We don’t often think about our staircases, but they’re one of the most important features of our homes. After all, our stairs get us upstairs and downstairs. Without them, we would be stranded and unable to access the other levels of our homes. Despite our stairs’ importance, however, many homeowners go about their days with faulty or failing staircases. Here we discuss the top four signs that it’s time to repair or your place your stairs.
Cracked treads and/or risers
Safety is of the utmost concern when it comes to our staircases. Unfortunately, cracked treads and/or risers are all too common and can be the cause of serious accidents. Keep in mind that you can’t simply glue cracked treads or risers back together. Instead, you must hire a qualified contractor to re place them.
Loose handrail or post
A loose handrail or post seems like something you can just shrug off and deal with later. However, if your handrail or post is loose, that means it’s on its way to breaking completely. You don’t want that happening when someone is using it. Additionally, loose or detached handrails are code violations, so it’s best to get these fixed as soon as possible.
Water damage
Your stairs are as susceptible to water damage as the rest of your house. This happens most often with the stairs leading down to your basement, but it could also happen to your first-floor stairs if you’ve had flood damage. Water damage can harm the integrity of your staircase, so be sure to keep an eye out at all times.
Creaky steps
A creaky staircase is extremely common. In most cases, you don’t have to worry too much. However, creaks should be investigated to ensure that the problem isn’t too severe. Creaks develop when a gap forms between the treads and the risers. Usually, the gap is small and there is no need to worry, but in some cases the gap grows larger and must be addressed sooner rather than later.
Ivy Lea Construction can help you repair or replace the staircases in your home. Contact us today to learn more!
