How to Build a Childproof Gate for the Stairs

Measure the opening of the staircase with a tape measure. There are many different types of staircase. Some staircases have two walls enclosing them. Some have one wall and one vertical banister support and others have two vertical banister supports. If you have two walls, measure between the walls. If you have one wall and one vertical support, measure between the wall and vertical support. If you have two vertical supports, measure between those two vertical supports. Subtract 1 inch from the width to allow for clearance. Then determine how high you want the gate to be.

Cut two pieces of plastic C-cap molding to length and two pieces to height. Cut the ends at a 45-degree angle with a miter saw. When you place the pieces together, you should have a frame with 90-degree angles.

Cut a piece of plastic 1 inch smaller in height and width than the final size you obtained in Step 1. Cut the lattice to length with a table saw and then cut it to a height of 3 feet.

Place the C-channel framing around the lattice to create the frame. Drive a screw into each end of each piece of frame to secure the frame together. Make sure the heads of the screws sink flush with the plastic to avoid any chance of injury.

Attach a hinge to the top and bottom of one end of the child gate.

Attach a childproof latch to the front of the gate on the opposite end of the hinges. Place the latch on the side of the gate that the child will not normally be on.

Position the gate in place and mark the hinge mounting holes onto the wall if you can mount to a wall or onto the vertical support post if the staircase does not have a wall.

Drill holes large enough for wall anchors if you are securing the gate to a wall and then drive the wall anchors into the holes. If you are securing the hinges to the studs inside the wall or to a vertical support, you can forgo the wall anchors. Simply drill a pilot hole for each mounting screw.

Place the gate in position over the anchors or pilot holes and secure the gate with the screws that were supplied with the hinges and a screwdriver.

Close the gate and position the second half of the childproof latch against the wall. Mark the mounting holes onto the wall, drill holes for anchors and drive the anchors into the wall. If you are securing the latch to the studs inside the wall or to a vertical support, you can forgo the wall anchors. Simply drill a pilot hole for each mounting screw.

Place the latch over the anchors or pilot holes and secure the latch with the supplied screws and a screwdriver.