Preventing Accidents on Your Deck Stairs in Regina

Deck stairs connect two separate levels, whether from your home to the deck or the deck to the ground. While it’s obvious that stair safety is important for seniors or people with mobility issues, many homeowners overlook these stairs. When you’re planning a deck installation in Regina or making repairs to your deck, think about these things to keep people safe on your steps.

Install Steps to Minimum Sizes to Avoid Accidents

Make sure steps are wide and long enough to support feet. People are accustomed to steps being certain sizes and your deck steps are no exception. The rise between steps should be consistent and not too high. You shouldn’t wax or polish these steps, because it will make them slippery. You should regularly clean your steps, but you should use a cleaning product that doesn’t leave the steps slick. If you do use a carpet or runner on the steps, make sure to tack it down. If you are installing a new deck, check whether you need a permit to build it or not. Make sure to follow local specifications and any builder’s recommendations.

Keep the Steps Free of Clutter

Just as you shouldn’t put anything on stairs in your home, you should leave the steps to your deck clear of everything that might be a hazard. Decorations, flowerpots, shoes or any kind of trinkets used to decorate your deck shouldn’t be on the steps. Your deck steps have one purpose – to allow people to move from level to level with ease. Don’t use your steps for any other reason. Also, watch your steps for accumulated water. This can be a slip and fall hazard.

Provide Lighting

All stairways should have visible lighting at the landing to ensure safety. Installing step lighting can help with safety, especially in poorly lit areas. This keeps people from misreading where the stairs are and alert them to the steps. LED lights use less energy, so you can leave the lights on without worrying about your electricity bill. It can be smart to put these lights on a timer, automatically turning them on when the sun goes down and then switching them off when it’s daylight.

Install Railings

Graspable handrails can help prevent falls, but you do need to make sure your handrails are secure. Handrails offer support when climbing or descending steps. You may also want to put guardrails on the deck, a support system that creates a barrier around the perimeter of the deck. For homes, this rail should be at least 36 inches high. A railing system should be between 34 and 42 inches high for maximum safety when on the stairs.

Prevent Outdoor Accidents

Your deck is the hub of your outdoor home, so make sure that the steps are safe to avoid a damper on your next get-together. Whether it’s just the family or a bunch of your friends, you want everyone to be safe when they’re hanging out on your deck. Do a maintenance check in the spring and again in the fall to look for loose connections, rotted wood, rusted hardware or cracked boards. Make repairs quickly when you find problems. Your deck will last longer. You’ll avoid accidents. And when your deck starts to get close to the end of its lifespan, about 20 years, think about replacing it. Handyman Connection team can help you keep up with maintenance to prevent falls and other problems. When you’re ready to update your deck, we can help you with design and construction.  Contact Handyman Connection for a team of craftsmen experienced in deck repair services in Regina who can tackle your home improvement project.