Need a little extra help climbing the stairs in your house? You're not alone. Many people find steps difficult or even impossible to use.
Smart design can help. Whether you're planning your next home or improving your current residence, here's how to make your stairs a little easier to navigate.
Exterior Stairs
Many traditional homes have steps leading up to the front door. But if you're building a new house, leave them out, suggests architect Jack Catlin, AIA, a principal with LCM Architects in Chicago. "Try not to have stairs," says Catlin, who uses a wheelchair himself. Instead, Catlin suggests creating a sloped entrance leading up to the front door.
If that's not possible, ramps and lifts are two other options. "Ramps need good space configuration," says Sally Haile, information specialist at the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University. Codes often require ramps to be built in a zigzag pattern, with longer ramps for steeper stairs, according to Haile. Landscaping can help the ramp look more attractive.
Ramps aren't always the best option, however. For instance, city homes might not have enough space for a ramp. An elevated wheelchair platform is an alternative. "You can install it next to the same entrance as the stairs," Haile says, adding that lifts should be installed by experienced contractors.
Interior Stairs
You can avoid stairs completely by living in a single-level house. Even if you can easily handle stairs right now, consider your future needs, as well as those of your friends and family. "Make it easier for 10 or 20 years from now," says architect Todd Rosenblum, AIA, of Adaptive Architecture.
If your current house has more than one floor--and you prefer not to move--here are some ideas to improve your stairs:
- Make sure the stairs are well lit. "You could install lights that light the tread," suggests Phil Dommer, president of The Philip Stephens Companies and founder of UDHomes.com and universaldesignhomes.com. Dommer also recommends tube-style skylights for stairwells. "Natural light is the best light for the eye," he explains.
- Install a chair lift, platform lift or elevator. Chair lifts are intended for people who can get in and out of the chair lift's seat. People who cannot transfer in and out of a chair lift could use a platform lift or elevator. "A platform lift runs on a track and can take the entire chair and user," Haile says. Platforms require a fairly wide stairwell. Elevators are the most elaborate and expensive option, costing up to $20,000, Haile says.
- Put safety first. Put easy-to-grip rails on both sides of the stairs and extend them beyond the landing, Dommer suggests.
- Plan ahead. If you're designing a new house, consider stacking closets on top of each other--one on each floor--to create space for a future elevator shaft. It may be less expensive than remodeling later on. And if your new home will have stairs , request an 11-inch tread, which will provide more space for better footing.
Resources The Center for Universal Design
A national research, information, and technical assistance center that evaluates, develops, and promotes universal design.
The Center for Universal Design
NC State University School of Design
Box 8613
Raleigh, NC 27695-8613
USA
Phone: 919-515-3082
Fax: 919-515-3023
Email:
cud@ncsu.edu
URL:
www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/index.html
UDhomes.com
A source for "people friendly" home plans and resources to build a lifetime of better living.
UDhomes.com
URL:
www.udhomes.com
Mary Jo Peterson Inc.
Design consultants specializing in universal design, kitchens and baths
Mary Jo Peterson Inc.
3 Sunset Cove Rd.
Brookfield, CT 06804
USA
Phone: 203-775-4763
Fax: 203-740-2333
Email:
MaryJo@mjpdesign.com
URL:
www.mjpdesign.com
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