How to Make Slippery Stairs Safer
It happened a few days after we moved into our charming and extremely old house : I fell down the stairs. Due to the age of the house, the stairs are very steep and worn over time, so the steps were smooth as glass and slightly tilted in the center due to erosion. I was in a hurry and had no shoes, and the rest is painful history. Let’s face it: slippery stairs are a challenge (the Japanese know this well ).
I wasn’t seriously hurt (although I’m pretty sure all my cats were laughing at me), but I was just lucky: every year, more than a million people end up in the emergency room with ladder-related injuries. If you’ve repeatedly found yourself in danger on your own stairs (or slid down them from one floor to another as if you were competing for a slippery staircase championship ), you need to do something about it ASAP.
Wear slippers
If you don’t have pets and are determined not to tackle a project, you can invest in a pair of non-slip slippers or house shoes (or grippy socks ). Sure, you’ll have to remember to wear them every day, and you’ll probably have to invest in a few extra pairs for guests, but wearing house shoes with grippy soles will at least save you from unexpected sledding from the street. second floor to first. Of course, you could just leave your shoes when you get home, but you’re a civilized person, not an animal, right?
Add carpet
Adding runners to your stairs is a great way to eliminate all the slipperiness. This is a project that most people can manage on their own , although it will take some time and effort. It really comes down to your attitude towards carpet in general: if you love hardwood on your stairs, covering it with carpet will feel like a crime, but if your first thought is how warm and safe those stair treads will be under your naked body. legs, this may be the right solution for you.
Tread tape
A cheap and relatively simple solution is to apply traction or protective tape to the treads. Here you have a large choice: from durable industrial strips to thinner strips that are as invisible as possible. The big advantage of using tape is its simplicity: you just measure, cut and stick. However, you should test it on an inconspicuous area of the stairs first to ensure that if you decide to remove it in the future, it will not take the finish of your steps with it.
Anti-slip sprays and coatings
If you’re not too concerned about the surface or finish of your stairs, the easiest way to make them less slippery is to use anti-slip spray , a sandy surface coating that adheres to the steps. It can be applied in minutes, but can take several hours to dry, which is a disadvantage if you’re trapped on one floor of the house. Another downside is regret: if you ever change your mind, it can be difficult to let go of. Another downside to these sprays is that they tend to wear out the treads over time and may need to be reapplied every few years, depending on how many feet are on them each day. But if you want a solution that doesn’t require any tools, this will work.