All You Need To Know About Stairway Safety During Home Inspection

There can be multiple dangers present inside of a home, and one of the biggest culprits for the same would be the stairways of the house. The stairways are crucial in transporting you from one floor to another – which is why you need to guarantee that they are in great shape to avoid any serious accidents. 

Keeping that in mind, we are sharing some pointers that you should consider when checking the stairways of a house before you finally make a purchase decision – with the help of a home inspector in Brevard County FL. 

Factors To Consider When Inspecting A Home’s Stairway

• Ensure That Adequate Railings Are Installed

It should be realised that railings are one of the most crucial safety features of a stairway. Most indoor staircases come with railings, but sometimes you can find outdoor stairs don’t come with such railings – especially when there are less than five steps. You might wonder that such a feature might not be necessary. However, there are still chances of accidents happening – especially when elderly people are using it to traverse from one area to another.

Therefore, if you have got children or elderly family members, it’s recommended that you look into stairs that come with railings. 

• Ensure That The Stairs Are Wider & Shorter In Height

You should ensure that the stairs of your home are wider in terms of surface and lesser in terms of height. Doing so will make certain that you don’t get toppled over & fall while climbing or going down the stairs. 

This is also an essential feature for women residents in your family because women like to wear heels and heels can get easily destabilised in stairs that are greater in height with lesser surface area to place the foot.

• Ensure That The Stairs Are Not Slippery

Slippery stairs are a nightmare to deal with, and in case you spot the same inside/outside a house that you’re planning to buy, you should proceed to alter the same. Stairs that are made up of marble or tiles generally feel slippery. Even polished wooden stairs can feel slippery as well. One simple fix that you can do would be affixed stair carpets.

Stair carpets are the perfect way to not only improve the look of your home but also increase safety when traversing through the stairways. Ensure that the carpets you’ll choose for the stairs are of good quality and are soft/plush to step upon. 

• Ensure That Stairs Have Sufficient Lighting

Lighting should be sufficient around stairways because when you ascend or descend the stairs, you should be able to see the stairs clearly – otherwise, you may encounter a risk of falling. Moreover, ensure that both the top as well as the bottom of the stairs are equipped with wall switches.