A San Mateo reader's husband has a neurological disorder that affects his balance and ability to walk. He's reluctant to make safety improvements to their home because he doesn't want to pay to have ...

To replace stair railing, start by finding and marking studs. In order to be safe, handrails for stairs must be anchored securely to the wood framing behind the drywall or plaster. Here are a few tips ...

Building a set of stairs is a tricky endeavor. Using a pair of brass stair gauges and a builder’s square to mark the stringer (the zigzag boards the steps and risers attach to) can make the job a ...

When you’re dead asleep and someone in your family sneaks downstairs for a late-night snack, the loud groan of a stair is jarring and annoying. Squeaky stairs are caused by wear and tear on the wooden ...

Several weeks ago, I shared a story with you about a young woman. She attends our church, and my wife and I are friends with her. A week ago she reached out to me with a new problem. She was ...

A job that no one likes is refinishing the spindles on the stairs. Years ago we decided to give our dull-looking natural-oak spindles a more stylish appearance. We painted the spindles white and ...