Previously I did a post about concerns around exterior basement stairs.
Interior basement stairs have the same kinds of concerns.These interior stairs to basements in older homes are often too steep, not wide enough, have inadequate headroom, have inadequate or no barrier railings and are often missing handrails.
Upgrading these stairs to meet current standards can prove very costly, and usually does not get done. Because these stairs already have increased risk of falls due to steepness and lack of clearances, the installation of proper handrails and guardrails is even more important. This is even more important if the basement has been finished off and is now living space that is regularly used.
This picture shows a very steep, very narrow stair to the basement with no guard railing or hand-railing. Headroom is also poor and most people could bank their head while going down the stairs.
When you finally do get in the basement, there are sometimes other “dangers” to watch out for.
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