Having spent over 15 years writing about technology, Lawrence has turned his eye to remodeling, smart home services, maintenance and home repair projects. He now contributes DIY, informational and ...

A basement stairway has been the scene of many accidents where there was nothing to hang onto. And so has a wide-open or steep stairway where there’s no railing for support on the opposite wall.

Question: We live in a 1948, three-level Cape Cod home. The steps leading to our finished basement appear to have been rather rustically homemade. We've torn the carpeting and padding off them and ...