We have recently purchased an older home and have one issue that we need some advice on. The stairs that go into the finished basement are difficult to use because the ceiling is too low at the midway point. You need to bend to clear the ceiling because of an overhead floor joist. We can't think of any way to reconfigure the stairs and cannot afford to lower the basement floor yet. Does anyone have any suggestions? Right now the stairs are as follows: down 6 steps, landing turn 90 degrees and down 6 more steps. It is at the last 4 stairs that the ceiling becomes an issue. We would appreciate any ideas.
Thanks

You did not say how much clearnce you have close to bottom? One way to redo the step for more head room, would be to rebuild your steps by droping the middle down one or two steps and rebuilding first set of steps above the landing.The rise and tread would have to change. GO to Lowe's and get a book showing how to figure and cut new steps. Another way call a carpenter in and talk to him about cuting out the head area and framing and finish it, if you can without interfering with structure of the house.

Is it possible to add another landing where the last 4 steps are and redirect the last 3 steps?

As far as cutting new risers and treads, stringers in essence, you'll have to keep the rise between 7 and 8" rise and the run should be in the ballpark of 10 1/2" run. Changing these will most likely not help , sounds like you need more than an inch to makes this right.
Can you take a pic of these stairs, if so I may can come up with something different

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Originally Posted by renoolderhome

We have recently purchased an older home and have one issue that we need some advice on. The stairs that go into the finished basement are difficult to use because the ceiling is too low at the midway point. You need to bend to clear the ceiling because of an overhead floor joist. We can't think of any way to reconfigure the stairs and cannot afford to lower the basement floor yet. Does anyone have any suggestions? Right now the stairs are as follows: down 6 steps, landing turn 90 degrees and down 6 more steps. It is at the last 4 stairs that the ceiling becomes an issue. We would appreciate any ideas.
thanks

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Thanks for the help. It wouldn't be possible to add another landing because the ceiling is low no matter where you try to turn to. I tried to take a picture before but with white ceiling and wall it all blended together. Next time I have access to the house I'll try to take another picture. We haven't moved in yet so we can only have li8mited access to te house. Thanks again.

Can you post a layout with dimensions. I sell stairs for a living (Millwork Manager) and I come across this all the time.

One of the ways I will be looking to solve it is with some winding treads. It's a great way to get rid of rise fast with very little run.

In extreme circumstance you can look into a ships ladder stair, the feel just like a regular stair when climbing it but the run is bare minimum.

What it will come down to I believe is getting a carpenter to move some ceiling joint or change something in the ceiling