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Building A Child Safe Deck
by: leedobbins
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Word Count: 424
Decks are a great place for the whole family to enjoy, even the kids. But, did you ever wonder how to be sure your deck is kid safe?
Making a child friendly deck can be an easy chore when a tiny amount of common sense is incorporated in the design and good, practical childproofing measures happen on the back end of the construction process. If you have a child, building a kid friendly deck will be an important part of the design process. In order to handle both adults and kids, the deck itself has to be roomy enough to accommodate the entire family, but it will also need to have some additional safety measures as well.
If babies or toddlers are present, or will be, including a railing system is necessary if the deck is to be elevated above a foot or so. Accidents can occur and a fall from a few feet can make for serious injury, so the proper way to prevent the problem is to plan for it and take the offensive. If a deck is elevated and stairs are in the design, take care to be sure the entrance to the stairs is designed to work with a child gate.
When selecting materials for the decking, make sure to pick materials that are rounded and smooth. If the deck wood has sharp edges, make sure to sand it down and inspect it periodically to prevent splintering.
Consider building an overhang. With tiny children, a canopy or overhang is a great idea. The blazing sun is not a child's friend when they are sitting out all day, so a little overhead protection can help in addition to sun block.
If little children will be on the deck, go for a design that helps discourage climbing, if you can. Railings should be carefully thought over and it's likely with an elevated deck these ought to be included if kids are on hand. Make sure the railing slats are close enough together to avoid small arms and legs from getting stuck or at least close enough to protect from a child from being able to slide through.
A deck can be a great addition to any house for any family, but if very small children are present or will be, it's a very good idea to incorporate some thought into the plan. A deck safe for kids will need some safety measures, but then a few steps taken up front can prevent problems down the road.
About the Author
Lee Dobbins writes for Super Gardens where you can learn more about outdoor living.
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