“When my husband’s mother comes over for a visit, I just cringe,” Ariel said. “It’s quite a drive from her place in the Berkshires to Framingham, and that ride is hard on her hip. Her balance isn’t what it could be. And then she gets out of the car and has to come up our front porch steps. They’re not straight at all, and the second and fourth one are wobbly. There’s no railing. Steven goes out and holds onto her to keep her steady as she comes in, but that’s really not the ideal solution, and believe me, she lets him know.”
Sound familiar? Front porch stairs see a lot of traffic. Think about how many people go in and out of your house over the course of any given day! Lots of time these people are in a hurry, or they’re carrying heavy bags for school or work, or they’re bringing in groceries – which means the front porch stairs get a lot of wear and tear. Wooden porch stairs are especially prone to sagging, twisting and breaking. It doesn’t take long for our New England winters to impact the condition of porch stairs: between the snow, the ice, and the frigid temperatures, damage happens.
Having the front porch stairs replaced is a simple, cost effective way to exponentially enjoy your home more. You won’t have to worry about anyone slipping on your shaky stairs, and safety-boosting railings can be added for extra peace of mind. Switching to PVC or composite decking means you won’t have to worry about the condition of your porch steps for a long time as both of these green building materials are weather and insect resistant. Also PVC and composite porch steps are mold and mildew free – great news for kids’ and pets’ health.