Building a Child Safe Backyard Deck
Feb 5th, 2010 by Storage Shed Plans
Decks are a popular place for the family to hang out in the nice weather so you want to ensure that it is a safe place for baby and/or toddler too.
When building a deck that is child safe is an easy thing to do to make it fun area for everyone. It just takes a little bit of common sense in the planning stage to have these needed safety measure in place.
Whenever a deck is even a few feet off the ground, you should plan on building a rail all the way around it to prevent falls. A child safety gate is a good idea if you plan to have stairs so ensure that a gate can fit at the entrance/exit.
Summertime brings walking barefoot outside and you want to avoid getting splinters in little feet that are running and playing on your deck. This is why you should always look for building materials that are smooth and rounded. Once the deck is built, inspections should be performed once in a while to ensure that there is no splintering occuring. If this happens, the area will need to be sanded down.
Another precaution to take is protection from the sun. If you’ve got a lot of sun hitting the area of the deck, think about building some protection like an overhang or a canopy. This will block the sun from unnecessary sun exposure. Of course sunblock should also always be worn outsie.
If little children will be the majority of people enjoying and using your deck, then you have to think about their safety before anything. This is why you use a design that should allow no opportunities for climbing. Ensure railing slats are placed close together to avoid getting childrens extremities caught in them and also to avoid someone trying to climb through and falling to the ground.
The safety factor in building a deck is your first priority in planning. Your children need to be considered before anything else. Keep them safe and plan to build a deck that will be accident free for your whole famiy to enjoy.
