Seeking a stair barrier

September 24, 2018 7:25 PM

My sole outdoor space is a tiny staircase landing outside my 2nd-floor back door, most of which is taken by my camp chair. I have to move very carefully when I rise from it to re-enter the apartment.

I'm concerned about falling. I thought to buy a moveable staircase barrier - optimally something that would block a fall, should I lose my footing. Is there something like that on the market? I'm not finding it.

Alternatively, a child-and-pet gate could be a sufficient physical barrier to demarcate the landing from the stairs when it's dark. Prefer something that can be rolled up and put to the side. I found this, which looks fine, but wonder about that specification about it being "bottom of the stairs" only. Does that mean to indicate that the barrier is not to be used as a catch for weight? I can live with that. Or is there something I'm missing here?

Also - if you've solved a situation similar to mine, what did you find useful?

Thanks!

posted by goofyfoot to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

Does that mean to indicate that the barrier is not to be used as a catch for weight?

Yes, that just means it's more of a training tool for one's small creatures than a true barrier.
posted by teremala at 9:07 PM on September 24, 2018

Glow in the dark tape on the edge of the landing or a string of solar fairy lights would help. Getting out of the chair sounds like the dicey bit - can you mount a handhold?
posted by theora55 at 9:27 PM on September 24, 2018 [2 favorites]

Rope! This is what it's for!

You'll get better answers if you can post a photograph, but I'm imagining something like my fire escape landing: Your camp chair is wedged into the corner, and standing up requires rocking forward toward a downward staircase. If you move forward as you stand up, you'll go down a step.

Tie a rope to one side of the stairwell and use a carabiner to clip the rope to the opposite side. Make sure it's a load-bearing carabiner. Doesn't have to be climb-spec, 10kN would probably be fine, but don't use a keychain carabiner.

For extra visibility, you can tie two corners of a bright bandanna to the rope, so that there's a square of blaze orange hanging across the stairwell.

When you're not using it, you can move the carabiner over to the side with the knot to stow the rope away. For bonus points, hang an opaque bag there to protect the rope from UV damage.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 9:44 PM on September 24, 2018 [2 favorites]

Yes, rope is your answer. Comes in all kinds of colors including hi-viz and glow-in-the-dark, and can easily be made into a removable barrier that will comfortably support your weight.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:08 AM on September 25, 2018

In addition, if you were able to use a knotted rope secured to your building to create a hand assist for the butt-lifting portion of the de-camp chairing, that'd help with the forward-pitching.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 8:07 AM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

I feel like a rope or a baby gate might actually send you over the stairs. Like, instead of slipping and landing on your butt, you might actually be sent over the lip of a rope or gate and then it's head-first, you go. I really like Theora55's suggestions! Hi-vis tape or even a painted white line at the step would improve things immensely. If you don't have an outlet outside, a solar or rechargeable camp lamp might be just the thing, to give you the right amount of ambient light so that you can see. And absolutely add a handhold. It could be a true grab bar or get creative with rope (something sturdy, hand-held length knotted through an eyebolt?) or doorknob or something at the spot where you'd need to get up.
posted by amanda at 10:12 AM on September 25, 2018 [1 favorite]