What the price depends on
There’s no single rate here, because no two staircases are the same. The price depends on the size of the recess, how many drawers and doors you want, the hardware and who makes the carcasses. You can order just assembly and fitting of your own parts. Or the handyman can measure up, order the cut boards and build everything on site. The table shows how the service is priced, and the handyman gives an exact figure from photos and measurements.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Under-stairs storage build | Individual quote |
Indicative prices. Ranges for a typical scope. Fixings included, materials separate. Minimum order 300 zł.
Fixings are usually included in the labour. Boards, fronts, runners, hinges and handles are paid separately, as are delivery of the cut panels, carrying them upstairs and taking away offcuts.
If you want lighting, connecting it to the mains is a job for an electrician holding Polish SEP qualifications, not a joiner. Ask about this in the handyman’s offer. A plug-in LED strip is simpler, but agree on it before assembly too, so there’s a channel for the cable inside the unit.
Rather hand the job over? More here: handyman in Warsaw.
What you can build under the stairs
Full-depth pull-out drawers are the most practical choice for a deep recess. The whole drawer rolls out, so nobody has to crawl in for things at the back. Shoes, seasonal clothes and tools all fit well.
A coat cupboard goes under the tall end of the flight, where there’s height for a rail or a pull-out hanger, with shelves under the low end. It works especially well when the stairs start next to the front door.
Open shelves are the simplest to build. One downside: everything is on show, dust included.
A closet with a door is the option when you want to close off the whole recess. Sometimes people want the washing machine in there. That means water, a drain and a socket, which a plumber and an electrician put in, while the joiner builds the unit around them.
A word about the stairs themselves. Concrete ones will take fixings almost anywhere. Timber stairs are drilled with care: the stringers carry the load, so they aren’t notched or weakened with cuts. Do the stairs creak? Mention it straight away. A cupboard underneath won’t stop the creak.
How the job goes
- The recess is measured at several points: height under each step, depth, and how straight the walls and floor are.
- A sketch. Drawers, doors and rails are placed according to what you store and how often you reach for it.
- The board is ordered cut to size, if the carcasses are being made for the recess.
- Carcasses are assembled and fitted to the slope, with the top panels cut to the angle of the stairs.
- Everything is fixed to the wall and floor, fronts are hung, hinges and runners adjusted.
- A final check: drawers open fully, doors clear the steps and the skirting.
Common mistakes
- A ready-made wardrobe bought to fit the highest point, leaving a dead space under the slope where nothing fits.
- Deep shelves with no pull-out. Things at the back end up being fished out with a torch.
- Doors that swing into the walkway and get in the way on the stairs.
- No clearance at the skirting and uneven floor, so a drawer rubs from day one.
- Lighting thought of after assembly, so now the cable runs across the front.
- A sealed closet with no vent holes, and it smells damp inside.
What to prepare
- Photos of the recess from the front and from the side, so the slope is visible.
- Rough measurements: height at the start and end of the recess, depth, width.
- A list of what you plan to store: vacuum cleaner, shoes, coats, boxes.
- Want fronts to match the kitchen or the doors? Add a photo of them.
- Clear the recess and the way to it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use my flat-pack units from a shop?
Yes, the handyman can assemble and fit ready-made units. Under the slope they almost always need cutting down or filling in, so it’s worth discussing from photos first.
How long does fitting take?
It depends on the number of drawers and whether the boards are already cut. The handyman gives the timing in their offer.
Does this work with timber stairs?
Yes. The unit is fixed to the wall and floor, and to the stairs only where that doesn’t weaken the structure.
Can a washing machine go under the stairs?
It can, if there’s water and a drain nearby. A plumber does the connection, an electrician the socket, and the joiner builds the cupboard around it.
How to order
Describe in the app what you want under the stairs and add photos with measurements. Tradespeople near you will send offers with their own price and timing. Compare them by reviews and pick one; only that person sees your address.
You pay the handyman directly and they issue the invoice. They stand behind their own assembly and fitting, and will put it right if a drawer sticks or a door drops out of line. Crooked walls, an old staircase that creaks and hidden defects in the base are not on them.
Build under-stairs storage? Create a tradesperson profile and get joinery jobs in your town. You work for yourself and choose your own business set-up.
Order in the app
Describe the job, add photos and the address. Tradespeople send their own prices and dates, and you pick one of the offers.
Open the app
