stand

This stair remodeling project has not progressed as far as I would have liked in the past week and a half.  The plan was to remove the carpet, sand and refinish the stairs and change the railing.  Then somewhere along the way, I saw this photo…

Photo via Cleverly Inspired

Is was so inspired but this little addition to the plan completely changed the game.  I need to have the wall between the entry and the office opened.  I called a few contractors and set up appointments to get an estimate of how much this would cost.  I had no idea if it was going to cost $500 or $5,000.

I needed a contractor because I need to be absolutely sure that the wall wasn’t load bearing. All the research in the world on my part could not determine this.  I’ve been looking for over a year for clues and I’ve concluded that it isn’t load bearing.  But what will happen when I open it up and the house falls down because I was wrong?   We would be screwed and my insurance company would not care.

When the contractors came, no one was able to give me a quote on the spot and one I have been waiting a week for a response.  Perhaps they don’t want to take the job because it’s too small.  That’s not a way to do business.  I may not have a $50,000 renovation today but who’s to say that I don’t have a $75,000 renovation planned down the line? Business is business and I can guarantee you that four years ago, they would have taken the job in a heartbeat.

I’ve given up on the contractors I’ve contacted so far and found a structural engineer that is willing to do Residential work.  I will have him come out and determine if  my walls are load bearing, the required sizing of interior supports and stamped drawings for building department approval if necessary.  My only caveat is that the walls have to be opened up for him to tell if the wall in load bearing.  This means removing the drywall and then waiting until he has an opening in his schedule to investigate.  Then I have to wait another two weeks for him to draw up the structural requirements.  On top of that, he charges $75/ hour and estimates that this job will be about 4 hours of work or $300+.

Once I get past this hurdle, I’ll get started making this dream a reality.  For now, I’m just focusing on small things like stain color, railing options and carpet treads.

For now, let’s have a look at some stairway eye candy shall we?

via Houzz.com

I’m liking the look of these railings and newel post.  I’d like to build this newel post and my carpentry hero Sandra from Sawdust Girl has a great tutorial on how to build one of these.Those dark treads with the crisp white risers are the bees knees.

via CentsationalGirl

 I love Kates style, so elegant.And check out this beauty.  Seriously this is absolutely marvelous.  If this were my house, I would have to stop myself from saying “Welcome to Casa Joseph” every time someone entered the front door.

Hopefully I get some good news soon about this doorway.