"We're having someone come out to build a fence"

If neither you. nor the "someone" installing the fence, are cognizant of residential stairway regulations, pay visit to your local building dept. and/or hire someone who does.

More than two risers require a handrail.

Treads and risers have min. and max. widths and heights.

Depending upon the direction of the swing of the gate, at the top, will determine if a landing is required.

Based on your photo it doesn't look too bad to me. You might compare the current configuration to code requirements for stairways.

People have concrete and bricks stairways all of the world. Yes they are "hard". Babies can fall on a concrete floor too, that's why it's a full-time job trying to keep them safe.

Good luck with whatever solution you decide.

Note: Instead of covering stairs with stairs, maybe a wooden ramp would be a better alternative.

An ADA compliant ramp would have to be at least 42' long and at that length would require several landings.

You need more than rails on the concrete walls; the handrails must be continuous which would probably require Newall posts.

Codes weren't written to be painful and expensive, they were written to save lives. Study up and get compliant.

You don't have to be ADA compliant. The steps are 'grandfathered' in - you don't have to be code compliant - until you change the steps.

The people who build your fence, will make sure it's up to spec.

That said, the steps should have a hand railing.

Geoffrey_B

"you don't have to be code compliant"

The statement implies that you know the date the wall was constructed.
Care to share that information?

"until you change the steps."

By??????

"The people who build your fence, will make sure it's up to spec."

You are the "someone"?

That said, the steps should have a hand railing.

You don't have to be ADA compliant, but why would you want a ramp more than 1 in 12 rise?

This post was edited by Trebruchet on Wed, Apr 30, 14 at 6:51

@snoonby: Well looking at the photo of the wall and the size of the trees / bushes - one can tell the wall has been there for some time.

"The statement implies that you know the date the wall was constructed.

Care to share that information? "

I feel sorry for people like you. You sorta know some facts, and use them to 'worry' other people. It's my guess you feel powerless in your life.

Geoffrey_B

"Well looking at the photo of the wall and the size of the trees / bushes - one can tell the wall has been there for some time."

And is your wisdom, devoid of the practice of installing mature landscape elements?

"The statement implies that you know the date the wall was constructed.

Care to share that information? "

And the date if construction, is?

Okay let's dial it down a notch...

Often, code for decks and such are anything 30" or more from grade requires a railing. The openings between the spindles can't be larger than 3.5" - your code may vary. I'm not sure how this was built without meeting that code, but you are right to fix the problem.

The steps do require a handrail at a minimum - your fencing company can probably set you up. Consider one with two levels for the younger ones.

You may want to consider hard rubber mats until your youngest is more sure on his feet. It wouldn't be attractive, but it would be temporary.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rubber mat

This post was edited by jakethewonderdog on Thu, May 1, 14 at 11:37