How You can Maintain Your Wooden Staircase

A wooden staircase does add character and elegance to any home. If you are remodeling your home and you want to give it a new look and ambience, wooden stairs is definitely something that is worth considering. If you already have one, you know how important it is that it looks clean and well maintained. A shabby looking staircase can have a negative impact on the looks of a home.

Maintaining a wooden staircase is not difficult. All it requires is a little care and effort. Here are some ideas for you.

Basics of maintenance

Clean regularly: Daily vacuuming and sweeping will minimize the dirt and grit that collect on the stairs. These can be abrasive and each footfall can grind them into the finish, acting like sandpaper. Avoid using water on the stairs. Even with careful drying, some moisture may remain in the corners and crevices. This will soak into the wood and leave stains or even cause warping. If a thorough cleaning is required, use a cleaner that is made specifically for the floor finish on the stairs, for example a solvent-based liquid wax for waxed stairs.

Remove scratches and dents: Small scratches and dents need to be fixed promptly before the damage spreads. The best way to do this is by applying a fresh layer of wax on the scratched/damaged area. If it is a little deep, rub the area with penetrating finish and steel wool before applying the wax.

Remove mold: Mold can develop and spread quickly on wooden surfaces in humid conditions. Wiping it away is not enough as it will return rapidly unless the spores are killed. One way of doing this is to use a cleaning solution of half a cup of bleach dissolved in a gallon of water. Wipe down not just the spots where mold is visible, but the surrounding areas as well because the spores may be starting to grow there. Once the mold is removed, the stairs can be refinished.

Prevent damage: Place rugs near the staircase to remove gravel and grit from shoes. Otherwise, scratches will develop quickly. When you move furniture or large/heavy objects up or down the staircase, it is better to take this precaution: cover the legs, corners and any projections of those objects with foam padding or bubble wrap to prevent the stairs from getting damaged. Avoid using the stairs when wearing heavy shoes with studs, stiletto heel or other soles that could cause damage to the wood finish.

 

If your wooden staircase looks old and worn, the best thing for you to do is to call in a professional staircase manufacturing and renovation company. They will have the knowledge, experience, tools and materials to do the refurbishing and repairs that are needed to bring it back to life and add character to your home. DIY can only do so much. Delaying specialist care could render stairs irreparable, necessitating replacement.

Staircase Styles for You to Consider

If you are building a new home or remodeling the one you have, the staircase will play a major role in your design plans. It is in many ways the fulcrum of your home – it connects the different levels to create a unified whole. There are no set rules for staircase design: within the limits of safety and structure constraints, you can do just about anything you want. However, it is important for you to have a staircase that blends in with the décor and look of your home. To help you decide on the staircase that is right for your home, here are the basic style options. Once you decide on the style, you can work with a staircase design and manufacturing company to add or do away with design elements to get exactly what you are looking for.

Custom Staircases

While most staircase designs are based on the use of a certain amount of standard parts and components, custom staircases are made using only custom-made parts. This allows for complete freedom in the design and the materials used. These are not the stairs you will see at home centers, because they are of a kind, made to meet the homeowner’s specifications down to the last detail.

Contemporary Staircases

A contemporary home is one that has a fresh look, is uncluttered and normally filled with light clean colors to give it an open feel. The contemporary staircase uses the same concepts to create stairs that match the look of the home. This particular design concept allows for a great freedom in mixing and matching materials and colors.

Modern Staircases

These are similar to contemporary staircases, but use standard parts, materials and design concepts (to varying degrees) to create a modern staircase, without the uniqueness of contemporary stairs.

Luxury Staircases

These stairs can be based on any design concept, but are typically traditional in their look and the materials used. They are usually large and sweeping, with wide stairs so as to create a look of grandeur and opulence. These are normally found only in larger homes.

Traditional Staircases

These are usually made of wood and based on designs, commonly used in the ‘average’ home. They typically have painted balusters, and square newels will give a ‘homely’ feel to a family residence.

Glass Staircases

These are made using glass panel rail sections. Since the complete staircase is transparent and visible, it has an open look. This style is a good idea to consider, if space is limited and stairs should not dominate the surrounding spaces. Glass treads are often used to complete the transparent effect.

Designer Staircases

These are staircases uniquely created that ignore all standard design concepts. Unusual designs and material combinations are used to give the stairs a completely unique look. These stairs can be used to add glamor to a home that needs a stand out architectural feature with a lasting effect.

These are just concepts and nothing is set in stone. The best way to get the kind of staircase you want is to seek the assistance of a professional staircase manufacturing company that has exceptional design capabilities, is quality conscious and is focused on customer needs. This is how you will be able to examine all the possibilities before deciding on what you want exactly, and then modify the concepts to match your needs.

Don’t Waste the Space under the Staircase

Extra space is always welcome in a home. Modern design has come up with a vast number of space saving storage ideas. But one part of a home which in most cases lies unused and wasted is the area under a staircase; it is never used imaginatively or is just taken as a place to dump unwanted things like a broken table or chair. There is a lot you can do with that space; so think about the way you can use it when you remodel or build a new home. Here are a few ideas for you to consider.

• An entertainment center: The space is ideal for installing a built-in entertainment center with a large flat screen TV, receptacles for DVD players, gaming consoles, drawers for remotes and whatever else you want to add. There will be enough space to have a cabinet to store your DVDs, and maybe even a small bookcase to keep your entertainment related reading material. 
• A reading nook: A banquette under the stairs with a nice mattress and lots of pillows can make a great place to read in peace or just lie back and do nothing. A nice light and a small shelf along the wall to keep a few books will complete the picture. Cabinets at the base of the banquette will give you extra storage. 
• A display area: Why not create an alcove under the stairs to showcase your treasured keepsakes? Give the alcove a different paint and some special lighting and you have a display area that may even detract from the items on show. 
• A place for the kids’ stuff: Kids always need space to dump things, especially when coming home. Hooks along the walls, a bench with cubbies under it, with baskets for keeping their things in and a mat to place wet/dirty shoes on will keep the clutter under control and the rest of the home looking tidy. 
• A work space: A built-in table, below table cabinets and drawers and a few small shelves along the wall is all you need to make a nice little workspace. Remember to put in outlets for the computers and other gadgets you use.  
• A pet space: Your dog will love to have a space to call his own. A washable mat, a bowl for water is all he needs. Put in a few shelves to keep his toys, leash and other accessories and both you and he are organized and happy.  
• A bookcase:  If your staircase is narrow with not-much-depth under it, a books case is a good idea. It will maximize the vertical storage space and free up other areas for other uses.

Use it as you want

These are just a few ideas to think about. You can use the space under the staircase for almost anything. To maximize the potential, have your staircase built or remodeled by a company that specializes in staircase design and construction. They will be able to give you designs and ideas that only a professional will know. That way you not only get a staircase that enhances the look of your home, but also gives you the extra space you always wanted.

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Feng Shui And Your Staircase

At the outset, let’s be clear – no one is asking you to believe in Feng Shui. Whether you believe in this ancient Chinese belief or not is your choice. However, you should know that many people today adoptits principles in designing their homes. Why don’t you spare a few minutes to look at what it says about the designing of buildings? 

Feng Shui is the belief and practice of positioning buildings, rooms and objects to achieve harmony with nature. Designing of buildings should respect balanced patterns of yin (the negative, dark, and feminine) and yang (the positive, bright, and masculine). When this is done the flow of chi (the vital force) will be unimpeded, which is essential for good health. Here are the 4 basics of a good staircase according to Feng Shui.

• It is Better to Avoid Open Risers: Staircases without risers (vertical parts of stairs/steps) are incomplete. Open risers lead to the dissipation of Chi, as it moves through the home. In a two story house, the second floor will not receive the energy flow it should: those who spend a lot of time there will be affected by this loss of positive energy.
• The shape and location of the staircase is important: Spiral staircases that look like they are boring into the house have a negative effect on the Chi.  A curved staircase helps the energy to flow freely through the home. A staircase located at the center of the house allows for energy loss, especially that which helps to create wealth. It will also affect the wellbeing of all those who use it regularly.  Stairs on the side of a room and along walls are the best.
• Where the staircase ends matters: A staircase should not end at the front door. This results in draining out of energy from home. The same problem applies to stairs, ending at or near a bedroom door. Those sleeping in the room will have their positive energy drained away.
• Scissors style staircases affect relationships: A split or scissors style staircase acts like a pair of scissors. It cuts ties and affections and relationships between those living in the home. It is worse if the stairs are facing the front door as is seen in many split-level houses. To counter this, a long strand of ivy, or any similar vine (real or artificial) can be wound around the handrail. This will act to bind the residents of the home together. A plant placed where the stairs split will also serve the same purpose.

Whether or not you believe in Feng Shui, the staircase is a critical feature that affects mobility in the home. Believers and nonbelievers alike should bear in mind  three important factors: – safety, ease of use and appearance. Whether you are building a new home or remodeling one, the right staircase will impact the look and feel that it has. A company that specializes in staircase construction and remodeling will be able to work with you to create a staircase that will add to the appearance and comfort of your home.

How You Can Make a Staircase Senior Friendly

Being old does not mean losing mobility. In fact, the elderly are often very jealous of their independence and freedom to move where they want. However, statistics show that almost one third of people over the age of 65 and half of those over the age of 80 will trip and fall once a year. Many of these mishaps occur in staircases. If you have a senior living in your home, there are things you can do to make the stairs safer for them.

10 Ways You Can Make a Staircase Safer for  Seniors

1. Good Lighting: Ensure the stairs are well lit. Install light switches at the top and bottom at positions convenient for an elderly person to reach.
2. Safe steps: Make sure that there are no uneven steps, jagged edges or nails/screws sticking out of the steps that a shoe could get caught on.
3. Safe carpets: Thick carpets  with pads make stable footing more difficult, especially for the elderly. If installed, remove them.
4. Lightly waxed floor: Make sure the floors, specifically the ones near the stairs, are not highly waxed. Not only will this increase the chances of slipping on, but could also form a film on the underside of the shoes making them slippery and unstable.
5. No small rugs: Do not place small rugs near the top and bottom of the stairs.
6. No kids’ things in stairs: If there are young children in your home, ensure that toys, crayons and other play things are not left lying on the stairs.
7. Phone upstairs: Install a phone extension upstairs so that the senior does not have to keep climbing up and down to use or answer the phone.
8. Safe handrails: Install an easy-to grip-hand rail at a height of about 36 inches and encourage the senior to use it always.
9. No heavy/bulky things: Ensure that the senior does not carry heavy, bulky or difficult-to-see-over items on the stairs.
10. Use of Stair climbing cane: Consider using gadgets like the stairclimbing cane. This is a cane with a strong small plastic platform a few inches high at the base. It can bend in such an angle that it provides support while using the stair. It is placed on one step to help reduce the height to be climbed. On reaching the next step, the cane is placed on it and the process repeated.

Other Things You Can Do

A stair lift is not usually difficult to install and is very easy for the elderly to use. Most have seat belts to prevent accidental falls and a safety cut off that stops them if anything obstructs the staircase. Get a clinical checkup done to see if the senior has a condition like an inner ear infection that could cause dizziness. Also do not allow seniors who are on medication that could affect their stability from using the stairs. A senior with limited mobility will normally do exercises to control the problem. Help them pay special attention to leg and balance exercises that can make using the staircase easier and safer for the senior. Give the senior a room on the first floor and keep as many things they need as possible on that floor to reduce the amount of the use of staircase. A company specializing is staircase construction, repair and remodeling will be able to offer many suggestions of making your staircase safer for seniors.

Making a Staircase Safe for Your Kids: 3 Dangers You Must Foresee and Avoid

Thousands of children get injured every year due to slipping and falling down a stairway. You may not have children as yet, or they may be all grown up. But sooner or later, there will be children or grandchildren in your home. Experts have identified 3 major design flaws which if corrected, will make your staircase much safer for your children. 

The Top Step Flaw

Every step on a staircase should be of the same height. When you take the first step, you automatically assume that the rest are of the same height and your legs move accordingly. If the top step is different in height from the rest, it’s easy to trip and fall when you step on the next one. This is bad enough for adults. It is worse still for children who tend to race up and down or carry things they shouldn’t.

How does this happen? Many staircases are prefabricated. When they are attached to the floor above the measurements should be exactly right. The top most step has to be modified to make it a little higher or lower to fit the floor above. Yes, it is a serious building code violation, if the correction is not carried out. You would be surprised at the number of contractors who are not aware of this structural danger. Once the staircase is installed, there is nothing that can be done about it.

The Big Railing Risk

A staircase is central to the ambience of a home. Many homeowners give therefore priority to the look of the railing, but not to the grip it provides. Thick heavy railings can often enhance the look of the staircase, but it can be difficult for children to get their hands around to have a strong hold. If they slip, the hold is lost and a bad fall can result. This is a factor that many contractors overlook or ignore. If you already have a thick railing your options are to replace it or install a thinner one on the opposite wall, if possible.

The Gate Danger

A gate at the top of the stairs is the best way to keep small children away from it. The problem is that many people opt for the pressure mounted type that is inexpensive and easy to install. The danger is that in many cases the design of the home does not allow the gate to fit flush and tight against the wall. A child falling against it may cause it open and fall down rolling.

If you have very small children at home, go in for a gate that is bolted to the wall. Whether you are building a new home or remodeling the one you live in, the staircase should be given due importance. It is a busy traffic area everyone uses many times a day. And, it lurks with danger for everyone, especially your kids. The best thing that can happen to you is to have your stairway built by a company that specializes in stairway design and construction.

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