DIY Chatroom -  DIY Home Improvement Forum
    DIY Forum     DIY Blogs     Photos     Woodworking     Advertise     Contact Us  

CLICK HERE AND JOIN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY...IT'S FREE!
Go Back   DIY Chatroom - DIY Home Improvement Forum > DIY Repair > General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 03-21-2007, 05:25 PM   #1
Newbie
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2
Default

Half wall


Hello all,
I am moving into a house with a half wall that looks over the stairs (in an L shape) and I have 3 small children that I am worried will try to climb it. It is far enough from the cieling that a baby gate used sideways wouldnt work.
Does anyone have any quick-fix ideas of how I could prevent a fall?
Thank you!!

bethie333 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join DIYChatroom.com

Join the #1 DIY Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

DIYChatroom.com - Are you about to start a new home improvement task and need some help? Do you need advise on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that DIY Chatroom is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free.

Join DIYChatroom.com - Click Here
JOIN FOR FREE


Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury or death. DIYChatroom.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any home improvement task!
Old 03-21-2007, 08:51 PM   #2
Handyguy
 
Brik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SE PA
Posts: 803
Send a message via Skype™ to Brik
Default

Half wall


By the time they are big, and old enough, to actually climb it they will be old enough for you to TEACH them not to.

Brik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2007, 08:55 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 221
Default

Half wall


Heh, he must have little boys! When I was growing up I had the half-wall overlooking the stairs, my parents put those wooden banister posts upto the cieling... made my room a lot like a jail cell and I admit, I did get my head stuck in them a few times...
elementx440 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2007, 09:00 PM   #4
Lic. Builder/GC/Remodeler
 
AtlanticWBConst.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New England
Posts: 7,554
Default

Half wall


Quote:
Originally Posted by bethie333 View Post
Hello all,
I am moving into a house with a half wall that looks over the stairs (in an L shape) and I have 3 small children that I am worried will try to climb it. It is far enough from the cieling that a baby gate used sideways wouldnt work.
Does anyone have any quick-fix ideas of how I could prevent a fall?
Thank you!!
Bethie,
It sounds like you do not want to do anything permanent with this area. One option is to build a temporary 'upper-railing' type system, that will be removed once the children get older. You could do this by using a length of 3/4" wood for the bottom (on the 1/2 wall) and then one for the top (at the ceiling)....in between, you attach large closet type poles (1 3/8" diameter and very sturdy). The upper and lower peices of stock: 1"x6" stock. These could all be painted or stained to match your interior trim work.

This 'upper railing' could be prebuilt (as one piece) by taking the measurements for the height and then building this unit prior to placing it into the areas that you want to use them in. You could use #10 -# 12 .... 3" screws to attach them to the 1/2 wall surface and to the ceiling joists above.
When the children get older, you could simply remove it (by taking the 3" screws out) and patch the ceiling screw holes with joist compound and (if the 1/2 walls are wood topped) use wood putty to fill the screw holes on that....

For now, that's about what I can come up with. We did this on a set of stairs leading into a basement area, so the Homeowner could remove it when he had to bring in furniture.
Sometime, I need to stop by there and take pics of it to better explain the design....

There may be other suggestions .....
__________________
- Build Well -

Last edited by AtlanticWBConst.; 03-22-2007 at 05:18 AM. Reason: spelling
AtlanticWBConst. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2007, 10:51 PM   #5
Newbie
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2
Default

Half wall


Thank you for your replies. Keep them coming!
I really appreciate you taking the time to write all of that.
bethie333 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


-->
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Atlantic-need your opinion on markd's comments about my vapor barrier? yummy mummy Building & Construction 11 03-07-2007 10:47 AM
This is not a load-bearing wall, right? AllGoNoShow Building & Construction 4 01-07-2007 04:49 PM
Load Bearing Wall? Traybae Remodeling 3 11-05-2006 02:39 PM
Load Bearing Wall? Traybae Building & Construction 1 11-05-2006 02:01 PM


Top of Page | View New Posts


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:28 PM.


© 2003 - 2010 The Building Network LLC