Have you ever thought about the staircase you have in your home? If you’re planning to purchase are you taking note of the state of the stairs?
If you do not own, or are planning to purchase an apartment, the staircases are among the most important things to consider. There are many aspects to take into consideration – their location and how steep and if they have banisters, what kind of material they are made of, carpets and do they have a bent? If you can think of it I could continue. Keep reading to know the problems face by best cleaning company in dubai in surveying stairs.
Issues with staircases
A lot of the questions are common sense “Can I move my furnishings up steps?’ is likely one of the most important questions you ask yourself. However, there are other issues to consider:
Are you considering buying a home that has stairs leading to an loft conversion? If so, determine if the stairs wind or if your furniture is able to be able to fit through the narrow staircases.
Are you sure that your home is Victorian? In Victorian cottages, staircases are usually extremely steep, and in two-up, two-downs, it is common to have windows at the bottom, which could require protection.
What are the dangers you encounter on the staircases?
- Stairwells are often the most hazardous areas of an apartment. It is reported by the Office for National Statistics suggests that in 2015, there were 787 deaths across England. Moreover, wales that were caused by falling on stairs or steps, the stairs fall every 90 seconds.
- You’ll be amazed by the amount of homes that we examine that do not meet the standard safety requirements. Balustrades and handrails are in place to protect us from harm. We also see stairs where there is a balustrading (or banister) has broken or missing spindles.
- A few balustrades and handrails aren’t able to withstand lateral pressure (that’s what amount of force you have to exert to move them in a sideways direction).
- This is incredibly crucial, particularly if you require the support of handrails for climbing up or down stairs . you may also want to think about having two handrails when you have mobility issues.
- Alternate stairs, particularly for extensions, could be an issue. All treads must be of equal width and every step are the same height. We’ve even seen doors on a staircase but there is no landing!
- Asbestos is also found on the staircases. A lot of 1950s homes we inspect particularly social housing and local authority homes are covered in asbestos. Importantly, taken care of and when you’re purchasing a home from the past the villa deep cleaning services dubai is essential.
- And what happens if you reside in a property that was previously an individual home? What did the staircase go through when it was renovated? There is often an enclosed fire-proof area surrounding the staircase.
- And lastly the staircases must be illuminated.
Are there safety rules for staircase in the home?
There are numerous construction regulations and design guidelines for staircases. In fact, there’s an entire document accessible for reading on it. However, here are some of the main elements.
- Spindles: Building regulations stipulate that 100mm spheres shouldn’t be capable of passing through any openings in the balustrade; therefore, the distance between spindles shouldn’t be larger than 99 millimetres. We’ve all heard of the story of a child who has their head stuck, and with the modern regulations. However, that’s the width that babies is able to crawl through and that is the basis for this rule.
- The height of a step – also often referred to as the “Rise” Building regulations specify an initial distance of 150mm up to a maximum of 220mm.
- The depth of the tread – also called the ‘Going’ Regulations stipulate an initial distance of 220mm, up to a maximum distance of 300mm.
- Staircases should be designed with a maximum slope , or pitch of 42 degrees. The combination of going and rise can reach this.
- Handrails must be installed at the very least on one side of a set of stairs, if they’re not more than one-metre wide as well on the opposite side if they’re larger.
- Handrails for landings and stairs should be of an average height of 900mm.
- An absolute minimum of 2000mm of headroom required above the pitch line , it’s the line that’s likely to be drawn by pulling strings across the lower tread up to the tread on top.
What structural issues can inspectors spot on staircases?
It is common to find structural issues in staircases that have been neglected is being carried out or they’ve been changed or upgraded. There are broken treads, and especially winders (the treads on staircases that run around corners) not being supported properly. The wedge is often ripped out, or the support is broken.
Another issue that is common is stairs that are not properly repaired, with nails or screws hanging out, or patch-worked wood that is often hidden under carpet. A stairway tread that is secure and safe is crucial.
At the end of the stairs, it is important to look around to make sure that the lower riser isn’t deteriorating. Sometimes, instead of the stairs being built on concrete and then fabricated, the stairs are constructed first and then the concrete is poured around it. This can lead to decay.
How simple is it to change an stairwell?
If you’re planning to replace or install an existing staircase, the primary thing to think about is the location where your new staircase will be. Are you replacing the same staircase with similar, or are you installing a brand new stairwell or moving one you have? It is generally accepted that the foundation of a staircase must be close to the front door. Also, you shouldn’t have to walk through another room to access your stairs directly from front. This is especially important when there is a third floor to the house since the staircase are required to serve as an escape route for fire.
When you’ve determined the area where your staircase is installed, calculate the total rise. This is the difference in height between the floor that is finished below and the floor above. It is then possible to determine the number of risers needed. The treads count is usually one less than the risers.
What are the most suitable materials for stairs?
The majority of this is due to your personal preferences However, there are some things you may want to keep in your mind.
Nearly any material is able to be used to create an stairwell – concrete wood, stone, and even glass. It’s all down to what you want, regardless of whether it’s residential or commercial property. Check out this post for some suggestions.
Whatever you choose for your staircase ensure that you think about the people who will use them . Putting socks on a polished wood could cause a disaster waiting to occur.
