How to Build a Kid Safe Deck Guard

When you need to build a deck guard, overall safety is a primary consideration. Little hands and legs can easily slip through the slats in your deck, causing injury or even death to loved ones. A deck guard is designed to close up these open places, making your outdoor deck a safe place for kids to play.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Inspect your deck for needed repairs and take measurements. Before you build a deck guard, you need to make sure the deck is safe. Make sure that all banisters and planks are secure and in good condition. Then take a measuring tape and measure the distance between railings and the overall perimeter of the deck. Also take note of the height of the railings to make sure that you cover all exposed areas.

2. Go with something store-bought. One of the quickest ways to build a kid-safe deck guard is to go with a pre-designed product that just needs to be installed. There are several different ones on the market, so compare prices and measurements to find the one that fits your deck.

3. Take a trip to a home improvement store for a cheaper option. All you really need are some ties or screws and some fine wire mesh, which you can purchase just about anywhere. Buy enough to do your whole deck and get something to secure it to the railing so that little hands and fingers don't get pinched.

4. Install the deck guard. Once you have all the materials, it's just a matter of installing mesh between all the railings to keep your kids safe and happy.