Note: This requires the Open For Business expansion pack.



Build the exterior walls of your house first (NOT on a foundation):




Use the "old" brick foundation tool and lay 3 squares side by side:




Grab the "new" foundation tool, and lay one square on the first brick foundation square:




Place modular stairs. (Note: to place the staircase that connects to the second floor, you need to place a floor tile at the top landing):




Decorate staircase:




Option: You can remove the middle piece from the foundation (shown in inset) to create a "cleaner" look with the middle part of the staircase:





Hope this helps

Wow, cool, it's easier than the all-foundation approach...
I wonder what it's like for it at the wall though...

I'm gonna get the EP, but not today yet...

Can the new foundation tool build on one another?



Linkage for connecting/modular stairs


1. Normal usage:

Daihtnaoz7
Split Level Stairs
http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/sto...eFramework=true

InvisibleSims2
Staircase with a Landing (on the foundation)
http://invisiblesims2.com/stairtutorial/stairs.html
Stairs with several landings
http://invisiblesims2.com/stairtuto...andings/01.html

JadeEliott
Easy Corner U Stair Tutorial
http://mysticmusings.typepad.com/ar...corner_l_s.html

Jonesi
Stair behaviour when making split level staircases
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=110440

KevvvvvG888
Grand Staircase
http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/sto...g&showFrames=-1

MikeInside
Advanced Internal Modular Stairs on a Foundation
http://mikeinside.modthesims2.com/b...all2/index.html
Advanced Modular Stairs in the Middle of a House
http://mikeinside.modthesims2.com/b...wall/index.html
Circular Stairwells for Advanced Users
http://mikeinside.modthesims2.com/b...ll/index.html#2
Circular Stairwells for Beginners
http://mikeinside.modthesims2.com/b...ll/index.html#1
Dummy Stairs
http://mikeinside.modthesims2.com/b...airs/index.html
Modular Stairs
http://mikeinside.modthesims2.com/b...airs/index.html

niol
How to make U-shaped/180 degree stairs with 2 landings
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=100825

SimMasterRalph
Enclosed Spiral Stairs
http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/sto...&user_id=136631
Spiral Stairs Inspirations
http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/sto...&user_id=136631

Tiko
Creating 3-Storey Walled Spiral Stairs On A House Foundation
http://website.lineone.net/%7Eandre...llTutorial2.htm
Creating Spiral Stairs On A House Foundation
http://website.lineone.net/%7Eandre...llTutorial1.htm

tkdjunkie
OFB Easy U-Shaped Modular Stairs *NO CHEATS*
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=136165



2. Stealth Stairs:

corvidophile2
TUTORIAL:Stealth Stairs in dormer/attic on a 2-story house built on foundation
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=167685

Frillen @Maxis...(search "Frillen" @ Maxis)
Tutorial: Magical Bits'n'Pieces 1
http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/sto...&user_id=126444

niol
Tutorial more property-infos for connecting/modular stairs updated 1st May,06.
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=151575

SimMasterRalph
Stealth Stairs (Intro to Stealth Stairs)
http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/sto...&user_id=136631
Stealth Stairs for Dormers
http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/sto...&user_id=136631
Stealth Stairs Variable Size
http://thesims2.ea.com/exchange/sto...&user_id=136631

Damn...That was easy...
Thankyou tkdjunkie
What a fast space saver this is.

This is soooooo cool thanks alot Tkdjunkie, I wonder if this will work with double stairs too?

it looks easy enaught for me, but why do you need open in bussines for it? i can do the same and don't use cheats

Tazz5840: Yes, it will work with double stairs. Just make the foundations bigger (two squares or four squares) to accomodate the additional staircases.

povilas_god: Open for Business is the only EP that has the extra foundation tool.

the only situation under which using the new foundation is easier for me is an angle at 4 clicks height.

So, how is that situation is set up?
I'm realy slow to get the picture.
Thanks...

Update:

I back U. :nod:

an l-shaped stairway with the landing near the bottom

Ah, I was wondering too :P

But yes, it's easier to make an L-shaped staircase.

OFB allows you to make U-shaped staircases without cheats & warped floors though, which could not be done with previous EPs. That was what I hoped to illustrate with this tutorial.

this is so god dammed brilliant
thanks

going that close to walls was also possible with the pre-ofb-method, but it got a little easier.

Unfortunately, the height of the stage is not adjustable, at least I've not figured out a way to do so yet.

I tried to fing a way to change the nightlife halfwall height, but it didn't work either so I think it's hardcoded.

As far as I know, modular stairs can be adjusted slightly by dragging the bottom footprint. Place the stair, but don't release the mouse. This allows you to move the bottom of the footprint, and make some adjustment to the stairs. I don't know if this still works in OfB, as I haven't yet built a new lot, but it has worked prior, so I suspect it still will.

Pax,
Indigo

well i have been trying this for ages and i just can't get the stairs to connect to and from the new split level.
the green landing square doesn't appear on top of the split level block, with or without a floor tile
and when i try to connect a stair from the first floor (second floor US) it won't connect to the split level block
the game acts as if the split level doesn't exist

sorry, tried to attach a pic but the manage attachments doesn't seem to want to work

great! Can you still have walls around this as with the OFB stage?
Oohh ... and has anyone figured out if you can make the OFB L-shape stairs with the short drop at the top, not bottom?

I was waiting to buy OFB....but I didn't know that they had this "new foundation" tool! I have wanted an easier way to make L- and U-shaped stairs for ages. I think I need to buy this tonight.

ah, well... stairs suck. take a LOT of space. I like the elevator best!

Dear Anonymous,

I believe that having foundations is really nice because it makes your house look more realistic but sadly, I'll have to weigh out which was is more important, the stairs or the foundation...

But thank you anyway.

From conjurer_of_nox_46

dear anonymous,
thanks but i'd rather go for the foundation than the stairs...

Wow, thanks for this tutorial!! I love stairways like this;
thanks again :-)

New foundation makes many things easier now

Yes, I have See pic

Yes I agree foundations are nice, so are stairs

Not me m8 I'll take both thanks.


P.S. where can one post a tutorial on Stairs with Foundations PLUS no cheats in OfB?

Only 2 cheats used, moveObjects on & boolProp allow45DegreeAngleOfRotation, these where NOT used in building of the stairs, only for the gnome & the windows that surround him all maxis stock stuff except the wood floor & wallpaper made by me.

Please see pics

Thanks tkdjunkie for the great tutorial which got me thinking.

Cheers Pete

Wow... cool... :D

Lol, just make a new thread at building forum and wait for a moderator to put it in the tutorial section. If not moved for quite a while, may ask one for help...