wow...thanks dvinez for the pictures...looks like the cost is almost the same between using concrete or by using woods...

dvinez, your new stairs looks really nice! how much did you spend to convert it?

o.. this is change to cement base.. right?

This is how i m going to do it.See pics below.
I dun know how much it will cost but i m sure the carpentry labour ain't going to be cheap since
experience carpentry skill is needed.

this is exactly what i sugguest @ post #4

if use ply wood, do undercoat it with solvent base under coat paint 1st, then u can paint it over with normal wall paint without any problem later

well, on the (finishing) part, there is still need to do a lot of work, specially like the side wood with door, if close up like that, when you standing on the stiarcase, you will see the wood come out from the stiarcase on your left hand side, then another problem just like i mention, i think (not sure) the joining part from ply wood and existing staircase will have crack line after sometime, because this kind of stiarcase usually will a bit shacking.

thanks BIKA and skng03...just same what's in my mind..only dont know to visualize it like BIKA did...

around RM5k, with store below it.

I do think using concrete with tiles looks nicer, and it's way more solid and durable. No more hollow sound whenever you walk up the stairs.

I renovated my house and created a small storeroom under the stairs.

It seems like a small job, but actually, it entails alot of details, which can cost lots of money.

The cheapest way is to use partition boards, or brick up/plaster the walls. This way, you need to include cost of:
1. Brick/plaster work or partition board
2. Close the gap between the steps in the stairs
3. Cost of a door
4. Lighting point for the store

Covering the gap between the steps will do the job, but it wont be very nice. So, I opted for the full and proper way, which as it turns out, was very costly.

Chinese contractor quoted me RM4,000 just to brick up and redo the steps with concrete.

I also discovered that, to cover the steps is expensive. Using wood, it wld cost anything from RM4,000 (timber strips) to RM6,000 (solid planks). Tiles also not cheap, becuz contractor charges tiling work for staircase on a different rate, so workmanship alone will cost more than RM1,500.

Covering a step is charged on a PER STEP basis.

In the end, luckily I decided to use timber flooring for my first floor, and so it cost me RM1,500 to cover the stairs with timber...

With all is said, it is worthwhile if the storage is badly needed.

This post has been edited by lizziewong: Jan 21 2011, 03:11 PM

I am having this done with plywood as stair risers, and gypsum board to make the store room below. Carpenter quoted RM2,800. At first, I thought it was expensive, but after reading this thread, maybe it's cheap!

To those who have done it, care to share some pics? And comments? fa-tin, did you cover it up in the end?

why not just built cabinet with different size of compartment? You save space, easier to sort things, don't have to get into cramp store "room".

I thing that area is more for a storage system instead of a store room.

Hmmm. I guess it's more practical to have some sort of clever storage system, but then again, having a store room is practical too if you want to just dump stuff and boxes and things, although not so space efficient. It's down to personal preference I guess. For me, I want a clean look, so I just decided to box it up to look like it's cement wall.