Stairs and Railings: what a handyman does
Stair safety is mostly small checks: a handrail that is graspable and about 34 to 38 inches high, balusters that do not wobble or leave wide gaps, treads that are even and tight, and good light. Enhaus fixes loose rails, balusters and treads. Rebuilding stairs, stringers or landings is contractor work.
Jobs we take on
Tap one to add it to your list.
- Tighten and re-fasten loose balusters
- Re-secure a loose newel post
- Install a wall-mounted handrail into studs on a bare stair wall
- Re-fasten loose or squeaky treads and risers
- Replace a cracked tread or worn stair nosing
- Add non-slip treads or strips to bare or slick steps
- Patch and paint the stair wall and repair skirt board trim
- Install baby gate hardware at the top and bottom of the stairs
- Swap a stair light fixture like for like
Signs it is time to call
- A handrail that is missing, wobbles, is too thick to grip, or ends in a sharp or open end
- Gaps between balusters wide enough for a 4-inch ball to pass
- Steps that differ in height or depth by more than about 3/8 of an inch within one flight
- Treads that feel spongy, loose or noisy under your foot
- Dim stairs with no light switch at the top or bottom
What is not a handyman job
Changing stair dimensions, replacing stringers, building new stairs or landings, and any work that changes the structure are contractor work and may need a permit review from your village. A guard post that moves because of its connection to the framing also goes to a contractor. New wiring for stair lighting goes to a licensed independent electrician. The numbers on this page come from a deck-industry checklist, and the code your village has adopted is what applies, so confirm with the building department.
Plumbing, electrical and roofing go to licensed independent contractors.
What a visit looks like
- We check the handrail, balusters and treads by hand and tell you what we find before we repair anything.
- We agree on the scope of work before starting.
- We clean up and walk you through the finished work.
Common questions
How high should a stair handrail be?
The NADRA checklist asks for a handrail height of 34 to 38 inches that is graspable, and for a separate handrail to return to a post or safety terminal. Your village's adopted code is what applies, so confirm with the building department. We can measure your rail and tell you how it compares.
Can you fix a loose baluster or newel post?
Usually, yes. We re-fasten balusters and re-secure newel posts with appropriate fasteners. If a newel is loose because the framing under it is rotted or the connection has failed, or if the wobble comes from the stair structure, that is a contractor repair and we will tell you.
Can you add a handrail to stairs that have none?
On a wall side, yes. We mount continuous brackets into studs and set the rail height and grip size to the checklist numbers. Open-sided stairs with a drop need a guard system with proper framing connections, and that is contractor work.
Why are my stairs squeaky, and can you fix it?
Squeaks often come from a tread rubbing against its riser or stringer. We can usually re-fasten the tread with screws, working from above, or from below if the underside is open. A tread that is cracked or soft is replaced instead of fastened.