When the Builder tells you NO…! 🫵
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- čas přidán 21. 11. 2023
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This might be frowned upon but I’m only telling you what I would do as a homeowner. Since I’m not a builder I can tell you what i’d do if it was me. If you had this storage area under the stairs, what would you do with it?
understairstorageideas, understairstorage, hiddenstorage, underthestairs
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Record the entire house. I did that weekly to know where plumbing, electrical and studs are in every inch of my house. Whenever I need or want to know what's behind any wall in my house I just look back at the weekly videos I took every Sunday when the workers were not working.
Brilliant
I would suggest never just record. Take pictures print them out and protect them from light as best as possible. Make yourself a catalog with those pics and all the info you need. Assuming you still live in the house 10, 20 years later or more the videos will be of no use when you no longer have a devise to play them. Take an example from the pictures we can still look at from the late 1800's on up. We can still observe things if they have not been overexposed to light. Everything digital will only be accessable with extreme effort or not at all. Just my opinion.
@@grayv-horse3443 Not our builder Century Communities here in Georgia. I know builders in other states are much better.
@@grayv-horse3443 Uhhh, that ain't the way things happen most of the time. First,most people aren't the ones actually building their own home. In reality, it's pretty common for details to change during construction. Even if the floor plan is the same, the framing plan may change somewhat, in terms of where exactly the framing members were placed. there's a lot of leeway. Electrical and plumbing are the same, the locations of all the fixtures receptacles switches, etc. may be to plan, but how the pipes and wires were run to achieve that may be somewhat different.
I just tear down my drywall every Sunday for a reminder.
We found out that the builder used the space under the stairs as a dumpster. When I opened it up to make a closet, SURPRISE !!!! What a mess.😖
That’s unfortunately extremely common
Back in the 80s 90s and even now drywallers would put an entire house of scrap in the walls.
Father in law caught a guy red handed sweeping saw dust down his duct work in the floor. He made them take all the soft lines down and blow them out , and put them back. Can you imagine the dust storm the first time the fan was turned on ? I mean who is that evil ?
My home builder left a lot of nails in my home hiding in the carpets and in the backyard. I have two little kids under the age of 3. My 3 year old luckily handed them to me whenever she found one. Unfortunately she stepped on one.
Our previous house was one of those stereotypical 60s houses. We were the 2nd house from the end. The neighbor on the end had a garbage pit in in back yard. It just kept sinking in. They finally did some remediation to fix the sink hole. and it was all construction garbage from when the house was built. Ours probably didn't have one because our back yard was mostly a hill.
Been building houses for almost two decades now. I’ve never told a client no about anything they wanted different. Tell them how much more money/time it will be, and if they say go for it, then it gets done. Access under the stairs would take 15 minutes and pretty much no money because all the materials are probably there already.
The house is insulated so chances are drywall is like... Tomorrow. Or today if it's getting loaded later. I could see this as being the reason why.
He would have to get the correct change order written up, signed off on and then paid before the work is done. And that doesn't happen that quick
My dad built houses during the summers because his teaching job didn't actually pay enough to raise a family on. He knew what he was doing because his undergrad degree was in industrial arts. I worked with him on a few of his houses when I was in high school and college. We always put a header and a door at the end of stairwells for under-stair storage access. Everyone was always tickled that they had more storage space.
Interesting statement. I've had to say no due to time issues. If the next job is planned already and you want to make a significantly big chance that I won't make my deadline, it's a no.
@@fornhunkle @basdewildt7973 there is no real reason why they couldn't have reframed an opening in like 15-30 mins like andrew said. or they could do it after the drywallers do their thing. it seriously wouldn't have been a big deal.
i'm also a builder and been on jobsites for 10+ years
Oh, I've said no before, a lot actually. Sometimes what a homeowner wants goes against code or is just a plain terrible idea.
I’m a project manager for a custom home builder and that’s against code around here. I’ll be glad to put a header there and after we’re done building you can open it up yourself and put a door.
@@redneckcoder 2 sheets of 5/8 drywall 2 hr rating just like any commercial building hall way should do
@@libertyBuilderswith the mod this guy did fire is gonna go straight through to the unprotected underside of those stairs, if it doesn't start in that electrical equipment. You really wanna be responsible for a firefighter falling through your floor and burning alive because the house went up faster than expected? Building codes exist for a good reason - a lot of them are written in blood.
@@Aseymah Wrong. Proper drywall and insulation and it is fine. Firefighters fall through roofs and floors all the time. Its part of the job they train for.
@@brianm6117 did we watch the same video? Guy cut through his drywall, there's bare wood facing what looks like a home server, network hub, and UPS. If that battery shorts and goes up those stairs are unprotected.
Where will harry live then?
I worked for a custom builder in North Carolina for many years and we would do anything the customer wanted done as long as it passes inspection.
Yeah, my thoughts here is that either what the home owner wanted wasn't going to meet code or they wanted the builder to change it for free. The vast majority of custom home builders have absolutely no issue with changing plans provided it meets code and they are appropriately compensated for the work.
@@isaachousley325 yes most people expect they’re gonna get something free. But they don’t. If they’re going to be really jerks about it then you tell them it’s going to be free and you mark something else up in its place
Usually people are building in tract home subdivisions and the builder won't deviate from "the plan". Plus whoever they have working doesn't speak English and wouldn't know to do it anyway. It's a big difference from a custom builder. Sure they rightly may charge you but if you're dealing with the owner, they'll likely do it.
@@robertbell525 I have worked around a bunch of Mexicans and they can speak English but only when they want to. When something goes wrong all of a sudden they don’t know any English🤷♂️
Definitely wasn't DR Horton Lol
19 years later I found the reason one of our toilets was always a slow flusher - Tile installer dumped at least a quart of grount down the toilet. I finally gave up and replaced the toilet. That's when I found grout caked in the lower portion of the toilet and just below the wax seal. It was only about 1/8" to 1/4" but in those places it caused us to have to use a plunger now and then or flush twice MANY times. Had I discovered this within the first year, I would have had the contractor get a plumber out to fix it and taken the flooring company to task. (Both are now retired and I'm certain the flooring guy didn't know what his installer did.
id still call them up and cuss them out
Wow now I suspect that’s possibly what I’m experiencing
@@HavokBWR”HEY my toilet is clogging from grout you put in it 20 years ago I want that guy to fix it”…. “Umm that person has been retired for 4 years and nobody is here now that worked at that job”
I tried to snake the decorative toilet that always clogged that my wife got a few years before. The 4 foot snake wouldn't fit through the internal shitter path (5/8 inch diameter snake). I replaced it with the one that can flush 19 golf balls.
I would have questioned a slow toilet on the initial walk through.
In NY (and anywhere that uses the international code council as the base code) it requires you to drywall the underside of the stairs if accessible by door (otherwise it has to be enclosed in drywall with walls) so that during a fire you can use the stairs reliably. They make stairs with thinner lumber than the floors around it, there's typically not stringers anymore, just glued 5/4" lumber with a small piece of trim holding the stair tread. They light up fast in a fire especially if they're covered in stain and polyurethane. They'd have to upcharge to drywall 4 extra walls and the underside of the stairs to meet code
even in Iowa this is a dumb idea unless the bottom of the stairs is protected from fire. What kind of idiot would limit a emergency egress route for their family?
The little room under the stairs looks like a nice place for a 6 yr old to play with matches. It should be wrapped in drywall.
Scary! I'm in a high rise. Thankfully the stairs are concrete.
@@rickhawkins218that is very stupid thinking 😂
In Iowa? Really? Me too. Iowa is the land of "Not up to code" houses, grandfathered in. My farmhouse is 150 years old, 5th generation, so you know it's not up to code.
You must live in Iowa City with all the left wing jellyfish who are terrified of a lack of drywall. 😒🤣
My pictures and videos of the house before the drywall went up have been so useful over the years! I know where and how everything was built
Builders usually do what you want even if they might charge you for it.
You would think that but I was surprised that some builders only let you pick from their list of options and that's it. We went with a builder that let us customize as long as it wasn't something crazy.
Theres a difference in a builder that builds a house for you, and one that builds a house and sells it to you.
In my experience where the market is tight, they do the job that they know how to do quickly.
@@spec717 But if you can negotiate the deal in advance, you can save a ton. Feature creep is not only a thing, it is a very expensive thing.
@@spec717 there's a lot of gray area there nowadays. A lot of them sell you their design, and build it with a minimal amount of modifications that you request.
Something to keep in mind if you do this. The stairway is part of the emergency escape and rescue route in your house. Because of this, the building code requires that fire protection be in place on all of the structural support structure under that space when that under-stair space is accessible. In the video here, you can see the bare studs and underside of of the step structure. This under-stair lumber should (by code) be covered with a minimum of 1/2 inch drywall or its equivalent. The purpose is to have that egress pathway remain structurally sound for some period of time should there be a fire. This allows the possibility of you and your family upstairs to get down those stairs out out of the house without it having the stairway collapsing and dropping you into the burned out void below in the event of a fire that starts downstairs or even under the stairway itself. Bottom line is that you can open that space up for use but you should keep your house up to code standards for you own safety and to avoid a potential issue down the road at resale.
And changing that structure could also mean if you lose everything in a fire, such as human life trapped upstairs, insurance may not cover.
Thank you! I was a Manufacturer rep for home fire protection for twenty years. My first question was if the "authority having jurisdiction" didn't allow for that space to be used that way for one reason or another. That aside, storage of winter clothing is one thing, the server rack was a concern to me for exactly why you said. It could be the source of the fire and you'd be stuck. Put a high temp fire sprinkler head over it at least, I guess?
Some AHJ's require that one specifically over one appliance, such as a water heater. That's such an easy thing to do vs (even if I think we should require) mandatory whole house fire sprinklers.
That's good to know. I took a screenshot of your comment because I do not ever want to forget that.
@@Skarry
Does your home have fire sprinklers throughout?
@@MM-jf1me Yep. I live in a converted loft. So, kind of a cheating. Essentially just had to swap out the old pump on the system with a residential r13 pump and swap out the heads. Much easier to install at build. It's cheaper than carpet per square foot!
Nice work.. you managed to circumvent the wallboard protection for the staircase.
It's good to take pictures of the entire house anyway because it's incredibly useful to know where pipes and wire are in the future. I've only been in my home 5 years and already referenced it multiple times.
In Ontario, Canada the building code requires that any such under stair space must be properly drywalled, taped and plastered as a fire barrier. In an old building I worked at the Fire Marshal did an inspection and we were given 1 month to drywall 2 under stair storage areas that had been there for decades,
In the USA, it depends what the codes were at the time of the work UNLESS the work needed a permit and it never had one, then it needs to meet current standards.
I've seen inspector pull that "it doesn't meet codes and you need to fix it" BS for old work, i explain and if they push it we get their boss on the phone and if he's an idiot too, we get the city on the phone, they always know their stuff.
In the USA, the code requires that it be insulated at the exterior wall and drywall/taped.
If this were a safety issue, the builder would've just said so.
@@otaking3582it's been stated by many professionals here, including firefighters, that you absolutely should install fire resistant drywall if you're opening up the space like that
@@daniellemartin9896 Then why didn't the builder just tell that to the homeowner instead of being a dick about it?
That’s a shit spot for a server rack gonna be hot af in there
Not with a ventilation fan running 24/7 under the top stair
Ventilating to where? From where? The warmer air has to go somewhere, likewise cool air must come from somewhere. I had to help troubleshoot a problem at a law office decades ago, their network hub and server were inside a literal closet, no ventilation whatsoever. Toasty!
@@bobblum5973 He has some kind of ductwork right above the access door. Maybe that is what brings AC to the space? For my home, the upstairs HVAC unit is in the attic right above the stairs and the top of the stair wall is accessible to run ducts down between the studs.
@@gregoryt1139 Yes, that was my point; *if* proper ventilation exists, fine, but without it, reliability isn't guaranteed.
@@bobblum5973to an air conditioned room in the house or outside in the summer time using a bathroom vent fan from a vent installed underneath the stairs.
I’d recommend two vent options to choose from depending on time of year.
I took the space from the MAIN stairs of my house that's near the front door.
And converted it to my dog's home. All 4 of my dogs fit under it,
And they always sleep together anyway.
We put LED lights and their toys and bed. And decorated it really nice.
We did NOT knock down any frames at all.
Since the wood frame is 16 inches on center, I knew where I could make a beautiful door with an arch and framed it.
We did double the frame 2x4's with bolts to give more strength, even though it didn't need it, but since there are 4 large dogs going in and out, it just made sense to me.
The problem there is fire protection. The drywall you opened up to get into that space is reasonably protected against fire while the space behind it isn’t. So if the house is on fire, your stairs are gonna catch fire real quick and trap anyone on the upper floors.
If you ever get a visit from a firemarshall, they’ll tell you that you’ll have to insulate and fireproof the entire inside of the stairwell now, which is gonna run you a couple hundred bucks.
@@zerg0s
I did that already when I first built it.
My entire house has TypeX fire-resistant drywall, including what I built. ALL the walls also have Rockwool insulation, which in on itself is also fireproof.
I spent a pretty Penny for the entire house to be redone after I purchased it.
I had an inspection from Dept of Buildings, including one from a FDNY inspector. Everything is protected.
But thank you for commenting that information for others to learn, it's very appreciated 🤓👍
The builder we used in AZ included under stairs finished storage as wells as fenced in backyard. We used same builder in NC and they didn't include under stairs storage or fencing, even if we said we'll pay extra them!
Only time a builder says no, is if someone wants it for free.... a simple door addition adds demo, framing, fire rated drywall, drywall finishing, paint, electrical, trim, flooring, & a door. None of that is free.
Any reputable builder will have a closet under the stairs included in the price. You don’t waste valuable living space when there is storage under the stairs.
@@TheNightshadePrince depends on the budget, extra space = extra money
Fire rated drywall? IRC requires 1/2" gyp. What are you talking about?
@@F-Bomb313 No this is a nonnegotiable feature in western homes. :)
@@TheNightshadePrince it must be nice to not have a budget when you build a house... sarcasm
Don’t forget this stairwell is supposed to have a fire rating to make sure you can get out thru this just in case, when you do this install drywall to the underside that’s exposed by opening this
What are you even saying?
Wrong, code has nothing to do with that being able to be used for storage it's the builder Bean incompetent and not knowing how to please the customer while staying code compliant.
@@awaren8375 WRONG!
There might be engineering needing to be done for that space and that made it too expensive
As a retired firefighter….PLEASE add at least one layer of fire-rated drywall to the underside of the stairs. It could save lives.
@@awaren8375 lookup R302.7 Under-stair Protection. In the International Residential Code. They are correct. If the builder did want to convert it to a closet, they would also have to amend their plans with the local building department in my area. It ends up being an expensive closet once you pay for change order, updated plans from the architect, re-filing plans with the city, materials, and labor.
ABSOLUTELY! You would not believe the number of voids framed in on a house!
Just remember, code says you have to have the bottom of the stairs protected by drywall. It's important when you go to sell the house. It might also be important for Life safety and or for a valid claim on insurance.
I video recorded and photographed everything when our house was being built. It came in very handy in 2 litigations and saved me a third litigation. Bottom line, record and document everything, every step of the way. Even if nothing goes wrong, it is handy to know where stuff is behind the walls.
Yes, but you need to put drywall up on the underside of the stairs so that you don’t kill firefighters who come to put out the fire that started from your 13,000 electronic gizmos under the stairs.
Wrong
@@bagelthugit's not required everywhere but you absolutely SHOULD apply drywall under there if you open it up because it helps in case of a fire. It's kinda a big deal
I thought that was a generator. Lol
What do you think drywall is gonna do you know how weak that stuff is I’m a plasterer btw
@@Jakeyboy1800why do you think type-x drywall has that rating?
🤨 As a builder, I've never heard of any sensible builder refusing work unless it was dangerous or they weren't getting paid for it. There's no reason to refuse in this case unless the homeowner or their designer had an afterthought and expects the builder to eat the extra costs for it. That's not how it works. You need to figure out what you want before finalizing a contract. Under stair access isn't a difficult decision. If you don't make up your mind before you put your chicken scratch on paper, then you need to pay extra for the extras that you want, or risk doing it yourself. You don't work for free, and neither do we.
I've know some who will tell people no because they don't want to do more. There are some pretty poor examples of people in every industry.
@@AscheOfTheLakeoh you mean you knew a drunk parading as a construction worker??? The amount of ignorance and laziness in the comment section about builders is pretty curious😂 opening up the underneath of a stairwell especially during construction when no drywall has been hung for the inner walls is simple as fuk to do fire your builder and contractor and get someone who actually knows what they are doing unless you're one of those ass hats that thought they were going to get this shit done for free
@@awaren8375 I'm just pointing out that not every builder is worth their prices. Some are terrible and lazy. Some are great. Nothing to do with wanting things for free.
Just as there are people in any industry that will decline to do simple things, even for a bit more money because they're lazy.
@@awaren8375 : Some other people just refuse on some general principle. Those folks usually only build a limited set of designs that _they_ choose. At any rate, whether you _can_ "just fire the builder" depends heavily on the contract.
@@absalomdraconis not really if they're not doing work you're satisfied with or you feel is substandard quality you can fire them and sue them.
Dutch houses always have storage or a rest room under the stairs. We have a thing with optimising storage space.
Always good to finish the space under stairs for extra fire rating protection
Always good not to open the understairs space and put some huge bitcoin mining server fire hazard in it. Why not go the whole hog and have a barbecue under the family's only fire escape route?
@fatroberto3012 that's not a bitcoin mining server. Just looks like a fancy network setup, a NAS, and a medium-tier server all in a rack. And do you really think servers are fire hazards? Your phone is probably more dangerous just based on the fact it has lithium batteries in it lmao
The deal is that if that area is going to be accessed, the whole thing needs to be covered in sheetrock. Sheetrock is a fire barrier. If the house is on fire, the stairs could be burning from the underside and a fireman might fall through the burning stairs while going upstairs to rescue your children.
Hmmm, I should put some sheetrock under my stairs 😮❤
Fire code in most places call for two layers of 5/8 inch Sheetrock under the stairs
omg why did we use sheetrock in the whole house.
@@danielhoward8354 just the staircase has to have double the Sheetrock. Layer on the inside-so when you're inside that area-you're looking Sheetrock only, no framing visible-then when outside of the stairwell "closet," the entire stairwell is covered and finished in Sheetrock.
If its just for storage why does it matter if the framing is visible on the inside? @@LaLadybug2011
Your video proves the point. The builder said No. You have installed an electrical item under the stairs which is a fire risk and the timber is not protected by the plaster board. Your means of escape is now gone and your windows may nor be designed as fire exits. Building Code is there for a reason.
Darwin might take care of this one or he may get lucky.
also, when you violate code, insurance companies don't have to pay if they find out.
This is not a reason to say "No". All the builder has to say is "Sure, but it'll cost this much extra to bring it up to code."
A bit of drywall, trim, one electrical run...done. It's not a big ask.
This kind of thing is, as I have learned, why DIY can be so stupid. I discovered that there's too much information I don't even know to look for or ask about to be messing around with construction; electrical, plumbing, etc., when you don't have proper training.
@MustafaAlammar when it is production home builder where cycle times matter, the time lost in redlining plans, getting pricing, ordering material, etc can all make it not worth it for the builder. Especially if said change requires resubmittal of plans and permits to the municipality
LOL imagine a situation where you are paying $400k+ for a house, want a simple change, and are told no, yet you still pay for it.
For stairs it can be considered a fire hazard. For commercial real estate it would be a fire hazard.
WARNING: The builder says “no” because he knows that that’s an off size and you will need to have a custom door made for a $1000 or so. Notice in the video that the guy didn’t have a door when he was done. I wanted the same thing and did it myself only to find out I needed a custom door. I was lucky to find a custom door that was ordered, but never picked up. 😊
But if you’re paying the builder to build for you why is the builder saying no I’m not going to build this for you? He’s a builder it’s what we pay him to do. Say it’ll need a custom door hit the customer with the price and let the customer decide if it’s worth it. They aren’t there to decide they are there to execute the customers wants
@@guitarisdeathofme Hey, if you got the money, I suppose he might do it for some outrageous amount or he could actually say, “No, it wasn’t part of the plan you approved.”
There was a door present where he opened a door. The door was well before he shoes the little door. It's here where he says "After the house is built..."
$1000?! Is that seriously what that would cost in the US/where you are? For one single tiny door? It would cost like £30-£40 here in the UK. We got two for our old understairs cupboard, delivered, for under £100.
In any case agree with the other commenter, it's not a builders place to just decide it's too expensive. If they don't have capacity to add the job due to it not being planned, that's fine, don't have the required skills, fine, and if it's not allowed due to regulations, also fine. But "It will cost a lot so I'll just say no" is weird.
Why would you ever order custom? Why not just order something a size bigger than the frame and cut it to spec? It might not look as nice but it'll still do the job.
Do this for the whole house! You never know when you’ll want to run a new wire or change something. I did and it came in handy.
If you remove that stud and it's not headed out for it, your stairs will collapse.
Don’t ask the builder asked the architect if you want it stored underneath there they needed to modify the placement of the studs. The reason he told you is because it wasn’t in the budget that was approved or the designs that were approved and you’re probably not willing to pay a few thousand dollars and have all the revisions change orders made.
A builder will never tell you no as long as you ain’t trying to get it for free any change cost something it may not be much, but it still cost something
If it’s agreed on before you sign the contract, he’ll add it for cost. If you try to add it as a change order it’ll be $10,000.
I assume the homeowner just didn’t want to pay for the multiple thousand dollar change order for something that looks simple to them. The builder would have to meet codes and fireproof the stairs and likely add another light w/ switch. Not to mention door and trim. The builders required change compared to what the homeowner did would not be the same.
yes, exactly it's not just access to the space for storage it is major change.@@everettsgoldenduo4999
@@everettsgoldenduo4999 This is it exactly.
What this guy did is not generally up to code. If a builder's gonna do it, they're gonna make it up to code because they can't have that liability.
@@ColonelSandersLiteit’d be way too much liability. Couldn’t imagine what would happen to the builder if the worst case scenario happened and there was a fire that started under the stairs and someone couldn’t get out of the house with the stairs burning first. A homeowner would likely just have their liability coverage cover it, but I’d imagine a builder could potentially be criminally negligent since they’re expected to understand why this would be incorrect and the risk with it.
you signed a contract then asked for more.
in the industry, these are called "Extras" and are actually where you can make a lot of your money
however, it is also a way homeowners try to scam contractors.
Yup. Happens all the time.
Paint a house. Now the homeowner wants a different color and doesnt want to pay "extra" for it. Now, doesnt want to pay for original job.
HA. HAHA. HA.
Now, we come and remove OUR work.
Have a good day.
Change orders are a pain. Especially when there is a deadline and the customer wants to change things willy nilly. You get behind and the customer will blame you when it was their doing.
@@FishFind3000 Some of them are a pain, other times you make $500 for cutting out a couple of 2x4s.
I love extras.
Pure profit.
We built this house in Lake Oswego, Oregon one time, we cutting the roof in and above the garage area was the space that was that was right next to the upstairs master bedroom. It was the lady judge we were building it for, and she had this 9 year old boy that she wanted the space above the garage framed in. It wasn't even tall enough for a 5-foot person could stand up, and it was right next to the upstairs master bedroom, we used to joke around that she was going to lock him in there😂, because it was really a weird thing but we laid flooring and put in backing for sheet rock and framed in a space for a 3 1/2 foot door we must have came back to that house 5 time to do little things like move a 2 foot wall over an inch, next to the HVAC, little things like that. That could get away with the inspector. We charged her for each time it came back though too, after the first time.
As a sparky I record a walkthrough of the house after the wiring is complete. I send it to my builder so he has reference of stud locations and it often includes plumbing as they’re usually in with us. Saves so many people a headache later when something isn’t located properly or if there are variations post lining.
It’s all fun and games until you cut out a load bearing wall and ruin your whole house. I’d say always consult with your builder or call an experienced handy man to do things like this unless you’re experienced in the trade yourself. I’ve fixed so many screw ups of home owners trying to do it themselves.
They didn't cut a stud, they cut out the dry wall in between the studs.
@@bryanarycode3417 good catch. They just made a 16 inch opening between the studs. That was a good idea.
He said he took note of where the studs were. Do you see anything else load bearing there? Nope..
@@Samuel-oz5ji just in general I meant that homeowners doing projects on they’re own it can go bad. There’s many little things that your average homeowner don’t know about that could turn out to be a big problem. Yes I see they didn’t cut any studs here. I’ve fixed many homeowner screw ups before.
He could’ve also built a simple header and had a wider opening, if you paid for the footage and you have a use for it, use it!
after framing final, sneak in at midnight and frame the door your self. The drywall folk will know what to do. then drop a door in the materials, so they don't go asking the builder for one..
With so many sub-contracting out just about everything, it could be possible. But only if they use subcontractors...if they handle all the work themselves then doubt it could be pulled off without being noticed.
it could work. make sure to leave an extra 500 bucks though.
so scam the drywall contractor out of $350ish of labor & material, along with the trim carpenter $50 of labor? Only one making out is you and the builder
How would the builder not notice that after the fact?
It wouldn't get by me😂
I made a sudden change on my house build. The builder looked kind of shocked, and nervously said it wasn't in the original plan. I told him I knew that, and just to add what I owed them to the final cost. They got right on it.
Putting the NVR under the stairs is the best idea you just gave me 👍
I was the general contractor for the building of our house. I established a great relationship with all the workers...the builder, the plumbers, the electrician, the concrete guys, the flooring people, the window people, i could keep going. They never told me no for anything, and 2 offered me jobs on salary. No matter if we changed things or not, And evennwith that great work flow relationship- recorded and photographed everything. Later we had to know exactly where the pipes were under the subfloor, and under the basement concrete slab. Videos came in handy! They HAD to listen to me in a sense, as I was their boss first, home owner second. I separated the degree of homeowner by saying it was someone elses home (family member), and that they hired me as the general contractor (which they did, and we have different last names, so it worked out) but still- I highly reccommend recording- whether the relationship is excellent, or not etc....still always do this!! Great video!
In a previous house I used to live in, I made a space under the stairs and used it as a concealed gun storage area. The access door was a large built in three section shelf that was designed to look like a..... shelf. The shelf was about 20" wide by about 36" high and the back wall of the shelf would open up and allow access to get into the storage area. It was a tight fit for a big person to get in, but was still a great hidden storage area for all my guns.
Working in construction, I can't imagine saying no to a customer over something so simple. It's an easy extra to charge more money for if nothing else, and that's enough incentive for me to make someone's house more of a home for the rest of their days.
Code says you need firecode drywall under the stairs. Just something to think about.
this is not code everywhere.
Code doesn’t matter unless the home is needing to pass inspection which only happens when it’s first built or when it’s exchanging ownership
Yeah take your code and shove it up your keester
Beat me to it.
Yeah it is a fire egress hazard
@@buttermonkeyFTW
Or...after a fire...people could be trapped upstairs and when they investigate and then void the claim because you as a homeowner penetrated the fire barrier...yeah weigh that argument for insight...
Had an apartment many years ago, boxed in stairs with a landing up to second floor bedroom and bath.
Visited my neighbor on that side and we realized how big that dead space behind the coat closet had to be.. moved coats cut between studs and everyone called it the batcave because people would come in go hang up a coat and disappear into my library
You really don't need to, whatever space you want should be in the house plans, you're paying for it, the builder will follow the construction plans.
Studs are pretty easy to find with or without a stud finder or video. You can sound for them or look at drywall near the bottom which will always reveal stud location based on screw location. In this case though, the location does not matter because you are going to do demo before framing a door. You will therefore find the stud regardless
Pretty much any magnet will work if you’re too cheap to buy a stud finder.
@@a.n.7863 : I dunno about that, I've seen some _very_ cheap magnets.
It’s not even his finished closet. Look at the bottom of the steps. They r completely different. More fake news on the internet.
Time for a change order. Let's see, access door under the stairs. Materials, labor, miscellaneous charge comes to $2000. Sign here please.
I get you think your joking but the number isn't far off. Mid-cost door $500, trim-base-foam $100, drywall+time $300, knob $50, door install time $350, paint $75. $1375
Now some of addition hours would be absorbed into the full build, but the cost even for something fairly small adds up.
@nicpadilla9836 That's still kind of low, there is a bit of framing you'd have to do. I'd go with his joke price tbh
@anthonyrodrigues5032 I probably would too.
I didn’t think it was a joke price. Seemed in line to me. And almost no builder I know would turn down the extra work.
@@locheyoutube5252 For something like that, I probably wouldn't turn it down, but I haven't tried to get work in over a year, and yet I've been booked solid for the next 2 years.
It's a fire code issue. That's why they wont do it. If the house burnt down and they found out it had something to do with the understair storage they xould get sued. In the US if the Architect signed off on it there is no statute of limitations and he is liable until he's dead.
The only reasons they would say no would be either it doesn’t pass building regs, or you are asking them to add something to the design and build without paying extra..
Builder will do what you want. However a change order comes with a price. Don't make it as builders problem because your wanting something for nothing.
I wouldn't think extra storage space is something for nothing.
It's doable, and everyone could use some storage space.
@missyjo2475 it's not free to frame it out. Most people would say "well can you just do it, it will only take 5 minutes?"
@@missyjo2475it’s not that easy for the builder. The code for under the stairs storage is strict, and they’d have to fireproof the stairs and typically add a light. Technically what the homeowner did here isn’t without risks. If their electronics start a fire, the first thing to go will be the stairs since there isn’t any fireproofing, and obviously that could trap people upstairs without an exit.
Not every builder will do what you want. In a typical modest subdivision, you can only get them to do things that fit in with there standard practices. When I tried to get built-in vacuum ducts added, I got nowhere. It was just not a think that they did, so they wouldn't even quote a price.
@@richdobbs6595sounds like not a carpenter's department lol. why didnt you contact a local hvac company
Just hope that the server doesn't short out or your house never floods.
Built houses for 26years and counting, we literally put a door underneath every set of steps ever. We've had homeowners tell us they don't want it, but that's rare
Did you get your kit from your dealer or was it available online?
You need to fireblock the framing and install 5/8" type x rock with a tape coat. Just something to think about.
You don't need 5/8 rock anymore, 1/2 inch will do it with the new code update.
you need 5/8 type x
@@kriss6639 can you quote the code? Last I looked, under stairs is only 1/2 inch
In some place code requires a minimum 5 hour rating for the walls in the closet under the stairs. IN addition, some require a door to access said closet while not permitting it to be used as a closet. Sounds off, yeah? Not really when your babies are on the 2nd floor and the firemen need to access the 2nd floor to save your babies. The 3 to 5 hours needed before the walls melt beneath the stairs gives them more time. Having a door on the closet allows the firemen to hose down the stairway so they can use it to save lives and buy more time.
If you put a door on it, you’ll probably use it and by using it place flammable materials in there which will act as kindling to your wooden framed stairway. Kiss your babies good-bye and wish the firemen luck.
If a contractor says “no” to the request for a door, he’s a good contractor.
Literally millions of homes have storage under stairs... just put type x up and dont store a bunch of batteries under there... or a server like this idiot.
@robertthomas6127 It’s also good to take pictures showing the measuring tape extended to provide a point of reference. Without this, it’ll still be a guessing game because the general location may be known, but not the exact distance.
The clowns in this comment section. If it isn’t on the plan set, we don’t do it. When the inspector comes in to do a rough framing inspection and there’s nothing obvious changes, they fail our inspections. If you want to cut up your house after final inspection, be my guest. If you want to pay your architect/structural engineer to come in and add a revision to the plan set and get it passed through planning, be my guest. But you can guess, homeowners never do because they are cheap and don’t think rules apply to them.
The reason the builder told you no is because now he has to drywall it so you can evacuate using the stairs in the event of a fire. Drywall that room or learn how to jump far and tuck when landing.
New SFH construction (a new complete house) now requires residential-grade fire sprinkler system (since 2011) in the house, that stairwell needs a fire sprinkler head regardless if its enclosed or closet space as the wood stairs are combustible and an exit pathway. Doesn't matter if its drywalled, either.
@@crosslink1493 not where I build
It’s a fire hazard when you put a door in unless it’s drywalled. That’s why they said no.
Nothing has been drywalled yet... I dont see an issue. Just put some type x up and keep it moving.
The entire thing is a fire hazard. Every single wall is wood, even the outside walls. This house has very poor structural integrity. Must be American.
If a builder is gonna tell you that you got the wrong builder. Most would say sure for a price.
Um, *WHY* is the builder telling you "No?" Do they have a valid reason? Is it because the access point would compromise the stairs in some way? Do you have the skills to accommodate for that? These are kind of important questions...
*ALRIGHT* you ask the builder to add a sex dungeon in the basement and they tell you 'Get the hell outta here!' So what you do is you roofie the builder, put him in the secret stairwell space, and turn him into a gimp.
If you pay them, they will give you a door to under there 😂
under wear?
Good idea; however, with all those electronics pumping out heat, I’d recommend good ventilation in there to prevent them from overheating.
As a framer if you're told no find a new crew. If you want something done differently from the original plans ok it's a $500 change order + materials and labor if you're ok with that sign here and I'll get somebody on it right away
Time to self contract it out, but yes it’s always a great idea to take a photo of all the walls prior to drywall. 👍
Yep, my wife asks me sometimes "are we allowed to do that"?. I tell her it's our damn house, we will do as we please, within reason of course 😂
I have read that there are communites where fire regulations prohibit these areas from being used for storage because when not fully closed they can function like a chimeny during a fire. If that is the case one should remember that one can possibly lose insurance coverage for ones own damn house? I'm not a lawyer just thinking out loud. In addition someone can also become trapped on a upper floor and lose their life as well. So CYA at best and inform ones self in advance I would say, or not?
The government has her running scared. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission as they say.
@@ethanlewis1453 that's exactly what I say..!!.
only time it is a problem is when you sell house will it pass occupancy permit.
@@ranger178 it does, I do this stuff all the time and pass inspection on some really nice framing jobs. Including one I just finished rebuilding a floor in a bar, with the bar in place. Cutting 36x36 , 18 inch deep squares outta existing concrete basement floor, to pour footers to support new posts, or wall , where you pour the footer 16 inches wide, and running the length of the new wall.
Reinforce the new footers with rebar cut to size, and poured slightly proud, to pitch any standing water/moisture away from new footings. Fire blocking, 16 inch on center, all new 2x12 joists, where a run a temporary crows foot, until I come back and block between joists.
I can keep going, because I actually do this stuff all the time, but my profession is actually roofing, love metal work, like the fold lock flat panels and new box gutter liner in my profile pic, a job I did not long ago, roof was 12/12 , slate tear off, went back with 30 year 3 tabs, storm nailed the entire roof.
I was just messing around with that original comment, I swear I'm not a complete dumbass
😂
you could also look at a measuring tape and see that they measure studs at 16" on center and know where the studs are... or use a stud finder?
Good idea to document. Not so sure that I'd use it as a network closet without adding some protection to what is normally the primary egress to the upstairs.
I would header the back of the stairs to remove that center stud. It doesn't have a hip joint, anyway. Make the storage entry wider.
I doubt that lone 2x4 is weight bearing. It's probably just for drywall later. If not, a header will be needed.
The equipment rack shown wouldn't fit through the access path shown, so maybe he did.
This guys entire life revolves around storage under stairs hahahahahhahahaha
That's where he hides his money from his wife
😂
you bet!
@@houseofwonders1 No it's where he hides to wank it
When the builder tells you know, it had better be for a "law" or find a new builder. And it's a GENIUS idea my man.
No professional would ever say no to that.
We love extra hourly while were already situated on site.
"Sure but it will cost you"
"But I don't wanna pay that"
"Then I see no reason to do it"
The videos are great, that is true. Be sure to make them often if its a lengthy process.
I mean there is a high likelyhood lotta places dont lwt you build under the stairs for fire code reasons
Out of touch rich people legislation, almost as bad as forcing people to grow lawns in their front yard. The decadence is inpalatable .
@@TheNightshadePrinceWell when you're half assed modifications leave you trapped upstairs because the stairs are on fire because you didn't put fire retardant dry wall up... Don't complain.
@@SilvaDreams wow I’m sorry but if you think dry wall is a good idea then your the fool not me. Plaster or wood paneling you gotta build your home like a medieval forctress. My comment was about putting a closet under the stairs like 99 percent of people do. You should actually learn about how to properly build a house before you speak because drywall and engineered wood is not how you do it. Educate yourself!
@@TheNightshadePrincewhat are you talking about lol? All the guy is saying is that you’re supposed to fireproof the underside of stairs. I’m not big into codes, but that’s just a basic safety precaution. Especially if it’s the only exit from an upstairs story.
@@everettsgoldenduo4999“ Build understand stairs” meaning no closet under the stairs. Not using understand the stair space isn’t an option for poor people with small homes.:)
Should’ve just framed the door yourself and not said anything.
No kidding. Imagine the hassle of framing a door later.
My parents' builder installed all the framing for a window where they wanted it but had to come back, cut out the Gyprock and install the glass after everything else was complete. Apparently due to some energy efficiency regulation. Rather pointless considering they were adding an extension onto and incredibly draughty and under insulated old house.
You should just tell the builder what you're planning to do, that way they'll put in more supports. If you don't do that, *the stairs could collapse* due to the weakened structure.
Yep so add reframing, thermal fiber, blocking, add drywall,then taping finishing or plaster so that it's fire rated and safe to egress from the second floor during a fire! Add a custom cut down door and some trim. And you're looking at $1800.00! Should we go ahead and add $ 300.00 more to Prime and paint?
Most pointless comment award.
It’s only pointless if you don’t understand the point that’s being made
To be honest the builder made the right choice, saying no.
That cupboard is inside another cupboard/wardrobe meaning that permanently access limits the use of the walk through one.
Also if the intended use is for a server room (as indicated here), that under the stairs segment would need power and other supply, AC/ventilation.
That’s a lot more work than what he is trying to indicate and that little room is going to overheat and become a potential fire hazard.
The idea of filming where the framing/cables are is a pretty good idea though.
Put in a network room for the house. Handle the Ethernet and video cables. But you’ll need an electrical outlet installed.
If you are buying a tract home (not custom) that is still under construction any changes to the house would have to go through the builder.
It’s pretty common for the general contractor not to do any changes that aren’t approved by the builder. The builder is the owner of the house until the potential buyer closes on the house.
I’d suggest that anyone that wants to make ANY changes or modifications to a house that they are buying to list the modifications on their purchase agreement.
If you are building a custom home and your contractor says no- get a new contractor!
When my wife and I bought our first house the upgrade prices were insane. One extra receptacle in a room was $75. A door to the garage was $650 so before drywall was put up I measured out where a door opening would fit.
We also went in on a weekend and screwed down all the subfloors to prevent future squeaky floors.
I guess if you use the right kind of screws that should be good. If you didn't, screws are much more brittle than nails so they don't wiggle they don't bend. If they don't bend when the house shifts it'll instead of slide within its little slot it'll kind of rip the wood or pop the little top
@@AdmiralStoicRumyep. ❤❤
WRONG
Screws hold just fine and if the wood expands they hold better than nails
@@user-ek9st1kl6k you know that screws are a hard metal and brittle as opposed to nails which are a soft metal and able to bend and warp, as a frame is inclined to do as the house ages and settles. You dont want "just fine" when dealing with a potential framing failure. You want done right.
All I did was screw down the subfloor. I didn’t do anything structural which is where the wrong screws become an issue.
FWIW I used drywall screws and all they had to do was prevent squeaks.
I know a carpenter who actually listens to the person who contracted him. He will modify the structure for access, with out compromising the structural integrity of the building, and within requested modified budget.
In some locations builders are not permitted to give homeowners access to a space under stairs. It is because of a fire hazard. People like to put their internet routers etc in there and code enforcement sees that as a potential problem.edit: many people put their routers and such in that space. Make sure you install a vent and even an extra air conditioning duct. Those routers get hot.
In the UK it's called a protected staircase. You may find out why if your house catches fire.
You submit your plans to the city and they get approved. Changes afterwards can hold your house back because when the inspector notices it’s not on the plans, then he won’t pass it. You have to get plans submitted for a reason. It’s not always up to the builder.
100% our masters don't like it when you change things without telling them.
Be careful putting a server rack under the stairs. Small enclosed spaces with no air movement can cook those things. On the plus side. You get “free” heated stairs
Better make sure you add an AC supply if you’re planning to use that extra storage for media equipment. That small of an area with no air flow leads to equipment getting hot.
Stud finder ? This is dumb
Code states usable space under stairs requires wallboard on all surfaces don’t forget to tell 100%of the story
You may not like what they charge you. It ain't free!
Right, so most builders would just drywall the underside of the stringers and leave that space open.
In what state or city ?
@@animateddepression This is 90% of stairs in MN.
Please don't use the 4 letter "C" word!
The builder should fulfill your request w a change order , cause un protected openings under stairs have to be fully drywall because of fire code , unless getting downstairs in a fire isnt a priority, ive been both builder and inspector,
They have these things call "plans" in my part of the world. These are incredibly detailed drawings that specify the exact location, dimensions, and code standards for pretty much every single item going into a new build or structural reno. As the homeowner - the person paying for all this stuff - the "plans" are yours, you own them 😂. No need to skulk around the build that you're paying for, taking photos so you know where stuff is. Doing so to keep the builder honest, that's a whole different matter.
That's when you say who's paying you?
Customer: uhhh…. The bank 😅
And that is when the builder says: you are. Change order right here $2,000. Sign on the line and we will get started. Otherwise I am trying to work and you are creating a safety hazard. So we can shutdown for the day here and bill you for the delay. How do you want to go about it? As you said you are paying for it either way😉
If you actually plan to pay them for it, they will do it. What they will not do, is Work for free
Something to really think about is that when a builder refuses do do something it is most likely because it doesn’t meet current building codes. So if you decide on doing it on your own, you may have safety concerns and trouble when selling your home in the future.
Look at the plan before framing
Couldn't get any better advice than that!!!🙏
Design builds are the worst and the first red flag you are going get fucked with out a solid contract.
Yep did that before! Got one of those little doors to get access to it, just used it for small boxes on little shelfs on the side, extra room is a plus! Oh we drywalled it too! :)
So if you did this after the builder finished did you have to reroute all your network wiring for that rack system to under the stairs? How’d that go?
Don't expect a contractor to do anything for free. Take it up with your architect so it's in the final drawings and it will be in the contract when it goes to bid
There's no such thing as architects any more. Well, at least for 99.9% of the population that will never deal with one. And certainly not for 99.999% of single family residential construction. I know, because I am one.
In case anyone wondered why a builder would say no. It is code. Why is it code? Because if that server rack, that you put under there, should catch fire, under those stairs, you wouldn’t be able to use them to get out of the house. You need 2 layers of 5/8 drywall hung and taped to bring that up to code. You’re not as smart as you think you are.