Build a Safe and Beautiful Staircase for Your Family Home

13 December 2022

When children are involved, the staircase of your dreams can soon become a nightmare. For all families, maintaining safety is a top priority. The pitter-patter of young feet also emphasises the importance of durability because those adorable little feet (and fingers!) really make a difference.

At Planet Stairs, we understand that every family will desire a staircase that is not only attractive and functional but also safe for the youngest occupants of the home. Here are some considerations for choosing the style and finish of your new staircase.

The Profile of the Stairs

We suggest a traditional closed staircase with treads and risers when kids live in the home. A typical staircase with risers eliminates the urge to explore the spaces between steps, even if the open rise and centre string staircases are attractive for modern homes. Many homes with this style also have storage space beneath the stairs, which is the ideal location for a “mudroom” or something like hide the ugly mess of shoes, boots, schoolbags, athletic equipment, raincoats, strollers, and other items.

Every Step of the Stairs

To ensure that each tread is deep enough to allow for a smooth ascent and descent of your stairs, the depth on each tread should be at least 240mm. Short goings are not only against the law, but they can make it difficult to use a staircase as you travel throughout the house and can eventually result in an accident.

The Balustrades of Your Choice

There are countless options available when it comes to balustrades. However, we advise that vertical timber, wrought iron, or stainless-steel balusters and rails be prioritised over the glass to maintain a family home’s safety and cleanliness. While glass makes a stunning statement, it also gets easily dirty and reveals fingerprints, so cleaning it will take up valuable time. All balusters must be installed per the law, with spacing preventing legs, arms, or even heads from getting stuck.

The Type of Finish

To ensure that your staircase is painted or stained in a way that will ensure a non-slip finish, we recommend hiring a professional stair finisher like us. Additionally, Planet Stairs can help by giving grip-adding stainless-steel strips to each tread. Another common choice for families is carpet, which may also serve as a soundproof barrier to prevent you from waking any sleeping infants when you move from one floor to another.

Consider Security Gates

Although we don’t manufacture personalised baby gates, we strongly advise every family to purchase a set of security gates at the top and bottom of every staircase in their home.

Additionally, if you plan to build a customised staircase, ensure that you are fully aware of the importance of safety when designing customised staircases.

Our experts at Planet Stairs are available to assist you in making the best choice for your house. Our services cover a range of different timber types, balustrades, staircases, and handrails. Feel free to reach us through our channels or fill out and submit your requests via our Enquiry Form.

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