You have to go outside and down cement stairs to get to my basement. Our backyard is fenced in, and I'd love to cut the kiddos loose back there, but I'm scared to death some kid is going to fall down these stairs. There's like a 1 ft lip around it, then a 10 foot drop... how can I block this off?
@Mr Mom, GREAT idea, duh, if it's sturdy enough, I wouldn't even have to worry about them climbing a fence (which they do)... I think the lightbulb just went off in my head ;)
I guess I would build a "cover". Like I did for the attic. Screw and nail some plywood together, frame it, out a hinge on it, screw it with cement screws to the stair well and put a lock on it. So it would KIND OF look like a cellar door.
Yes, it would be heavy. You could probably make it in a day with the right tools and materials.
You could do a cute picket fence with a gate to the stairs that you can put a lock on it. That way it still makes the yard feel nice without looking trashy.
whatever gate or enclosure you put around it, make sure it is a high gate/enclosure, so that the kids cannot climb, over it.
You can drill into cement, with a cement tip drill, to install bolts and anchors etc.
is it all cement around where the stairs are or is there some grass.. when my dog was a puppy we didnt want him jumping in the pool wen no1 was outside.. my dad bought some cheap fencing from home depot and just hammerd the posts in where the small grass area was in our yard to keep him in there.. we wanted something that would keep him in but something that could be removed eventually.. it worked.. putting a fence into existing cement is a whole-nother story though, not quite so easy.. is say use the temporary fencing like they use on job sites but if someone leans on it it will give in its not sturdy
Chain link fence?
Growing up my neighbor had the same type of set-up. He had chain-link built around it.
Oh its the stairs, I thought it was a pipe or something. My parents had cement stairs with about an eight to ten foot drop along the side. No lip at all. I maybe fell off a half a dozen times in my life and am none the worse for wear.
The times I did fall I was doing back flips along the edge practicing my gymnastics so I am not actually sure I would have ever fallen had I not been stupid. :)
My point is if you don't block it chances are they won't fall. Just watch them if any of the girls take up gymnastics.
We have a similar situation in our yard. We put up a fence and a gate at the top of the stairs. I was always afraid of something dumb happening like one of the kids chasing after a ball or a bubble and not watching where they were going and going right over!
Also, if there's dirt or grassy area around, mabe a flower bed along side would keep them away. If you're the gardening type. I'm not. :)
B.
Honestly, if I'm reading your post right, there should already be one of those iron railings or something. It's code in VA to have a railing of some sort out to grade level.
I totally understand worrying about the kids, and letting them cut loose in the yard is just as much for them as it is for you.
You'd do well to invest in one of those railings, maybe with a gate part, too, or what MrMom said. It may take a Saturday and a bit of cash, but with the warm weather already upon us (thank You Lord), I think you'll find it was worth every penny very quickly. ;)
Isn't Peace of Mind Priceless?
Good Luck!
KATIE
Ours is fenced (wood to match the deck) with a top decorative thing that covers the stairs and helps keep the rain/snow off them.
We had the same issue. Both home depot and lowes sells sectional steel (I think) black fencing by Garden Zone. They have two different heights and a couple of different choices for gates. Its fairly inexpensive, it looks nice AND its really easy to install. The measurements of the sections worked perfectly for our stairwell. I'm assuming that stairwells have fairly uniform measurements so it should work for you too :)
Have it enclosed and put a door there-or have a gate built around it
