Installing a New Staircase Directly Above the Existing One

"Where will the stairs go?" It's honestly one of the first questions we get asked when someone is thinking about a loft conversion, and it's completely understandable. Nobody wants to sacrifice a huge chunk of their bedroom or landing to accommodate a staircase, and there's often genuine concern about how the new stairs will impact the existing layout of the house.

The good news is that in many cases, there's a solution that's both space-efficient and practical. By installing the new loft staircase directly above your existing staircase, we can minimize the impact on your home while creating safe, comfortable access to your new loft space.

Why Staircase Placement Really Matters

Before we get into the details of the above-existing-stairs solution, it's worth understanding why this is such an important consideration in any loft conversion.

Impact on Your Existing Layout

Every staircase needs a certain amount of space, both for the stairs themselves and for the landings at top and bottom. If we position the stairs in the wrong place, you could end up losing a significant portion of a bedroom, dramatically reducing your landing space, or creating awkward traffic flow through your home.

We've seen loft conversions done by other companies where the staircase placement wasn't thought through properly, and it's genuinely affected how usable and comfortable the rest of the house is. That's not a compromise anyone should have to make.

Building Regulations Requirements

Staircases aren't something we can just design however we like. Building regulations are very specific about dimensions and safety requirements. The stairs need to have adequate headroom (usually 2 metres minimum), they need to be wide enough (typically 800mm for a loft conversion), and the pitch can't be too steep.

The rise and going (that's the height and depth of each step) need to be within certain ranges to ensure the stairs are comfortable and safe to use. There are also requirements for handrails, balustrades, and landings. All of this affects where we can position a staircase and how much space it will take up.

How Your Home Will Flow

Beyond just the practical requirements, we need to think about how you'll actually use the space day-to-day. Will the stairs feel like a natural part of your home's layout, or will they be awkward to access? Will they interfere with how you move through the existing floors, or will they integrate seamlessly?

These aren't just abstract concerns. When you're living with a loft conversion, using those stairs multiple times every day, the placement really affects how comfortable and practical the space feels.

Future Resale Considerations

When you eventually come to sell your home, potential buyers will be looking at the whole package, including how well the loft conversion integrates with the rest of the property. A well-positioned staircase that doesn't compromise the existing layout is a real selling point, whereas a poorly positioned one can be a negative.

The Above-Existing-Stairs Solution

So here's the solution that works beautifully for many properties. We install your new loft staircase directly above the staircase you already have. It sounds almost too simple, but it's genuinely one of the most space-efficient approaches we can take.

How It Works

Your existing staircase runs from your ground floor up to your first floor, with a landing at the top. What we do is continue that vertical line upward, installing a new staircase that goes from your first-floor landing up to your new loft space.

The new stairs essentially become a continuation of your existing circulation route through the house. Instead of starting from scratch in a completely different location, we're building on the route that's already there.

Why This is So Space-Efficient

The reason this approach works so well is that you're using space that's already dedicated to vertical circulation. Your existing staircase already takes up a certain footprint in your home, and by positioning the new stairs directly above it, you're not eating into additional floor space that could be used for other purposes.

Think about it this way. If we positioned the new staircase somewhere completely different, we'd be taking up space that currently functions as bedroom floor area, landing space, or storage. By going directly above the existing stairs, we're minimizing that impact.

The Minor Trade-Off

Now, we need to be honest here. In most cases, positioning the staircase above the existing one does require some adjustment to the existing floor layout. Typically, we need to slightly adjust the position of one bedroom wall to accommodate the stairwell opening.

This is what we did for Laura's conversion, and it's a good example of what's involved. We needed to move one bedroom wall slightly to create the opening for the new staircase. The room stayed fully functional throughout the work, and the size reduction was only marginal, something you'd barely notice when you're actually using the room.

When we say "slight" and "marginal," we're talking about maybe 300-400mm in most cases. It's not a huge chunk of the room, and it's usually the best compromise between creating access to your loft and maintaining the usability of your existing space.

Keeping the Family at Home

One of the big advantages of this approach is that because we're working primarily on creating the new stairwell opening and installing the stairs themselves, the disruption to the rest of your home is minimized. Yes, there's work happening, but it's contained to specific areas and your family can continue living in the house throughout the conversion.

For Laura's family, this was really important. With kids needing to go to school and everyone trying to maintain some sense of normal routine, being able to stay in the house made a massive difference. The bedroom that needed the slight wall adjustment remained usable the whole time, and the family's daily life carried on with minimal disruption.

What the Installation Process Involves

When we're installing a staircase above your existing one, there's a methodical process we follow to ensure everything is done safely and to the highest standards.

Structural Assessment

Before we do anything, we need to assess the structural implications. We're creating an opening in your first-floor ceiling/loft floor, and we need to ensure the surrounding structure can handle this. Sometimes we need to add additional support beams or adjust joist arrangements, and this is all calculated by a structural engineer as part of the planning process.

Creating the Stairwell Opening

Once we know exactly where the opening needs to be and what structural work is required, we can create the stairwell opening. This involves carefully removing sections of ceiling and floor to create the space the stairs will occupy. Any joists that need to be cut are properly supported and tied into new structural elements so nothing is compromised.

If a bedroom wall needs to be adjusted, we move it at this stage. We'll put up temporary protection and dust barriers to contain the mess and maintain your privacy during the work.

Installing the New Staircase

With the opening prepared, we can install the actual staircase. This is built to meet all building regulations for dimensions, headroom, and safety. The stairs are securely fixed to the structure, with proper landings at top and bottom.

Handrails and balustrades are installed to meet safety requirements. Everything is checked and double-checked to ensure it's solid, safe, and comfortable to use.

Finishing Work

Once the structural work is done, we move on to finishing. This includes plastering around the stairwell opening, fitting skirting boards, architraves, and any decorative elements. The aim is to make the new staircase look like it's always been part of the house, integrated seamlessly with your existing interior.

For Laura's project, the finishing work meant you genuinely couldn't tell where the old house ended and the new conversion began. It all flowed together naturally.

Building Control Approval

Throughout this process, building control will inspect the work at key stages. They'll check the structural elements, verify that the staircase dimensions meet regulations, and ensure everything is safe. Their approval is necessary before the conversion can be signed off, which gives you complete confidence that the work has been done properly.

When Alternative Positions Make More Sense

While positioning the staircase directly above the existing one works brilliantly for many properties, it's not always the right solution. There are situations where an alternative position might be better.

When Existing Layout Won't Allow It

Sometimes the existing layout of your home means that going directly above the existing stairs simply won't work. Perhaps there are structural elements in the way, or the landing isn't in the right place to allow for a comfortable staircase to the loft.

In these cases, we'll look at alternative positions. This might mean positioning the stairs over a different part of the landing, or in some cases, over a portion of an existing bedroom. We always aim to minimize the impact, but occasionally there isn't a perfect solution and we need to make the best compromise we can.

Space-Saving Staircase Designs

If space is particularly tight, there are alternative staircase designs that take up less room than a standard staircase. Paddle stairs (also called alternating tread stairs) have alternating treads that save space lengthwise. Spiral staircases can fit into very compact areas.

However, these space-saving designs come with trade-offs. They're less comfortable to use, more difficult for carrying furniture up and down, and some people find them awkward or even unsafe, particularly at night or when carrying things. We only recommend them when standard stairs genuinely won't fit.

Creating New Stairwell Locations

In some properties, particularly larger ones, it might make sense to create the stairwell in a completely different location. Perhaps you have a large landing with space to spare, or a bedroom that's big enough to sacrifice a portion without significantly impacting its usefulness.

We'll always look at all the options and discuss the pros and cons with you. Sometimes paying the price of losing a bit more floor space is worth it if it means the staircase is in a better position overall.

Getting It Right From the Start

The key to successful staircase placement is thinking it through carefully at the planning stage, before any work begins. This is why we always start with a thorough survey and detailed planning process.

We'll look at your existing layout, measure everything carefully, and work out the best position for the new staircase. We'll show you exactly what space will be affected and how the adjusted layout will work in practice. If there are alternative options, we'll explain them and help you understand the trade-offs involved.

The aim is always to give you a loft conversion that feels like a natural part of your home, with access that's comfortable, safe, and minimally disruptive to your existing living space. For many properties, that means positioning the new stairs directly above the existing ones, making the most efficient use of space and maintaining the flow of your home.

If you're planning a loft conversion and wondering about the staircase placement, get in touch with Raise the Roof. We'll assess your property and give you honest, expert advice on the best approach. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but with careful planning and the right expertise, we can find a solution that works brilliantly for your specific home.