An Indoor Building Gate

Types

• The type of indoor building gate you select should reflect its purpose. Security gates that partition off the home should be made of metal or solid wood. Lightweight plastic gates are appropriate for children or pets. Baby gates and pet gates that fit in standard door frames and hallways are available from specialty manufacturers. Some baby and pet gates are pressure-mounted gates that use spring mechanisms and rubber bumpers to attach to a doorway or hallway without any mounting hardware. Others are designed specifically to fit into stairway banisters to prevent access.

Components

• Most interior gates consist of more than just door panels. Some gates resemble doors and hang on hinges that allow them to swing open, though others use mounting brackets or sliding panels that allow them to be partially opened or removed. Latching gates have separate latches that are mounted on walls opposite the hinges to keep them shut or allow them to lock. Security gates may feature slots for passing small articles through the gate or speaking to someone on the other side without opening the gate.

Installation

• In order to open and close, an indoor building gate needs some form of hinge mechanism. Installing a gate begins with measuring the space where the gate will hang, then installing hinges on the gate itself and finally hanging the gate from the building's wall or door frame. Heavy gates may require that you attach hinges to wall studs or doorjambs. Metal screws can hold baby gate and pet gate hinges directly to wood trim or drywall in a hallway.

Considerations

• Temporary gates, such as baby gates that children will eventually outgrow, should be removable to preserve a home's value and appearance. For gates that will eventually be removed, consider installing the smallest hinges possible to support the gate's weight without adding unnecessary or large holes to your wall or door frame.