HawthorneVillager.com

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

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

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

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

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

You don't have a switch at the top of the stairs?

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

+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

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At Your Service Computer
At Your Service Security

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.

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!

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The OFFICIAL Hardwood Flooring Thread

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

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?