this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2026
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Home Improvement

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Removed the plastic and wire guard rail that was put in originally and now I'm unsure what to replace it with. Any ideas?

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[–] smuuthbrane@sh.itjust.works 27 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Canvas sheets and large diameter rope. Make it look nautical. Add a life preserver for added flair. Maybe a brass bell.

[–] exaybachae@startrek.website 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 19 points 3 months ago

Probably would have come up with a plan for installation before disassembly.

Your local home center will likely have reasonable banister options.

[–] RamRabbit@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

now what

You should replace it with a guardrail. Safety is no joke.

A handrail should go all the way to the top of the stairs. And a guardrail should surround the stairs so you cannot fall into them.

Edit: You are going to get destroyed during the home inspection when you sell the place. You will be putting a handrail and guardrails there at that point.


You can also add half-height sliding closets along the vertical sections of far wall there. It's a good height for hanging clothes. Punch a hole in the wall, add a new wall further back and add sliding closet doors. Don't forget to insulate behind your new closet.

Edit: Crawl back behind there first and verify there aren't studs there. If so, you don't want to cut through them without a professional telling you if they are structural or there just to back the drywall.

Put the fucking rail back?

[–] Botzo@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

Storage (bookshelf?) secured to the floor/wall. Unless you really want the open feeling. Maybe with a mesh back (even something like hog wire), you can have the best of both worlds.

[–] AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

What about something like this:

image

[–] aviationeast@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 2 points 3 months ago

Wood would be good if hardwood or bamboo flooring is considered later.

[–] actionjbone@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

A troll who lives under the floorboards and emerges to yell at anyone who gets too close to the edge.

Be sure to feed him a steady stream of goats. You don't want a dead troll under your floor.

nach 2-3 tagen ist der trocken und man riecht nix mehr

[–] e8CArkcAuLE@piefed.social 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] e8CArkcAuLE@piefed.social 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

on a serious note:
do you have a before picture? so as to know what to avoid !
@Slothback@thelemmy.club

[–] kamenlady@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

They won't get notified about your question if you don't post it in the main thread.

Edit: Or edit your first comment

[–] spiff@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm here for the stairwell wall color..... what is that dark green/blue wall color?It's so great and I want to paint my walls that color.

[–] bitteroldcoot@piefed.social 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

An elaborate tapestry showing the lord of the rings story would look really nice there.

How about this one…
https://www.amazon.com/Loccor-Backdrop-Photography-Background-Decorations/dp/B0CJ4W5QCG/

[–] jasoman@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Fall down and break a leg?

[–] youcantreadthis@quokk.au 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Bookshelves. Cat trees. Tesla coils.

[–] i_stole_ur_taco@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Definitely Tesla coils. But the ones from Red Alert.

[–] youcantreadthis@quokk.au 3 points 3 months ago

Yes. Fortify your staircase. Make sure you have enough power plants, though!

[–] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Paint everything that same color of brown. So the stairs really blend in.

[–] Bakkoda@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

And get rid of that light. It's too bright.

[–] jbellows@piefed.social 5 points 3 months ago

Banana peel? A puddle of grease? What effect are we going for here? Are we looking to injure or going for painful death while everyone laughs?

[–] smuuthbrane@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 months ago

Trampoline. Including on top.

[–] seathru@quokk.au 3 points 3 months ago

I'd replace it with a wall. But I'm not the biggest fan of open floor plans.

[–] GreenShimada@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

I would agree with either bookshelf anchored to the floor or pony wall.

[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

well, you could start with a late night Darwin submission at the bottom of the stairs.

I would recommend not doing that though.

maybe some temporary railing with 2x4s? at least until you figure out wth you want...

[–] xep@discuss.online 2 points 3 months ago

Make a trapdoor and put a carpet on it. Secret passage!

[–] knotRyder@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 months ago

I might be crazy but I would do glass like you see on like porches, balconies and the like