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Finishing the Basement Stairwell

20 photos · basement

The basement stairs were open-tread and the stairwell walls were bare. I framed an enclosure around the run, set an adjustable steel column where the stringers needed support, hung green board top to bottom because of the basement humidity, and built understair storage out of plywood. Tied in a desiccant dehumidifier in the crawlspace to keep the whole basement dry season after season.

  1. Looking down the open-tread stairs with the oil burner switch on the bare wall. Starting point. Before

    Looking down the open-tread stairs with the oil burner switch on the bare wall. Starting point.

    basement
  2. New stud wall framed alongside the staircase using metal track and wood studs. During

    New stud wall framed alongside the staircase using metal track and wood studs.

    basement
  3. Adjustable steel column set under the stair stringers where they needed support. During

    Adjustable steel column set under the stair stringers where they needed support.

    basement
  4. Plywood understair storage built out — usable cubbies instead of dead space. During

    Plywood understair storage built out — usable cubbies instead of dead space.

    basement
  5. Stairwell enclosure framed with partial drywall up and exposed studs above. During

    Stairwell enclosure framed with partial drywall up and exposed studs above.

    basement
  6. Green board on the stairwell with the electrical boxes already roughed in. During

    Green board on the stairwell with the electrical boxes already roughed in.

    basement
  8. Stairwell rocked out. Joists overhead will get a finish ceiling later. During

    Stairwell rocked out. Joists overhead will get a finish ceiling later.

    basement
  9. Mold-resistant board the whole way down — basement humidity makes regular drywall a bad bet. During

    Mold-resistant board the whole way down — basement humidity makes regular drywall a bad bet.

    basement
  10. First mud coat on the stairwell. Long narrow space, slow to work. During

    First mud coat on the stairwell. Long narrow space, slow to work.

    basement
  11. Seams taped and first coat of compound in. Comes together fast once the rock's up. During

    Seams taped and first coat of compound in. Comes together fast once the rock's up.

    basement
  12. Stairwell mudded out and waiting on a sand and a primer pass. During

    Stairwell mudded out and waiting on a sand and a primer pass.

    basement
  13. Looking up the bare stair stringers toward the exterior door, walls already mudded around them. During

    Looking up the bare stair stringers toward the exterior door, walls already mudded around them.

    basement
  15. Patched and painted ceiling section above the stairwell with a few primer spots still showing. During

    Patched and painted ceiling section above the stairwell with a few primer spots still showing.

    basement
  16. Sealed the stairwell off with plastic for dust containment before I went back to demo. During

    Sealed the stairwell off with plastic for dust containment before I went back to demo.

    basement
  17. Drywalled, primed, outlet box waiting on a cover. Almost done down here. During

    Drywalled, primed, outlet box waiting on a cover. Almost done down here.

    basement
  18. Unboxed an EcorPro EPD50 desiccant dehumidifier for the crawlspace next to the unit it'd replace. During

    Unboxed an EcorPro EPD50 desiccant dehumidifier for the crawlspace next to the unit it'd replace.

    basement
  19. Tongue-and-groove pine on the basement ceiling. Cottage feel without giving up access. After

    Tongue-and-groove pine on the basement ceiling. Cottage feel without giving up access.

    basement
  20. Utility area with water heater, washer, dryer, and the copper supply lines I ran overhead. During

    Utility area with water heater, washer, dryer, and the copper supply lines I ran overhead.

    basement
  22. Basement stairs and built-in shelves painted out after cleanup. Real storage now. After

    Basement stairs and built-in shelves painted out after cleanup. Real storage now.

    basement
  23. White basement staircase running up to the first-floor door. Done. After

    White basement staircase running up to the first-floor door. Done.

    basement

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