How do I childproof stairs in the house?
Table of contents
In many houses or apartments, the stairway is open and there is a risk of falling. To ensure everyone's safety, it's advisable to install proper stair protection.
Preventing the Risk of Falls
A staircase always presents a risk of falls for people, both children and adults. And if you have pets (dog, cat), they too can misstep, and protection will prevent them from falling.
To ensure the safety of the whole family and guests, it's important to install equipment that will clearly delineate the stairway and prevent falling into the void. The best option is equipment capable of supporting the weight of an adult: a railing.
To be truly effective, a railing must be at least 1m high and must be able to withstand the weight of an adult leaning on it. The goal is to prevent a person from falling over. Of course, the railing must not give way under the person's weight if they lose their balance and lean fully on it.
The railing must also prevent a child, even a very young one, from being able to pass underneath, or between the bars.
A Rigid Railing
This type of stair protection is very common and can be found in various materials (wood, glass, steel, stainless steel, aluminum…), in all styles and shapes.
Very often, to achieve a very stylish look that becomes an interior design element in addition to being a safety feature, a stair railing will be composed of a mix of materials: wood and glass; stainless steel and glass, etc.
The main advantage is having very elegant, very stylish, and rigid equipment. It is a clear demarcation that protects against falls and decorates the home.
But it also has significant drawbacks: mainly cost and installation complexity. It is preferable to call on a craftsman or a construction company to install a metal or wooden railing.
These materials, which are high-quality or even noble, are also more expensive.
Installing a Railing Net
An easy-to-install and economical alternative is the railing net.
This has been a specialty of Corderie Gautier for over twenty years. We design and manufacture railing nets from catamaran netting, initially used on multihull sailboats at sea.
These are therefore very robust and durable pieces of equipment, designed to withstand bad weather and the elements.
We adapt these nets to make them protective and decorative elements for the home.
Our catamaran nets, made of very resistant textile fiber, are perfectly suited for this purpose. Installed vertically, the railing net becomes true fall protection.
Our nets are capable of withstanding a load of 400 kg/m2, more than enough to support the weight of a falling adult.
Thanks to its small meshes, it lets light through while guaranteeing that a child or an animal cannot pass through: impossible to fall.
Moreover… have you ever had a toy or comforter fall on your head? With this system, problem solved! Even most toys won't pass through the mesh.
The railing net is custom-made and adapts perfectly to your staircase: dimensions, specific shape, color… We produce each project on demand.
For you, this is the assurance of having beautiful protection for your staircase, both stylish and safe.
Using Taut Rope
Another idea that is both original and effective for securing your stairwell: creating a mesh with taut rope.
Rope allows you to create a stairway with a very stylish and original look. Depending on your interior decor, you can use colored rope, or natural hemp for a more authentic look.
The rope will be connected at several points, on the sides or from top to bottom. You can imagine several styles: zigzag, crossing the rope…
It is important that the rope is very taut to ensure a minimum of resistance, without deforming under weight.
To help you tension it correctly, and even re-tension it from time to time (rope can loosen slightly over time, which is normal), install tensioners and stainless steel turnbuckles. This rigging equipment is regularly used on boats or in construction to tension ropes and cables. They are easy to use, robust, and resistant to corrosion.
However, as professionals, we must reiterate essential information: rope stair protection cannot truly be considered a railing.
Cable Railing
Another variant that is regularly seen is the creation of a railing made of taut steel cable.
While it is possible to use only cable, just as you would with ropes, most often a metal or wooden handrail is installed to form the sides and top.
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