Calling all carpenters or people who know how a house is built.

Hello all, I figure I will probably get some good answers to my questions quickly here.

I was told by the builder of my home there is a dead space under stairs behind closet wall and I confirmed this by cutting a small hole in drywall and looking in. I want to open back wall of closet to facilitate some storage. My question is there is a stud that runs down the center of that closet wall, I will have to cut it to be able to make a door to get in. Is it load bearing? I will box it in from the inside after I cut it for sure. See attached pictures. The stud runs down the middle of the storage racks in the closet.

 

Cut it

 

Like just sawzaw and never even blink?

 

Yep

 

Open up the wall and have a look. Worst case you do a little drywalling.

 

Cut and run

edit: add a stud to the very left and right of the opening if your concerned.

 

Ok mr play it safe and do more work.

 

Should not be weight bearing. The stringers should be carrying the load. Id throw a header in though.

 

Yeah I'll just put a poster over the hole if it doesnt work out

 

Easy peazy.

 

The way I see it is the worst thing that can happen is your house collapses in on itself by disrupting the structural dead space under the stairs.

 

LOL!

Yes, as has been said, no problem to cut it out. It's just there to support the drywall.

I would remove that entire wall. Why put in another door 4ft behind the first door? When you allow for the door to swing, you'll have very little floor space left.

Remove that wall and you'll find that the studs behind (on the side, supporting the stairs) do not have drywall. To make that rear area look like the "front half", you'll want to drywall the new area also. Several options to cover the underside of the stairs. All a bit of a PITA. I'd suggest you just clean them up and paint to match the walls.

 

You were exactly right, just the 1 2x4 in the middle supporting drywall. Now I just need to make an access door and I can drink

 

The header is needed like you said since they are wanting to add a door.

 

And maybe to pass a future inspection

 

Rip it out, don’t put in a ‘door’... put in a ‘secret’ hinged panel and get a safe that fits in there.

 

I would love to but I have no idea where to even look for the type of hinge I would need

 

Actually, not so much a hinge as a pivot top and bottom... standard bifold closet pivot oughtta do it. Cover the gaps with molding, miter on the pivot side, cope on the opening side

 

Is this your first day on the internet?

https://www.google.com/search?ei=tY...ZgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXrIAQjAAQE&sclient=psy-ab

 

I learn by doing or seeing in person it being done. Especially with carpentry stuff. Anytime I do a carpentry project I end up wasting so much material and buying the wrong stuff.