How to Eliminate Deck Stairs for Seniors

Build up the Grade

• If you have only a few stairs to overcome, you may be able to raise the grade around the deck by adding dirt. Grade the dirt so that the earth is level with the deck at the deck and slopes away gradually. Before you take this approach, have a site engineer evaluate your home to make sure adding dirt around the front of your house won't cause water to erode your foundation or flood a basement or crawl space.

Add a Ramp

• You can build a ramp up to the deck, replacing steps with a gradual slope. You can use the ramp in addition to or instead of the steps. Build the ramp so that it rises no more than 1 inch for ever 1 foot of distance. Install railings and handrails to assist people in walking up the ramp, and add rubber strips or textured paint to keep the deck surface from becoming too slippery. In winter, keep the ramp free of snow and ice.

Install a Lift

• For areas where ramps and grade elevations are practical or desired, you can install a lift that raises the lift occupant up to the level of the deck. The lift should be wide enough and sturdy enough to accommodate a laden wheelchair, and should have railings. You can also install lifts on indoor stairs to make moving from one floor to another easier. Depending on how far the lift must travel between the deck and the ground, this may be the most expensive option.

Other Considerations

• In addition to eliminating steps, you may need to widen doorways to allow a wheelchair to pass through them and lower the threshold of the door to make passing over it in a wheelchair or with a walker easier. Provide plenty of lighting around the entrance, and consider installing lever doorknobs that are easier to move than twist knobs for those with arthritis or other mobility impairments. You may also want to cover the new entrance to keep off rain and snow.