I'm renovating my third floor. I wanted to add floor space by closing in some the opening for the staircase coming into the room. The floor joist surrounding the stairs are 2x8 they run the full 15 feet of the house and go into the brick on the North and South exterior wall. To fill in some of space that is current head room for the stairs can I hang 2x8 perpendicular to the floor joists. I want to add about 2 feet of floor space, How many 2x8 would I need?

Can you submit a drawing or picture?

Here is an old picture. There are no partition walls anymore.

Thanks

Is that space in your circle the actual stair case or is that a wall space?

It is actual staircase (head space), but it is excess head space that would be better used floor space if we could swing it.

Just to see if I could draw it out.

Looks perfect

Thanks

Check your headheight where you are filling in that space, any less than 6'-8" will not meet code. Other than that Harold's sketch looks good, good luck.