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Stairway in our home
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Author:  moesgal [ Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Stairway in our home
We are really concerned about the stairway in our house. There is no bottom balluster and the handrail ends way before the last stair. Our handrail has a steep downward drop and this makes it very hard to hold onto the handrail when you come down the stairs. Also, due to the way the handrail sticks out around the corner, it is quite easy to hit your shoulder on the bottom of the rail when you come up the stairs.

Just before Christmas I slipped, missed the bottom step, fell and broke my foot. There was no handrail to grab onto!

Does anyone know the building code regarding the installation of a handrail and whether or not it should come down to the bottom stair?

We are just wondering if this is something we should be checking into further.

Thanks for any advice.....
Lynne

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Author:  Halton Home Inspector [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:41 am ]
Post subject: 
The bottom rail is pretty close to the bottom step but ideally it would extend a bit further. It may come down to the "opinion" of a municipal inspector weather it passes or not.

In my opinion the rail should be about 5 inches longer. Keep in mind that the rail can't extend out too far beyond the wall or it could be considered a hazard, plus the end of the stair rail must be within 12 inches from the support bracket.

Andy
Author:  moesgal [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:35 am ]
Post subject:  stairway
Thanks so much Andy for your opinion/advice. We will be in contact with the Town of Milton to have it inspected.

Lynne
Author:  Halton Home Inspector [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:48 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
moesgal Posted

Thanks so much Andy for your opinion/advice. We will be in contact with the Town of Milton to have it inspected.

Lynne


Hi Lynne,

You should know that the Town Inspector does have the option to charge you a fee for this visit. While this is not likely, there is that possibility.

So, ask them up front if there are any fees if they visit, or, you may be able to get their opinion by emailing them the link to this post so that they can look at the images.

Town Hall can be reached at 905 878 7211.

Andy
Author:  cov-canuck [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 4:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Kaybee wrote:
Try speaking to the builder which is what we did. Not exactly the same thing but at our house when coming down the stairs the light switch was placed in an out of the way spot where once you came down the stairs especially at night you had to round a corner and feel along the wall for the switch. We spoke to the builder which was Mattamy and they didn't seem to want to do anything until I missed the last 2 bottom steps because I couldn't see, even worse because at the time I was 9 months pregnant and took a bad fall. They were actually more concerned and then stated for "safety reasons and courtesy" they would fix it. Brought in an electrical and put in a light switch at the bottom of the stairs.


You don't have a switch at the top of the stairs?
Author:  HaltonPeelHomeInspection [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hi Mojolynne
I don't see any obvious building code issues. One thing that would decrease your slip/fall hazard by 1000% - and you probably don't want to hear this - is to instal a carpet runner.

John Allingham, Professional Engineer
Owner & Certified Home Inspector
Halton-Peel Home Inspection
(416) 254-5869
inspect@peelhomeinspection.com
www.peelhomeinspection.com
Author:  AYS Mark [ Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
+1 for adding carpet, especially if you have or plan to have kids in the home. Hardwood stairs are so unsafe they should be against code IMO
Author:  DRiFT_645 [ Fri Mar 12, 2010 8:55 am ]
Post subject: 
LMAO against code?

I hardly think hardwood stairs are unsafe. You just need to practice due diligence and caution when walking up/down.

So annoying how this society is moving more towards blaming others and expecting rules and regulations instead of just thinking before and while walking.
Author:  patrob [ Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:11 am ]
Post subject: 
AYS Mark wrote:
Hardwood stairs are so unsafe they should be against code IMO

:shock: I disagree!

OP, sorry to hear what happened to you. I also think the handrail should be a bit longer.
If there is enough space, ask your builder to add a post at the bottom step & extend the hand rail. After what happened, this is the least they can do!
Author:  moesgal [ Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:31 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks so much to everyone for your comments/suggestions. We are considering getting a carpet runner.

I just want to clarify that this was a post asking for advice. I had a really bad fall and was in a walking cast for 8 weeks. I am now doing 4 weeks of Physio. Not once in my post did I suggest that I was blaming someone else.

Our handrail is very short and I was just trying to get an answer regarding the proper building code for a stairway so that we could address the issue with our builder (Country Homes) if necessary, prior to our one year inspection.


Lynne
Author:  DRiFT_645 [ Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:14 am ]
Post subject: 
My wife fell down our hardwood stairs too last summer, hurt her elbow pretty bad; hardwood stairs definitely aren't sympathetic to falls.

If I were you, I would ask the builder to extend the railing, maybe make it wrap around when the wall ends there?
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