Homeowners who share their space with young children or senior citizens must always account for their needs and safety. While it would be ideal for the young and old to live in a one-storey home where there’s no need to use the stairs everyday, that is not possible for everyone.
The best way to avoid accidents on the stairs is to work with a joinery in Kent to design the safest stairs possible. A joinery Kent with years of experience in designing and building stairs of all kinds will consider the following tips upon your request and suggestion:
Design Tip #1: Proper Lighting
Although technically not the job of a joinery in Kent to ensure there is ample lighting directed along the path leading to the stairs and the stairs themselves, it should be a part of the planning and designing process. People, especially seniors are less likely to trip, fall, and injure themselves if they can properly see where they are going and where the stairs begin and end.
Design Tip #2: Colour Contrast
A joinery Kent can also consider using a colour pallet that is visible, even with low lighting. The edge of the stairs can coloured with a brighter shade to indicate its location. Everyone in the house, not just the seniors can appreciate this colour contrast, especially when the lights are out due to a power interruption.
Design Tip #3: Handrails Are A Must
Handrails should be installed on the stairs to accommodate the needs of children and seniors. Sturdy, durable, and easy to grip handrails are the easiest way to ensure everyone using the stairs has enough support when going up and down. Adding handrails to the design of the stairway should be a must for homes where seniors and children will live to ensure safety and minimize tumbles and accidents.
Design Tip #4: Proper Stair Height
The height of the stairs should be adjusted so that children with shorter legs and senior citizens that have weak knees have no trouble climbing up and going down. Shorter stair heights might require the installation of more steps, but they are more manageable for those with mobility issues.
Taller steps are dangerous because a person can easily lose their balance when using them. Be sure to consider the height of every step when designing the stairs to maximise safety.
Design Tip #5: Consider Including A Safety Gate
One addition to the design of stairs, especially those that are very long and tall is a safety gate on both ends. This way, toddlers cannot easily access the steps and climb them while seniors are more likely to request help before using the stairs instead of trying to go up and down themselves.
Paying attention to these small changes in the design will make homes with more than one-storey safer for all of its residents. Make sure to work with the local joinery and incorporate all these safety designs when planning to add new stairs to your home.
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