Hello, my name is Isabel, and I bought a fixer-upper house a few years ago. Through the years of having multiple projects done to my home I have had a lot of contractors in and out of the house, and I have learned how to effectively hire them and successfully work with them. I have worked with general contractors as well as specialists for things like roofing. If you aren't sure when to choose a general contractor over a subcontractor, take a look at the tips in my blog. They will inform, guide and help you. I am glad you found my blog. Enjoy reading!
Choosing General Contractors versus Subcontractors
Ideas To Make The Stairs Safer For Children
Rosalyn Hunt
Staircases have an important role to play in a modern day house. In addition to their functional value, well maintained staircases help to increase the overall aesthetic value of the house.
Parents who have young children around the house need to be concerned about child safety as the children go up and down the stairs on a daily basis. Discussed below are a few ideas that a parent can adopt in a bid to make the staircase safer for their children
Installation Of Recycled Rubber Mats
Recycled rubber mats are an innovative option for parents looking to increase staircase safety for their children. Installing a rubber mat on the surface of each stair improves traction and stability for children going up and down the stairs. Recycled rubber mats are great for stairs located in areas where children go from a wet area (such as the outdoors) to a dry area. Examples of these areas include the basement and rear entries.
Parents concerned about aesthetics would be glad to know that recycled rubber feature decorative designs that allow them to blend in well in any setting.
Install Reflective Anti-Slip Treads
Parents can also improve the safety of their staircases by investing in anti-slip treads that feature highly reflective stripes. This helps to make stairs safer in two ways. For one, the anti-slip treads improve the stability of children using the stairs. Secondly, the highly reflective strips enhance visibility along the staircase, thereby reducing the chances of slips and falls.
Consider Having A Second Handrail
In a large number of homes, staircases are designed with a handrail on one side of the stairs. Handrails are important safety features not only for children, but also for elderly residents who may use the stairs.
For parents, there is no such thing as being too safe when it comes to their children. As such, it is a good idea for parents to consider having a second handrail installed on the other side of the staircase. Double hand rails on a stair case means double the safety for children as well as other users.
Install Baby Gates
Last but not least, staircase safety can be enhanced through the installation of baby gates at the top of the staircase and at the bottom. The gate at the top can help to prevent accidental falls when a child is passing near the staircase. The bottom gate can help to prevent serious injury if a child happens to trip and fall when coming down the stairs.
It may not be very convenient for parents to have to open and close the gates whenever they wish to use the stairs, but this is a small price to pay for the increased safety of the kids.
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