Best Practices When Renovating Your Stairs and Railings for Safety and Multi-Generational Living

With the increase in households blending together for multi-generational living under one roof, it's as important as ever to ensure to focus on making your home as safe as possible.  We’re often asked by clients how they can improve their stairs' overall safety for babies, toddlers, the elderly, and of course – pets!  Today we’re going to cover some of the key topics you’ll want to consider when inquiring about new handrails and stairs.  Let’s explore the best ways to make your stairs safer for children, the elderly, and pets.

Helpful reminders when renovating for multi-generational living: 

Remember to encourage children to be mindful of proper stairwell safety; this includes not playing on or around the stairs, no running down stairs, wearing proper footwear with reasonable grip and friction on the bottom, keeping one hand on the railing at all times, and focusing on descending safely without skipping any stairs.   

Encourage and empower your elderly family members to use their mobility aids as needed, and wear proper gripping footwear that keeps them stable and not sliding when they walk.  Consider adding a ramp for mobility aids, or a stair-lift with a chair for accessibility.  Removing the runners and carpeting and replacing it with anti-slip grip tape and anti-slip stair nosing will vastly improve safety for elderly household members; carpets and runners may cause slipping or tripping for those with an unstable gait.

Let's Take a Look at Some of the Best Practices When Renovating Your Stairs and Railings for Safety with Multi-Generational Living

Always keep your stairs and railings clear of clutter and decor. While it’s tempting to utilize the handrails, staircase, or balusters as an extra home styling point, we urge you to reconsider.  To ensure proper grip and safety while walking, you should ensure all stair treads and risers are free of baskets, clutter, and objects as well as having unfettered access to handrails.   While it may be tempting to add Pinterest-worthy decor items between the balusters, utilize the stairs for additional home storage with baskets or bins, or even just to store items there to take on your way up to the next floor, it’s best to resist.  Children or pets may be tempted to play with decorations or baskets on stairwells, making them an additional hazard for falls.  Elderly family members may lose their grip on handrails or trip over items on stairs, causing injury or death.  If you want to decorate your stairwells, consider creating a gallery wall above the handrails, painting the risers with fun colors, adding bright LED lighting strips under the treads and railings, or embellishing with small painted details – all of which add flair without obstruction!

Upgrade your indoor handrails to proper code. Older homes may have damaged, loose, or outdated railings that are no longer safe and need replacing. Likewise, some towns and counties do not have as thorough of a home inspection, meaning the new homeowner might not realize that a DIY-renovater might have removed railings they shouldn’t have or improperly installed the new replacements, or a homeowner may have removed a railing and reinstalled it in the same spot leading to instability, or they may simply be installed at the incorrect height. Current code in NJ at the time of publication states that all stairways that are 44 inches or more in width should have continuous handrails on both sides, and stairways less than 44 inches wide may have a handrail on one side only.  Safety codes can and will vary from state to state or town to town; check with local guidelines and building codes before starting any project.

Immediately replace or repair any creaky or cracked stair treads and risers, as well as loose balusters, newels, and handrail.  If you’ve purchased a home that was flipped by an amateur DIYer or a hobby-handyman, it would be a great idea to call in the pros for an evaluation. Sometimes, while homeowners are well meaning and passionate about DIY renovations, they may not do the same job as an industry professional with decades of expertise.  On average, proper stair treads in residential buildings should be at 10 to 11 inches with nosing, and tread depth should vary less than ⅜” with 10-11” on average.  For rule of thumb on a visual basis, stairs should each be comfortable enough for the average adult foot to step on comfortably.

Take extra precautions with stair builds featuring open risers, glass panels, and horizontal bars.  If you have a home with open risers, you should consider amending them for safety sake. Of course open risers look beautiful and let in a significant amount of natural light, but there are plenty of ways to amend safety precautions without sacrificing style.  Hiring a professional stair builder like our crew at Pinto Carpentry to install safety bars in between the stairs may reduce  risk of pets or children falling, as well as mobility aids for disabled or elderly folks from slipping through.  Additional considerations for open riser stairs safety includes non-skid strips or non-slip pads affixed to treads and avoid glossy finishes that may be more slippery.  Consult with your handrail installer about the appropriate distance and spacing between balusters, especially for horizontal bars; these often present a large safety hazard for pets and small children who are tempted to poke heads or limbs through. Not sure which options are right for your family? The experts at Pinto Carpentry can help you find the best design to suit your family’s needs and safety concerns.

Upgrade or repair your stair treads and risers when possible. If you notice any cracked or damaged stair treads, it’s best to replace them ASAP.  If you’ve purchased a home renovated by a DIYer, it may be worthwhile to have a contractor consult and check the safety code of the staircase or tread/riser replacements. For reference, the proper stair tread depth depends on the type of stairs as well as the building codes which apply, so you’ll want to have your contractor evaluate properly. Most residential stair treasd are at least 10 inches with nosing and 11 inches without nosing, and tread depth generally should vary less than ⅜” with 10-11” being most common. In short, stairs should be comfortable with enough space for the average adult foot to step comfortably. Some older staircases may not be able to be adjusted to code  due to headroom or space constraints; if this is the case, an experienced contractor such as Pinto Carpentry will be able to advise you on best practices and how to improve the stairwell within the limitations and current safety standards.  

Opt for professionally installed stair gates at the top of your stairs.  The average consumer baby or pet safety gate is an accessible option for most homeowners, but if you want something that can grow with your family? Opt for custom baby/stair gates!  As railing and stair professionals we highly recommend investing in professionally custom created wooden gates. Opting for customized gates may cost a little more in the budget, but it ensures peace of mind that they’re professionally installed for maximum stability, and have been precisely crafted to fit your exact space.  Your friendly neighborhood railing or stair professional, like the crew at Pinto Carpetry, will professionally measure and design a custom gate to fit at the top or bottom of your stairs that will last for years to come. Having a professional install the gate will eliminate the guesswork and reduce instability you’d generally get with adjustable models made of plastic or metal. Custom wooden gates will be worth the investment for longevity, safety, and stability.  Not only do these gates serve a purpose to prevent accidental falls or unfettered access to portions of the house for unsupervised pets/children, but they also add a beautiful focal point!  Create stunning visual interest in your home that serves dual purpose for safety as well as an elevated look to second floor hallways, entry way stairwells, and even add a nice finishing touch to a newly renovated finished basement.

Improve the lighting in your stairwell. Adding professionally installed LED strips to the stairs themselves, as well as running LED rope light to the skirtboard or moldings can help increase visibility. Ensuring there is a light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs that controls stairwell lighting can encourage children and elderly family members to remember to switch the lights on before walking up or down.  There are also some very stylish options specifically designed to light the edge of the treads and nosing on each step if you’re concerned about style and design. Bright, clear overhead light such as recessed LED lighting or large pendant lighting installed with proper headroom may also provide adequate light sources.  In a pinch, you can opt for stick-on battery operated or rechargeable puck lighting. If you’re in a new build or renovation project, consider installing emergency lighting triggered by power outages to ensure enhanced safety during emergency situations.  For residential staircases, a warm white light between 2700K to 3000K is recommended; it’s easy on the eyes and provides clear visibility.  Your electrician can advise you on the proper lighting source location and levels.

Note: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is up to the homeowner to manage their household members' safety around railings and stairs.  There is no one “guaranteed safest design” in home railings or stairs.  At Pinto Carpentry, we will do our best to guide you towards safer options to suit your family’s needs, but ultimately the choice for materials/design resides with you; consider your household’s ages/needs/disabilities before selecting your final material choices.

Pinto Carpentry offers bespoke stair builds and custom indoor handrail installations for both residential and commercial building projects. Our crew has more than two decades of industry experience with both large and small installations. We specialize in crafting custom handrail to fit your home or business, and custom fitting staircases in both older construction and new home builds.

To schedule your consultation, give Pinto Carpentry a call at (908) 922-1778, email us at pintocarpentrynj(at)gmail(dot)com, or shoot us a message on social media!  We’ll discuss your project and get you set up with an appointment at our first availability. Our skilled staff will come out to take measurements and assess the project, and craft a customized quote suited to your project needs and budget.