How to Build an Indoor Pet Gate

Curious kittens or energetic puppies need containment for their protection and training. To a small dog or cat, a whole house is overwhelming. This creates training difficulties and keeps your pet from feeling safe. At times, your older pet may need to be enclosed as well. An indoor pet gate provides a simple solution to this dilemma. Pet gates are available in many retail stores, but can be expensive. Making your own attractive indoor pet gate is inexpensive and will only take a few hours to construct.

Tape measure
1-by-3-inch wood
1-by-2-inch wood
Handsaw
Medium-grade sandpaper
Tacky cloth
Newspaper
Wood paint
Paintbrush
Plastic lattice
Power saw
Plastic spray paint
2-inch wood screws
Drill
2 triangular hinges, 3-inch
Screw hook and eye, 1 1/2-inch

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the width of the opening where you want the gate. Decide how high you want the gate to be. This will depend on how big and adventurous your pet is.
- 2
  Use a handsaw to cut two 1-by-3-inch pieces of wood to the width measurement. Cut two 1-by-2-inch boards to the height measurement.
- 3
  Sand the boards using a medium-grade sandpaper. Clean the boards off using a tacky cloth.
- 4
  Lay the top and bottom wood pieces on newspapers and paint with a high-quality wood paint in your desired color. Allow one side to dry thoroughly before painting the other.
- 5
  Cut the lattice to the desired size using a power saw. The width is equal to the width of the opening as the lattice fits on top of the constructed gate frame. The height is 1 inch shorter than the height you wish the gate to be.
- 6
  Sand rough edges with medium-grade sandpaper. Paint the lattice with a high-quality plastic spray paint in your desired color. Allow one side to dry before painting the other side.
- 7
  Set the top and bottom pieces on a flat surface parallel to each other. Make a frame by placing the 1-by-2-inch side pieces on top of the 1-by-3-inch top pieces. The top and bottom of each side piece should be flush with the top of each top and bottom piece. Attach the pieces by screwing in a 2-inch wood screw through the side pieces, and into the top and bottom pieces at each corner.
- 8
  Flip the frame over. Lay the lattice piece on top of the frame. Screw it to the side pieces and the top and bottom pieces using 2-inch wood screws. Put one screw at each point where the lattice touches the frame.
- 9
  Attach one hinge to the gate 2 inches from the top and another hinge 2 inches from the bottom using wood screws.
- 10
  Attach the female eye screw on the opposite side of the gate from the hinges, 6 inches from the top and 1/2 inch from the side.
- 11
  Ask an assistant to hold the gate steady in the opening while you mark a place on the door frame and the gate for the hinges. Attach the hinges to the door frame using wood screws.
- 12
  Ask an assistant to hold the gate steady while you install the male hook to the door frame even with the female eye.

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