Stairs and Handrails Before the Holiday Guests Arrive

Thanksgiving is about seven weeks out. That means grandparents who don't do stairs every day, toddlers who do stairs badly, people carrying casserole dishes up from the basement freezer, and everybody going up and down in socks. Falls are one of the leading causes of injury for older adults, and stairs are where a lot of them happen. A half hour now can make the house a lot safer for the holidays.

01Handrails

• Grab it and pull. A handrail should hold your full weight without moving. Loose brackets are the most common problem, and usually the screws just need to go into a stud.
• Height: most codes call for 34 to 38 inches, measured straight up from the front edge of the step. Many people find the higher end easier to use.
• Full length. The rail should run from the bottom step to the top step, not stop a couple of steps short.
• Graspable. You should be able to wrap your hand around it. A wide flat board isn't a handrail.
• Both sides, if you can. A second rail is one of the simplest ways to make stairs safer for people with a bad hip, knee or shoulder.

02The steps

• Loose, cracked or squeaky treads. A squeak is annoying; a tread that moves is dangerous.
• Worn or loose carpet, especially at the front edge of each step where heels catch.
• Uneven steps. Codes allow only a tiny difference (about 3/8 inch) between the tallest and shortest step in a flight, because people's feet expect every step to be the same. One odd step at the top or bottom causes a lot of falls.
• Slippery wood. Socks on polished wood stairs are a classic holiday fall. Add stair treads or anti-slip strips.
• Clutter. Nothing stored on the stairs, not even "just for a minute."

03Lighting

• A switch at the top and bottom of every staircase, so nobody walks in the dark.
• Bright enough to see the edge of every step. Replace dim bulbs.
• Nightlights at the top and bottom of stairs, and on the way to the bathroom for overnight guests.

04Basement stairs

These are often the worst in the house: steep, poorly lit, no rail on the open side, and nobody looks at them because it's "just the basement." If guests or grandparents will be going down for the extra fridge, check them first.

05Outdoor steps

• Railings on stoops and deck stairs. See our deck safety check.
• Loose or cracked concrete and heaved steps.
• Lighting on the path and the door. It's dark by late afternoon in November.
• Ice. Have ice melt and a shovel ready before the first storm, and keep the downspouts from dumping onto the steps. A concrete step that drains toward the door turns into an ice rink.

06Little kids

If toddlers are visiting, get a hardware-mounted gate for the top of the stairs. Pressure-mounted gates are meant for the bottom of stairs or doorways, not the top, because they can give way when a child pushes on them.

While you're getting the house ready for guests, test the smoke and CO alarms and check that the furnace is working; our furnace check covers what to look for.

Sources (2)

InspectAPedia: Stair & Railing Design for Seniors · NADRA: Deck Safety Checklist (PDF)

Related: A Comprehensive Guide to DIY Home Inspection: Safeguarding Your Home Inside and Out