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I came upon this question, but it is regarding industrial space:

How do you frame a wall more than 8-10 feet tall?

Therefore, I am asking a new question that pertains to my residential situation.

The skinny: I want to frame a massive wall along my staircase. In the pic below, that whole area is going to be a new wall with exception to the doorway which is marked and obviously the entry way to the kitchen will still be open. I know that your typical wood stud frame is about 8' tall, so I don't know if I need to stack two frames or create 14.5'-tall frame. Don't laugh at me if that sounds utterly ridiculous. Remember, I am a novice DIY'er with ambitions.

So, before I decide to have contractors come out and provide estimates, I am wondering if this could be a DIY job. Therefore, what caveats do I need to be aware of before attempting this myself? What tools/materials should I have at my disposal?

It seems like I am going to have to build it along the existing staircase wall. If so, does the bottom plate need be fixed to the floor? Could I fasten the new frame to the existing wall? The ceiling is vaulted at probably a 45-degree angle, so how would the top plate need to be fastened to the beams along the ceiling?

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  • what is the reasoning for enclosing the staircase?
    – DMoore
    Nov 8, 2014 at 19:44
  • @DMoore A few reasons. 1) Will separate the unit better as it is currently a giant and open echo chamber. 2) I will create a ceiling within the stairwell that slants down along with the stairs and treat the space above like a small attic for storage. 3) Will make the living room easier to soundproof since it will be squared off more. 4) I just like the idea, really
    – oscilatingcretin
    Nov 8, 2014 at 20:08
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    That is what I was getting at - you creating a storage space. This isn't as easily feasible as you think you would need to run additional support. You can't just have staggered 2x4s holding up a potential area where people will stand or set heavy things. Walls are one thing (buy longer lumber) but the fact that you want a storage or extra square feet is another. Know that doing this will decrease the value of the unit in almost all cases.
    – DMoore
    Nov 8, 2014 at 21:41
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    Because 95% of people will prefer an open stairway. Your living room will feel smaller, your stairs will seem claustrophobic, you will have issues getting big things up the stairs, plus your stair railing just looks really nice. I can give you tips to do it but I would feel bad because I don't see how this would be worth it - and it is a bit of work. You will need to deal with the outer skirt and supporting new walls without making stairs look bad.
    – DMoore
    Nov 9, 2014 at 3:36
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    When you say 'separate the unit' do you mean there's a separate living unit upstairs? If so, you're going to want to check with code as this may be come a partition wall. Also, when you say you'll have 'attic space' that changes this entirely from a simple wall. Now you're talking load bearing ceilings and such. Finally, I have to agree with DMoore. From a design standpoint, this doesn't seem like a great idea. It's not a terrible idea, but if you're going to go through that kind of trouble to put up a wall, I'd talk with an architect or interior designer first.
    – DA01
    Jan 8, 2015 at 4:34

2 Answers 2

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The right way to do this is to deconstruct the side and top of the stairway wall - remove the drywall, the stair railing, and the top plate for that wall, and then add additional studs.

Your two choices are balloon framing that runs all the way to the ceiling and platform framing that is two separate walls stacked on top of each other. For platform framing, you would need to tie the top/bottom plates to the left and right walls so it would not move. Balloon framing would avoid this, so that would be my choice. Make sure to put proper fire blocking in. The stairs may be hung on the current wall, so you will want to make sure you don't mess up the current wall's structure. You can do this by sistering the new studs next to the old ones.

This is a pretty straightforward thing to do.

I would not recommend adding a full wall next to the existing wall; you would have to modify the floor covering and extend any utilities out to the surface of the new wall.

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  • If you go with the balloon framing option, you will need to find long enough 2x4s to go from the floor to the ceiling.
    – Jason Hutchinson
    Mar 9, 2015 at 13:16
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It isn't loadbearing, so to some extent this is "Just do it."

I Am Not An Expert, but my semi-educated approach would be to frame it in a 6.5' section over an 8' section, or some such division... not least because that would make wallboarding it easiest, and it avoids having to buy and handle longer (more expensive and more awkward) lumber.

You'll have to open up ceiling and floor to attach the wall's top and bottom plates to the joists, and maybe some of the wall so you're attaching properly to studs.. Frame in the bottom as if it was an 8' wall with its own top plate with 8' studs 16"-on-center, toenailed at the bottom and nailed through at the top. Then that plate becomes the bottom plate of the next section, whose studs get toenailed top and bottom.

Remember to frame in the doorway when working on the lower section, of course.

(I'd be tempted to put a decorative window somewhere in this wall, just because I like 'em and because that tall a wall cries out for something to break it up visually... but that would complicate the framing, and you may have other plans for that surface. I'd feel more strongly about it if there were windows over that stairwell, to avoid losing as much natural light.)

Quick thought: If you can put a screen, or bookcases, or something (cardboard? blankets?), along the proposed line of the wall that'd be a way to live with it for a while and check that you really do want to do this. You might decide that the resulting traffic flow isn't optimal, or that this makes the living room feel too closed in, or something of that sort. Yes, a nonstructural wall can always be taken out again, but it's better to make sure you have a reasonably clear vision of what it will look like before you start. Among other things, this is going to impose additional limits on what can go up and down those stairs -- having had to fight a 7' sofa around the bends of a twisting staircase, I'd be nervous about having that narrow an approach to them from either direction. Even if there will be a high ceiling so you can tilt things on end.

(Personally, if I was modifying that space I'd be more likely to put in a landing at the top of the stairs, with a railing, looking down into the great room. But I assume you want the wall either because you're subdividing the house or trying to block airflow.)

Afterthought: Have you thought about lighting for the new stairwell corridor?

Second afterthought: Make VERY sure that the studs are as plumb, and in line with each other, as possible. Failing to do that will result in one part of the wall being tilted relative to the other, which may not look very good and be a pain to disguise.

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  • Note: I think I've misread your question. The above assumes that you're building a wall IN FRONT of the stairway. If instead you're extending the wall now under the stairway straight upward, that's a different situation and starts with taking out the stair railing and treads. For that, again, I'd go with building up to level with the second floor and building a second section up from there to ceiling. You might need new support under the near side of the treads, depending on exactly what's there now. Plaster, paint, reinstall trimmed treads, bolt new handrail to wall. Still need a new light
    – keshlam
    Nov 8, 2014 at 19:27

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