Stairs safety issue

Monaou2

Hi All

Just wondering has anyone suggestions here - we are moving house and the stairs in the new house has horizontal (rather than vertical) spindles/bars. There is only two straight timber bars, so significant gaps between them. We have a toddler so we will obviously be using stair gates, but the landing upstairs is too dangerous with this setup. Anyone have experience of this problem previously and how did ye make it toddler-safe?

I've priced up clear Perspex as an option and would be ~€200. Is there any better solution (that might look nicer) for around the same price?

Thanks!

jonon9

Iv seen this before friend of mine has a stairs like this and he eventually changed it out for a conventional type but for the mean time pick up some 2x1 and screw it into the spaces only unless you plan on replacing the horizontal balusters it down the line with vertical.

zinzan

We don't have horizontal spindles, but our vertical ones are spaced such that we decided it was worth blocking them off so I covered ours with some light mdf sheeting - just screwed it onto the spindles. Blocks a bit of the light but better than the alternative. Left the spindles visible from downstairs so you don't really notice it.

Rancid

Faced with the same problem many years ago, I covered the landing part with expanding wooden trellis! Fixed it in position with panel pins and because the trellis didn't have to expand much, it covered the gaps very well and still let some light through. A very diy solution, it worked and didn't cost a fortune!

M.T.D

From memory in the UK, to meet building regs,
Horizontal bars are not allowed in houses on stairs and landings, children use them as a climbing frame.
Spacing between spindles less than 4" (100mm) so crawling babies can not put their heads through.

pippip

I have the same type in my house. Are you sure your toddlers head will fit through. Ours look like big gaps but by the time my daughter could crawl she wouldn't fit through. The main danger, to which i give a mega shout when they attempt it, is the kids climbing them like a ladder.

The cheapest option would be an extra length of wood inserted between the gaps horizontally to match.

colm_mcm

Some horizontal 2x1 will fill the gap. Same story in my house. Really need to do it asap. Thread reminded me

Monaou2

colm_mcm wrote: »

Some horizontal 2x1 will fill the gap. Same story in my house. Really need to do it asap. Thread reminded me

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

Re the regulations - yes my understanding is that these type of stairs are against regulations here (but weren't when it was installed). We will be replacing the banisters over time, so just want a temporary interim solution to make it safe.

The 2x1 are a practical (but maybe not prettiest) solution alright. I'd be worried re the trellis that little feet could use them to climb up on - our toddler gets everywhere!

Thanks again.

seamus

4/5mm perspex sheet screwed to the wood perhaps? Still allows the light in, but impossible for little hands and feet to climb on. Virtually unbreakable, and wipe-clean.

Only concern would be sharp edges, might need to get it cut and rounded to the exact size you need.

colm_mcm

In a strange coincidence thing. I needed to do this just now for a friends rental house so it wouldn't be a risk.





Funny thing is the existing stairs is completely crooked! Nothing lines up. Still more to do.
The big ones are original. The small ones added

Still haven't done my own.

Monaou2

Sorry meant to come back sooner....

Thats a fine looking job - very impressive!

In the end we went with a sheet of polycarbonate (I think it was called), which is similar to Perspex but stronger. Got it cut to size and very easy to put up with a few screws. Looks well and surprisingly easy solution.