Answers for "alter table column allow null"

add new column not null sql server

ALTER TABLE MY_TABLE
ADD STAGE INT NOT NULL
DEFAULT '0';

alter column to not null with default value sql server

ALTER TABLE SomeTable
        ADD SomeCol Bit NULL --Or NOT NULL.
 CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol --When Omitted a Default-Constraint Name is autogenerated.
    DEFAULT (0)--Optional Default-Constraint.
WITH VALUES --Add if Column is Nullable and you want the Default Value for Existing Records.