Creating an L-Shaped Staircase in The Sims 3 With and Without a Foundation

Written by: R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen • Edited by: M.S. Smith
Updated Nov 6, 2009 • Related Guides: Cheat Codes

This article provides a Sims 3 building tutorial describing how to create an L-shaped staircase with a foundation in the Sims 3.

Creating an L-shaped staircase with and without a foundation in the Sims 3 is a relatively easy process. It may take players who are new to the Sims 3 a few tries to get some of the steps just right, but they will easily catch on. Both of these Sims 3 building tutorials on creating an L-shaped staircase with and without a foundation in the Sims 3 consist of nine steps, and players of all skill levels will be able to do it. The first tutorial will teach players how to create an L-shaped staircase with a foundation and the second Sims 3 building tutorial will teach players how to create an L-shaped staircase without a foundation.

Step One

Creating an L-shaped staircase in the Sims 3 with a foundation

click to enlarge

The first step in creating an L-shaped staircase with foundation in the Sims 3 is to lay the home's foundation. Next, the walls should be added using the wall tool. There should be two floors to the house.

Step Two

click to enlarge

The player should now decide where they will place their L-shape staircase. If this is the first time you are doing this tutorial, it is a good idea to place the staircase against an outer wall. It is also recommended that some floor tiles be used to mark off where the staircase will go on the ground floor.

Step Three

Creating an L-Shaped Staircase in with a Foundation in The Sims 3

click to enlarge

Using the connecting stairs, place two staircases outside. These two stair cases should be near the corner of the house where th L-shaped staircase will be. It is recommended they be placed on the third tile out from the house and the first connecting staircase should be placed three tiles behind the corner of the house (the top landing of this staircase should be the fourth tile. The second connecting staircase's upper landing should be the top staircase's lower landing.

Step Four

click to enlarge

The two sets of connecting stairs should now be removed by clicking on them with the connecting stair tool and simultaneously holding down CTRL. The terrain will be lowered like it was when the connecting stairs were placed. Using the foundation tool, add a 1x1 square block of foundation to the lowest part of the terrain (where the lower landing of the lower staircase was). Once the foundation square is there, use the wall tool and add four walls on top or it.

Step Five

click to enlarge

First, enter the cheat code constrainFloorElevation false. Head to the houses first floor and make sure the walls are in the down position. Using the terrain leveling tool, drag it from the top of the one-story pillar you just built on the side of the house and drag it over to the house, to the corner you wish to place the stairs in.

Step Six

Creating L-Shaped Stairs in The Sims 3 With Foundation 6

click to enlarge

Take the floor tool and place one floor tile where the top of the stairs will be, and another where the corner of the stairs will be. This will create two empty tiles between the two floor tiles you just placed. You can use the top-down view to make sure that there is enough room to place the stairs.

Step Seven

click to enlarge

Place the top flight of connecting stairs first, and then place the lower flight of stairs. The top flight must be placed first. If you place the lower flight first you will not be able to place the top flight, and will need to start this Sims 3 building tutorial from the beginning to get it to work.

Step Eight

click to enlarge

Once the stairs are placed the wall on the side of the stairs on the second floor will be drooping down. To correct this, take the terrain leveling tool and drag it from the highest corner of the roof diagonally to the lowest corner. Turn off the cheat code by entering constrainFloorElevation true. Delete the pillar on the outside of the house. This Sims 3 building tutorial on creating L-shaped stairs with foundation is now complete.

Showing page 1 of 2

12next »