Best way to fill in a stairwell?

I officially decided to leave out the stairs in the cottage.

I bought newell posts, stair rail, and spindles to put a railing
around 3 sides of the stairwell opening, only to discover that because
of the slanted roof, the newell posts are too tall! The top of one of
the newell post rests against the roof, and a person coming up the
stairs couldn't get around that post onto the 2nd floor. That made me
realize the stairs were BADLY designed - in a real house a normal
height person couldn't step onto the top step without hitting their
head.

So... I want to fill in the stair hole. I could just put the floor
right over it, then use white paper to paper the ceiling. It would be
invisible. But I realized that if anyone ever poked the ceiling, they
could shove their fingers right through. So I need to fill it in with
something solid before covering it.

Anyone have any tips on how to do it easily?

I figured I'd get some 3/8ths" wood or 1/4" wood cut it to size, glue,
and then use spackle to even everything out. Doesn't have to look
pretty since paper and flooring would cover it.

Cathy Weeks

"Cathy Weeks" wrote
I officially decided to leave out the stairs in the cottage.

... I want to fill in the stair hole.I need to fill it in with
something solid before covering it.


I figured I'd get some 3/8ths" wood or 1/4" wood cut it to size, glue,
and then use spackle to even everything out. Doesn't have to look
pretty since paper and flooring would cover it.

Cathy Weeks
Sounds like you've solved the problem 8~ )

Cathy Weeks wrote:

I officially decided to leave out the stairs in the cottage.

I bought newell posts, stair rail, and spindles to put a railing
around 3 sides of the stairwell opening, only to discover that because
of the slanted roof, the newell posts are too tall! The top of one of
the newell post rests against the roof, and a person coming up the
stairs couldn't get around that post onto the 2nd floor. That made me
realize the stairs were BADLY designed - in a real house a normal
height person couldn't step onto the top step without hitting their
head.

So... I want to fill in the stair hole. I could just put the floor
right over it, then use white paper to paper the ceiling. It would be
invisible. But I realized that if anyone ever poked the ceiling, they
could shove their fingers right through. So I need to fill it in with
something solid before covering it.

Anyone have any tips on how to do it easily?

I figured I'd get some 3/8ths" wood or 1/4" wood cut it to size, glue,
and then use spackle to even everything out. Doesn't have to look
pretty since paper and flooring would cover it.

Cathy Weeks

A postcard-weight piece of paper the size of the whole ceiling would
provide enough support. If you used one just slightly larger than the
hole, you might want to add a very thin taping around the edges as well
to smooth out the bump. You definitely DO need something there (your
solution would work just fine but is a bit more work). The problem
wouldn't be people poking fingers, but visibility. If you didn't do
anything on the ceiling portion, it would show very clearly - it
wouldn't be invisible at all! The paper would either raise like a bubble
or form a depression. And even if it stayed flat, there'd be a
noticeable color shift from the solid ceiling to the open space.

- Herb

(Cathy Weeks) wrote in message . com...
I figured I'd get some 3/8ths" wood or 1/4" wood cut it to size, glue,
and then use spackle to even everything out. Doesn't have to look
pretty since paper and flooring would cover it.

I saw Herb's response on a view-only newsgroup website, but at the
moment can only use Google, where his response isn't showing yet, so
I'm responding here instead.

I should been a bit more specific about what I intended:

I thought I would fill the hole with wood, and spackle if needed.
Then I'd cut a piece of thin cardstock the size of the whole ceiling,
paint it white with the same paint used to paint other ceilings. Then
once dry, paper over the entire ceiling. That would disguise it from
the bottom. Then I'm making "hardwood" flooring with coffee stirrers
glued to posterboard. That would fully cover the hole (or plug) from
the top. I think the patch would be invisible with those measures.

I was concerned if I didn't put some sort of plug that there wouldn't
be enough support, especially from the bottom, and it would either
cave in or bubble, or allow someone to poke through. But if I use
cardstock (it's fairly thin) are you saying that it wouldn't be
necessary to use wood in addition?

Cathy weeks

Cathy Weeks wrote:

(Cathy Weeks) wrote in message . com...
I figured I'd get some 3/8ths" wood or 1/4" wood cut it to size, glue,
and then use spackle to even everything out. Doesn't have to look
pretty since paper and flooring would cover it.

I saw Herb's response on a view-only newsgroup website, but at the
moment can only use Google, where his response isn't showing yet, so
I'm responding here instead.

I should been a bit more specific about what I intended:

I thought I would fill the hole with wood, and spackle if needed.
Then I'd cut a piece of thin cardstock the size of the whole ceiling,
paint it white with the same paint used to paint other ceilings. Then
once dry, paper over the entire ceiling. That would disguise it from
the bottom. Then I'm making "hardwood" flooring with coffee stirrers
glued to posterboard. That would fully cover the hole (or plug) from
the top. I think the patch would be invisible with those measures.

Absolutely!

I was concerned if I didn't put some sort of plug that there wouldn't
be enough support, especially from the bottom, and it would either
cave in or bubble, or allow someone to poke through. But if I use
cardstock (it's fairly thin) are you saying that it wouldn't be
necessary to use wood in addition?

I wouldn't think it'd be necessary, but if you do use a solid patch,
something light-weight like foamcore might also work, and would be fully
supported by the ceiling cardstock (needing less accurate gluing and
spackling). If the opening is near the front (I mean the OPEN part of
the dollhouse) it would be more likely to be the target of little
fingers, but if it's out of the way, who's going to poke at the far
corner of a ceiling? Yes, I know, just about ANY two-year-old

BTW - we've been papering on cardstock before installing; then covering
ceiling joints with crown molding.

- herb

Herb wrote in message ...

I wouldn't think it'd be necessary, but if you do use a solid patch,
something light-weight like foamcore might also work, and would be fully
supported by the ceiling cardstock (needing less accurate gluing and
spackling).

Foam core is a great idea, but since I had some 3/8" plywood on hand,
I already cut it to nearly the right size (I'm sanding it down to
fit). I don't think spackle will be necessary.

If the opening is near the front (I mean the OPEN part of
the dollhouse) it would be more likely to be the target of little
fingers, but if it's out of the way, who's going to poke at the far
corner of a ceiling? Yes, I know, just about ANY two-year-old

Well, I do have a two-year-old. :-) I will eventually be selling or
donating the house as it's one of my practice houses, and I'd rather
not have to worry that it has a weak spot for someone else to
discover. The opening is toward the back (non-open side) of the
house, so it is out of the way.

BTW - we've been papering on cardstock before installing; then covering
ceiling joints with crown molding.

I'm really pleased how papering to cardstock turned out. The one room
I've papered looks near perfect - I can feel the tapewire if I run my
fingers over it firmly, but I can't see it at all. I think it would
have shown if I'd papered directly. It also saved me having to paint
the wire white first. (The wallpaper is light colored, and the wire
would have shown through). I guess the savings is a toss-up, though
(papering to cardstock is an extra step, as is painting the tapewire).

Did you use wallpaper paste to stick the cardstock to the walls, or
some other adhesive? I used the mucilage for both sticking the paper
to cardstock, and for sticking the cardstock to the walls.

Cathy Weeks