Stair Contractor
New stairs, repairs & rebuilds — solid and safe.
Stair Contractor you can count on
P1Mitigators builds and repairs staircases across Jacksonville, Duval County and Northeast Florida. From new interior stairs to repairing treads, stringers and railings — including rebuilding stairs after water or storm damage — we deliver safe, code-compliant work.
What we do
- New staircase construction
- Stair repair & rebuilds
- Treads, risers & stringers
- Railings & balusters
- Storm & water-damage stair repair
- Interior & exterior stairs
ADA Stairs & Railings — Compliance We Build To
Yes — contractors must hold an active Certified General Contractor or Specialty Contractor license and be fully insured to pull permits. All work must follow the strict structural guidelines of the Florida Building Code (FBC) alongside the federal ADA Standards for Accessible Design. P1Mitigators builds every accessible staircase and railing to these exact standards — because getting them wrong is dangerous and extraordinarily expensive.
Requirements for ADA Stairs & Railings
Licensing & Permits
Contractors altering or replacing handrails or guardrails must pull permits and have the work officially inspected prior to a Certificate of Occupancy.
Handrail Dimensions
Gripping surfaces must be between 1.25 and 2.0 inches in diameter for circular profiles, and installed continuously between 34 and 38 inches above the stair nosings.
No Obstructions
Handrail gripping surfaces must be completely unobstructed along their tops and sides. Any wall brackets used must be mounted strictly below the gripping surface.
Extensions & Returns
Handrails must extend horizontally at least 12 inches beyond the top and bottom risers, and must seamlessly return to walls or posts to avoid catching clothing.
Stair Tread & Risers
All treads must be at least 11 inches deep, and open risers are prohibited on accessible stairs.
Structural Load
All railings and anchoring must be built to support a concentrated load of 250 lbs without rotating or failing.
Clearance Distances From Adjacent Walls
Under the Florida Building Code and federal ADA Standards, clearances are highly specific — they allow a proper grip without trapping the hand.
Wall Clearance
A minimum clear space of 1.5 inches (38 mm) is required between the wall and the handrail gripping surface.
Projections
The handrail must not project more than 4.5 inches into the required minimum width of the stairway or ramp.
Opposing Handrails
The absolute minimum clear width between opposing handrails on an accessible stairway or ramp is 36 inches.
Underside Brackets
Handrail brackets may attach to the underside, but they cannot project horizontally beyond the sides of the handrail within 1.5 inches of the bottom of the rail.
Fines & Liability Risks in Florida
Florida is historically one of the most active states in the country for ADA public-accommodation litigation. Non-compliant stairs or railings create massive legal exposure — which is exactly why this work is not a cheap, cut-corners project.
Federal Civil Penalties
Maximum civil fines run up to $75,000 for a first-time violation and up to $150,000 for any subsequent violation.
The Florida Leverage
Federal ADA claims recover attorney fees but not damages — so plaintiffs in Florida routinely pair them with the Florida Civil Rights Act, which allows compensatory and punitive damages and enormous financial pressure.
Contractor Indemnification
A sued property owner passes liability straight to the contractor. If code was violated, general liability insurance may not cover the failure — leaving out-of-pocket remediation and legal fees.
Premises Liability Claims
In a slip-and-fall on a stair missing the 1.5-inch wall clearance, the code violation becomes prima facie evidence of negligence — making a personal-injury lawsuit exceptionally hard to defend.
Official Reference — ADA Standards for Accessible Design
Every dimension above traces back to the federal ADA Standards for Accessible Design, published by the U.S. Department of Justice. It is the governing rulebook for accessible stairs, handrails, ramps and guardrails — and the same document our crews and estimators build to on every job. Read the standards directly at ADA.gov.
Between licensing, permits, inspections, precise clearances and the structural load testing, a code-compliant ADA staircase or railing is a serious, expertise-driven build. P1Mitigators handles it correctly the first time — protecting you from failed inspections, liability and costly rework.
Call 904-891-8435Stair Contractor Service Areas
P1Mitigators serves Jacksonville, all of Duval County and the surrounding Northeast Florida communities, beaches and suburbs. Tap your area for local details.
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