A staircase inside the house can add to its elegance. A staircase is also preferred over elevators these days, given how conscious people are about fitness. But if the stairway or the hand railing on it is weak or broken, there could be serious accidents resulting in injury to you or anyone using it. It is important to make sure that the stairs as well as the railing in your home and office are always in perfect condition.
A strong staircase not only prevents mishaps but also reduces your liability, by minimizing the chances of your employees, clients or any other third-party falling due to a structural issue. Here are few ways to check if your staircase is strong and fit enough for day-to-day use.
Check for damage
Most of the staircases in homes or offices are made of wood, and not stone. Wooden staircases are strong and can carry heavy weights too. But if they are not properly constructed or fixed, they could eventually develop cracks or give way under too much weight.
Termites can weaken the stairs
Wood is also susceptible to damage due to fungus, termites and moisture. It is possible that your wooden stairway or railing is damaged due to any of these factors. To make sure that the railing or staircase is safe to use, make it a habit to check for such damages from time to time. Termites can really damage wood and make it entirely useless. If you ignore any indication of fungus or termites, you could end up paying heavily to replace the entire staircase or railing.
Inspect regularly
Get a carpenter to check your wooden staircases, patios, flooring boards and railings every once in a while for any kind of damages. This is especially important when you have kids walking on the stairway or if heavy items are often moved using the stairs. Also encourage your family, staff and anyone else using the stairway to be careful and use the hand railing for support to prevent slips and falls. When you use the railing every day, you will also be able to quickly identify any defects in it. For example, you would be able to tell when the staircase becomes loose or shaky.
Regular inspection of the staircase enables you to get the damage to the railing or stairway fixed as quickly as possible and thereby reduces the possibility of mishaps.
