Whether you have young children at home or older relatives, staircase safety is essential to preventing any injuries around the house.
As staircases can be made of a variety of materials – wood, glass and steel – there are quite a few steps you can take to ensure staircase safety is top-notch.
Fortunately, the experts at Abbott-Wade know everything there is to know about staircase safety, having designed, installed and renovated stairs for almost 30 years.
Child-proofing your stairs
Install a safety gate
If your children are toddler age, then a stair safety gate is imperative. This stops them from walking or crawling up the stairs while your back is turned.
It only takes a couple of seconds and they’re somehow halfway up the stairs, so install a safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. This way, you know they’re safe while you’re upstairs at bedtime or in the mornings.
Make sure your stairs are well-lit
If your children are old enough that you feel comfortable letting them navigate the stairs by themselves, you must ensure there is plenty of light in the area. A dark staircase can cause visibility issues, potentially leading to an accident.
If there is no light directly above your stairs, you could install motion sensor lighting up each step or under the bannister. This gentle light not only increases safety but also creates some beautiful feature lighting.
Keep stairs clear of toys and clothes
It can be tempting to place some toys or a pile of freshly washed, folded clothes on the stairs, ready to be taken up, but it causes an obstruction that can lead to injury.
Take the extra couple of seconds to walk up the stairs and take the items up with you. This way, your children – who could be running around and not paying attention – won’t trip over anything on the stairs.
Ensuring safety for older relatives
Smaller treads
For older relatives, the size of the treads (gaps between each step) can be hazardous and difficult to navigate. If your current staircase is deemed too difficult for you or your family members to use, consider a staircase renovation where your treads can be modified and other aspects of your stairs can be treated to improve safety.
Sturdy balustrades
Balustrades are often overlooked in terms of staircase safety, too. They need to be strong and sturdy to help your older relatives down the stairs. This can be done with strong glass that won’t show any sign of smashing or cracking.
Consider a stair lift
If your relative is no longer able to climb the stairs, consider installing a stair lift. This will ensure they’re safe moving up and down the stairs, eliminating the risk of a fall and a stay in the hospital.
Enhance staircase safety with Abbott-Wade
At Abbott-Wade, we’ve been performing high-quality staircase renovations for almost 30 years. Our skills and knowledge have transformed homes all over the UK, and we can do the same for you.
If you’d like to learn more about the services our talented joiners provide or to discuss your project requirements in full, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Either call us on 01744 775 638 or drop us an email at info@abbottwade.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
