Do you want to turn your attic into a beautiful living space? Is a new staircase planned to end its isolation upstairs? Creating a floor opening is the prerequisite for this project. This opening to the upper floor makes room for a staircase that will make getting around easier. Put like that, the project seems feasible, but carrying it out takes more than willpower.
Thanks to the experience and know-how of a company specialising in cutting openings in floors, you can create a floor opening and install the staircase leading up to the attic. For any floor opening project, find out about the key stages of this work. The job is fairly difficult and requires several specialist building trades.
We bring together a team of carpenters, masons, joiners and specialists who fully master openings such as stairwell openings. Describe your project to us and we will support you from A to Z, from the study of the space to completion on site.
How do you create a stairwell opening?
No idea how big the job is? We offer an overview of this type of work to give you a picture of the whole project. From the study of the building to the fitting of the trimmer beams, including cutting the opening itself, let us go through the stages of your project point by point.
A sound structure above all!
When it comes to safety versus comfort, there is no question. If a project endangers the safety of the occupants, it is better to give it up! Creating a floor opening is risky in a house whose load-bearing structure is already in poor condition. In that case, everything has to be redone, starting with the roof structure.
What changes should you expect?
Creating a floor opening means cutting an opening through the floor. It connects two spaces on different floors by means of an access route such as a staircase. The location of the opening will change the layout of the upper room, which is usually the attic. The work affects the load-bearing structure, so strengthening the framework must be considered.
Where should the opening go?
In the centre of the room or at the end? On the right-hand side or at the far right? Besides your preferences, the location of the opening is also a technical question. The creation of an opening depends on the layout of the space, as well as on any future fit-out you want to do.
The position of the opening is calculated so as not to put the load-bearing structure under stress and to preserve the volume of the attic. If the opening is made in a room under the roof slope, it is essential to have a headroom under the slope of at least 1.80 m to make the climb comfortable. After all, you do not want to bump your head while going up the steps!
The study of the opening's location therefore starts from what already exists, that is, the distribution of volume and the layout of the living space. Placed in the centre, the opening allows an even distribution of the volume.
Placed at the side, the opening frees up plenty of space in the room. This second option suits small spaces and open-plan rooms. Whichever location is chosen, the landing must allow comfortable access and a harmonious distribution of the living rooms.
It is therefore advisable to measure every corner of the attic before choosing the position of the opening. The size and shape of the staircase will also depend on the width of the opening and its location.
All these factors call for a preliminary study to optimise the location of the opening. Have you set your heart on a helical staircase? Leave it to us to survey the premises and determine the right location for the opening. With our advice, you will end up with the best possible layout for your space.
Consult us, we find a solution to everything! Are you planning to fit out two rooms upstairs? Planning ahead is a great virtue. Our team will determine the right position for the staircase leading to them. Well positioned, your staircase will provide easy access for elderly people and tall people alike.
The shape and size of the opening
To design the staircase of your dreams, the shape and size of the opening first need to suit it perfectly! The slope of the staircase, the size of the steps and the model you like will guide the choice of the opening's size and shape.
It is best to be realistic and consider the available space when creating the opening. For comfort, the width of the opening should be at least equal to that of the steps, and the headroom and floor footprint must meet the standards required for the type of staircase you choose.
Straight, square or quarter-turn, each staircase model has its own constraints. We therefore invite you to consider these first, before thinking about the design of your staircase. The headroom must meet the standard of 200 to 220 cm. As it takes up a lot of space, a straight staircase is only feasible if the headroom and the setback from the floor are generous.
Otherwise, a quarter-turn or landing staircase makes up for the lack of space between the supporting walls, at floor level and in ceiling height. This option is hardly restrictive in terms of design, since the quarter-turn staircase can be square, rectangular or L-shaped.
Take the example of the helical staircase, which frees up volume while customising the space. Winding around the central stringer, it enhances the view with its straight or curved flights. This option is possible with a round opening with a minimum diameter of 1.50 m. Of course, the width of the opening will determine how comfortable the access is.
Do you want maximum comfort? Be aware that an opening 70 cm wide is too narrow to meet your expectations. To install a spacious staircase , the opening needs to be at least 90 cm wide. If you are considering a straight staircase, the opening will have to be wide enough and rectangular in shape.
Headroom and floor footprint are therefore decisive factors in building your stairwell opening. We offer you our expertise to find the most comfortable and realistic solution for creating your opening.
Ruler, pencil and chalk line : marking out the opening
Completing the previous steps gives us the green light to mark out the opening. It must match the measurements taken when determining the size of the opening. We often work in houses with exposed joists. This is the typical layout of older buildings. We mark out on one side of the beams so as to cut as few joists as possible.
If your attic is covered with flooring, the opening can be located from that surface. Marking out on a concrete slab requires a chalk line. With this approach, the real difficulty is getting good symmetry between the marking at floor level and the cut in the upper part. In every case, the accuracy of the marking will determine whether the opening goes well. The progress of your project depends on it considerably.
We give you peace of mind by taking care of it. Putting pencil to paper, adjusting the ruler and the chalk line, and marking out the position while respecting the measurements takes skill! Cutting the floor opening is a drastic operation. A single misstep can be irreversible. Let us guide you.
Props to strengthen the structure
Taking over the loads at the level of the joists can affect the structure when the opening is cut. To compensate for the lost support, we strengthen the structure with builder's props and a timber plank.
Fixed close to the location of the future trimmer beams, these props will support the joists. The props must be placed at key points to consolidate the structure properly. Mastering this step perfectly, our team guarantees the safety of your site as well as the soundness of the installations.
To reinforce your structure, we use timber or steel framing pieces to support the joists throughout the demolition of the floor. They can also serve as support throughout the installation of the staircase.
Propping keeps the site stable and keeps the workers safe. We use props with good mechanical strength, capable of bearing heavy loads as well as tensile movements. Call on our service to secure your structure. We will make sure you get propping durable enough to prevent any site accident.
Placing props is indeed a delicate operation and cannot be carried out without perfect mastery of the task. Under heavy pressure, a prop can tip over and cause collapses. This operation must not be taken lightly. As with assessing the size of the opening, we also calculate the loads so as to position the props correctly. This assessment makes it possible to build a stable structure that withstands any pressure.
Strictly following site safety measures, we protect everyone on site by supplying personal protective equipment. We also make sure the space is completely cleared before starting work. We systematically cover the floor to protect it from falling rubble.
Cutting the floor opening
Highly experienced in cutting openings in load-bearing structures, our team is able to create a floor opening for you. We cut the opening in the floor once the structures are stabilised and the outline of the opening has been marked out to make cutting easier. As experts, we spare you from exposing yourself to a delicate operation such as cutting a floor opening.
With a rotary hammer drill and a chainsaw, as soon as the machine is switched on, we cut the opening with great care to avoid any overrun that could cause major falls.
Cutting the opening is done case by case. For a timber floor, a saw is enough to make slots and cut floorboards. If the opening affects some of the joists, a chainsaw will be much more effective on this thick material.
With a chainsaw or a saw, our workers handle these tools to perfection and make the cut in no time. Their services save you time and make the work more efficient. Their involvement is all the more essential to create an opening through concrete slabs.
Almost impenetrable, this concrete surface will easily be tamed by our rotary hammer drill. Bolt cutters will be used to cut through the reinforcing mesh in order to break up the concrete slab where the opening is planned. We do clean work in safe conditions, free from any incident.
The trimmer beam that supports the opening
Creating an opening always involves building a trimmer frame. This element of the roof structure forms the support frame of the floor opening. Its real role is to carry the loads at the ends of the opening.
This framing piece guarantees the soundness of the new layout by strengthening the structure with trimmer joists. If the length of the trimmer beam exceeds 180 cm, we reinforce its ends with metal stirrups.
To plan for the staircase, we check whether the trimmer joists are spaced far enough apart to create a passage. We fix these supports using stirrups with external flanges.
Depending on the thickness of the floor, the width of the opening and the density of the loads, we can install a trimmer beam in timber, steel or reinforced concrete. We ensure the strength of your opening by choosing fixings suited to your trimmer beam, either combined joist hangers or simple joist hangers. If all these conditions are met, we can guarantee that your staircase will be installed to standard.
We are your point of contact for your floor opening project.