Stair lighting and structure upgrade

[Peanut]

Well, it’s raining outside so the stair upgrade has begun. This is the old canning room, shelves built around two walls. Now it’s just storage, the catch-all room. The 4ft florescent light is toast (top left, 1st pic). It only works via a switch at the entrance. Gonna replace it with a 4ft Led shop light. The stairs (3rd pic) have a small light, high on the right wall with a switch at the top of the stairs. The house is a duplex and wired separately, upper and lower floors.

I’m gonna wire the shop light and stair light onto one circuit along with both switches. The switches will be upgraded to 3-ways so either switch will turn on/off both lights.

Have to replace the landing on the stairs first. It’s 50yr old, half inch particle board. I’ll use half inch plywood. The landing supports need upgraded too. I’ve got a 2x4 in the shop I’m going to sacrifice for that purpose.

Today began with moving junk… took an hour just to clear out a work area. Ran power cords and positioned a couple of drop lights so I’m not working in the dark.

Funny, realized as I worked this morning that I laid the the block for these support columns. I was 13yrs old, supervised of course, I'd forgotten all about it.

 

[Peanut]

I got the old particle board off the landing. I had 2 joists that were too short, pulled both of those out.

Next problem, both risers on the back wall were cut off at the bottom to allow for a sump pump pvc drain pipe that dad added years later. Neither riser goes to the floor to support the landing. They’re just nailed to the cinderblock wall. However, the front of the landing is supported to from floor.

I’m going to lowes for 2, 2x8’s. They have kiln dried 2x8x8’s for $8. Also have 2x8x16’s pressure treated for $20. If their saw guy is there I'll get the pressure treated and have it cut in half. If not the kiln dried will have to do.

I need two pieces 39” long to sister to the front of the back wall supports. This will support that side of the landing and negates moving the drain pipe. I also need two pieces 35” long to act as joists for the landing surface.