In the last article we revealed some research carried out by the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Canada, which looked at how long it took doctors to make various trips around the hospital.

They found that the doctors took less time to climb the stairs of varying levels than it did waiting for the elevator to arrive and take them to these floors.

A prominent cardiologist at the University Hospital of Geneva in Switzerland, Dr. Philippe Meyer, agreed with these findings that climbing is good for office workers as long as they only have a reasonable flight of stairs to go up each day. He said:

“Taking stairs may save time if you are in a three- to four-story building, but certainly not if you work at the Empire State Building.”

As well as saving the office worker time. Meyer also saw a number of tangible benefits in terms of exercise. In his own study carried out last year, he found that workers did notice some improvements to their health through an increased usage of the stairs, but only when going up around 20 stories per day. This is more than the average person, so it is always advisable to consider other forms of exercise to supplement this.

Whether you are ordering a flight of stairs to be built within your property as part of a commercial venture or as a domestic feature to replace the old stairs in your home, handrails can prove to be an important addition.

In many countries it is now considered the law to provide handrails for people to use, should they wish to do so. Giving them this option at places like sports stadiums, cinemas, restaurants and museums makes a person more confident when ascending or descending the steps.

If a person is elderly or unsteady on their feet, the handrail is there to reassure them that it is there to support them and stop them from falling. This is a big fear of those using stairs.

So whatever the purpose for having a staircase constructed, make sure you at least consider the merits of handrails. These are not just limited to their primary function of offering support and comfort for those using the stairs.

As well as this safety feature they can also be ordered in a variety of designs so they actually bring something to the overall look of the staircase. This is an added bonus as it can make for a beautiful feature too.

If you have just had a new wooden staircase fitted and you have a young toddler in your home, then it is an understatement to say that you need to ensure there are safety guards in place to prevent an accident happening on or around the stairs.

The ideal way to approach this situation is to think like a child. This might sound strange but it allows you to consider it from their perspective. At that young age, they want to explore and try things out – even before their abilities allow them to do so.

Therefore, you need to stay one step ahead of them and take a look at things from this point of view.

Going up and down the set of stairs is your main concern, so installing a secure baby gate on the landing and the base of the stairs is an absolute must for when you are not around to supervise and watch them.

Other safety devices are available such as banister shields and special railings too.

You need to determine what would work best in your home and when ordering a new staircase, only use a manufacturer that makes stairs to the recommended standards. There is a required distance between each banister post that needs to be adhered to.

It is always recommended that you purchase your staircase pre-assembled as it will not cost you anything when you place a bespoke stairs order with an online supplier. So in most instances, there really is no need to have to do this on your own.

However, flat pack stairs may be more appropriate when you are extremely limited for space and where they need to be assembled and installed in the place where they are to be fitted.

A short guide can be found online which explains how to assemble the main section of the staircase. This goes through everything you need to know including the assembly of the treads and risers and fitting them into the stringers.

One piece of advice which is always worth bearing in mind is that before you even consider using the staircase – no matter how tempting – you need to give the glue time to fully set on all these components.

This is crucial as otherwise the stairs can end up making a squeaking sound when the glue has not set in the blocks fixing the treads and risers. So it is necessary to ensure that these are firmly set in place and are left for a fair amount of time.

Loft conversion projects are proving to be very popular in these times when homeowners are looking to maximise the value of their properties. One way said to achieve that is to add another room to your home.

A loft conversion opens up a whole new world of possibilities as it gives you extra space to use as you wish. Whether this is to create more storage space, an area where the kids can play safely, or maybe you want somewhere to run your home office, these are all legitimate ideas.

One area of this installation you really need to think about is access to the newly-created space. It is important to provide an easy way to get to the loft, without making it difficult to move around the upper floor of your home.

Space saver stairs are incredibly useful for these loft areas as they only take up around half the space a standard staircase would. They are ideal options for this type of home conversion as they make use of alternate treads to take up as little space as possible.

When you order these space saver stairs, you can choose to finish them as you wish, so they go with the rest of the interiors and in keeping with your project design.

Staircases are an area of the home which is often neglected by people. In terms of your interiors, these stairs and the space around them should be as highly considered as other parts of your property as they can really improve your home.

When you do your stairs up properly then can bring a certain charm to the setting and add to the décor. No matter what type of house you live in, the staircase is integral to its structure.

Therefore, make sure you make the right choices in ensuring it looks interesting and welcoming to guests. If you are currently renovating your house, then be sure to include the staircase within these plans. You may even wish to buy a new flight of wooden stairs that complement the property and fit them somewhere completely different to where they were before.

Stairs can easily get worn out and when they are not maintained and well taken care of, it is no wonder that they don’t look all that appealing. So consider adding a carpet that will run along the centre of the structure. You can also add decorations and even a rail and stylish balustrade.

There are lots of things you can do to make the stairs more charming to give them their own character.

In the last article we explained how it is important for parents to inspect their home to ensure it is sufficiently child-proofed in time for the stage when their baby is able to crawl and move around the home more easily.

We also briefly touched upon the need for stair gates to be used to prevent a child from accessing the stairs and the upper level of your home as this could prove to be dangerous and falling accidents can happen.

It is only right that you would want to consider everything necessary in keeping your child safe and these stair safety gates are crucial in ensuring this. There is plenty of information freely available nowadays on the best types of products to achieve this.

You can get stair gates which will fit gaps of varying sizes, including those found to be extra narrow or extra wide. So be sure to choose this child-proofing equipment carefully and find the right solution for your home.

If you have just installed a new staircase in your house, such as the popular timber variety, then it is also recommended that you include stair rails as a safety feature for when the child is ready to go up and down stairs of their own accord.

If you are a new parent then you have a lot to look forward to in welcoming your baby to the family home. However, as the child starts to grow, you will soon find that they want to explore the world around them. Once they are able to crawl around, they will change from a baby content to stay in one place, to a toddler who wants to learn through touch and feel.

This is all well and good when it comes to playing with toys, but the modern home is full of dangers, hidden and otherwise, so it is imperative that you walk through your home to identify anything which could pose a risk to your little one.

From plug sockets to fireplaces, each has its own issues which need to be dealt with. In terms of your staircase, which allows you to get from one level of your house to another, it is easy to take advantage of this feature. But even if you have handrails installed on the flight of stairs, should your child try and climb the steps, there is the possibility they might fall.

So it is necessary to use stair gates as part of the child proofing process.

In the last few posts we have been considering child safety and what parents can do to look after their offspring when it comes to staircases and stair railings. Now, we will look at products which can help to give added protection, restricting the area around these steps.

The advantages of using baby gates

These gates are an effective way to ensure that children are kept away from stair railings and the stairs themselves. If you go out and buy some from a reputable store you can rest assured that they will conform to the latest standards for safety. You will find that baby gates are simple to install and remove when required. They can also be moved quite easily too.

When installing baby gates, it is necessary to check that the space between the gate openings are not greater than two finger widths and that they have been securely fitted in place so that a child cannot slip through the gap. The newer models will be made in accordance with these requirements anyway.

Baby netting is a viable option

As well as gates, baby netting is another option open to you. These can be placed on the outside and inside of stair railings. Always make sure that they have been fitted securely and in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. The netting should not be installed too tight or too loose so it provides the right level of protection to your child.

In this article we will be examining a few more safety measures that can be taken by parents so that their children are not put in danger around staircases. These constructions are perfectly fine as long as sensible precautions are taken when it comes to child safety.

Safe stair railings

As well as ensuring that the spacing of stair railings is such so children are not able to easily slip between them, you also need to check them for safety. If any adjustments need to be made, then do this as soon as possible.

Every now and again you should inspect the railings to make sure that they are sturdy and have not come loose. Any problems found can then be rectified right away before they lead to an accident. Children should not be allowed near the stairs until you have deemed them to be fully safe.

Stair railings and supervision

Any measures you put in place such as netting or safety gates (which we will look at next) should never replace the need for parental supervision. Children should always be watched when close to stair railings and if you feel their safety is at risk, move them away from this area of your home.