Will adding a second storey to my bungalow in Barrhaven require a new staircase?

Yes. A second storey needs a staircase to reach it, and where it goes is one of the most important design decisions in the project. The stair affects the main-floor layout, the usable space upstairs, the structure and how the house flows, so settle it early in design rather than late.

The Building Code sets requirements for residential stairs, including width, rise, run, headroom, handrails and guards. Your designer will draw the stair to meet them and the City reviews it with the permit. The practical point is that a stair takes real floor area on both levels, plus room for landings, so it has to be planned into both floor plans from the start.

Common approaches in bungalows include placing the stair in a central hallway, converting a closet or part of a bedroom, or running it along an exterior wall. A central hall can work well if your house has one, because it avoids cutting up the main rooms. An exterior-wall stair preserves room sizes but may need a more involved structural solution.

An L-shaped or U-shaped stair with a landing often uses floor space more efficiently than a long straight run and makes moving furniture easier. Your designer can sketch a few options so you can compare how each affects the rooms around it.

Structurally, the stair opening means cutting into the main-floor ceiling and framing the new floor around it, with headers to carry the interrupted joists. Your designer or engineer details this on the drawings. If the stair lands over a basement bearing wall or beam, extra work below may be needed, which should be shown in the quote.

Cost depends heavily on materials and design, from basic treads with painted railings to hardwood, glass or open-tread designs. Ask for the stair as an itemized line so you can see what different finishes cost.

Many homes already have basement stairs near the front entry. Coordinate the new stair with them so the entry doesn't become cluttered; stacking the stairs or placing them side by side can create one tidy circulation area through all three levels.

Discuss stair location and style with your designer and contractor before plans are finalized. You can browse addition contractors in the Ottawa Construction Network directory and compare itemized quotes.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• 613Bins
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