Answering Common Homeowner Questions About Staircases

Posted on: 7 April 2016

Your home's staircase may be essential for allowing you to access the upper floor of your house. However, this can be one part of the home that you may rarely spend time thinking about. By learning these answers for questions concerning staircase problems and upgrades, you will be better able to ensure that you are getting the most out of this part of your house.

Will You Be Able To Replace Wood Railing With Metal?

A staircase without railings can be extremely unsafe, and wood is a common material used for creating the railings for interior staircases. However, if you do not like the appearance of the wood or if it has fallen into disrepair, you may want to consider opting for a metal railing. These railings can be extremely durable and aesthetically pleasing, which may make it the perfect option for your needs.

Unfortunately, metal railings can be far heavier than wood ones, which may complicate this upgrade. Before the work on replacing the railing can start, it is essential for the contractor to thoroughly inspect the staircase to make sure that it can accommodate the additional weight. If the staircase is unable to hold this weight, it will be necessary to enhance the structural supports by adding additional support beams or supplementing the current ones with metal bracers.

What Could Cause The Staircase To Feel Wobbly?

One day, you may walk down the staircase and notice that it feels somewhat wobbly. Often, this problem may start out very minor, and it might only impact a portion of the stairs. However, this problem can be indicative of the staircase pulling away from the structural supports, and if this problem is not corrected, it can eventually result in the stairs collapsing. This type of damage can be particularly common in homes that have suffered issues with the foundation or that have recently experienced an earthquake. Regardless of the cause of the damage, it is imperative to have it inspected by a repair technician, such asnFinelli Architechtural Iron & Stairs, as soon as possible.

Being informed about your home's staircase may not seem like a particularly important aspect of being a homeowner, but it can help you to address some of the issues that this part of the structure may experience. By knowing the steps for upgrading from wood railing to metal and what is causing the staircase to wobble, you will be better suited for getting the most from your staircase.

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