Stair and safety gates are used to help shelter your children (and pets) from less child friendly areas in the home. The two primary styles of stair and safety gates are pressure mounted and hardware mounted gates. There are several important factors to consider when choosing the most appropriate gate for your situation.
Pressure mounted gates are temporary installations and can easily be moved and relocated to various areas. Hardware mounted stair gates, on the other hand, are more permanent fixtures and are not frequently moved. This major difference is due to the dissimilar methods of installation.
Pressure mounted safety gates are wedged within a doorway or between two walls, secured only by tension which is manually adjusted. Therefore, no tools are required and installation is extremely quick and easy. Damage to walls is minimized with pressure mounted gates. Hardware mounted safety and stair gates are semi-permanently attached using brackets and/or screws. Installation is more complicated and requires various tools and hardware. Additionally, there is more damage to walls, which can be repaired with putty and paint. Pressure mounted gates work best when wedged between two surfaces that are parallel and level, whereas installation of hardware mounted stair gates is more flexible.
Pressure mounted safety gates are not permanently attached to the wall, therefore they are less stable than those that are hardware mounted. Furthermore, to ensure maximum safety, you will need to consistently check and adjust the tension. Because of these consideration, pressure mounted gates are best used in less hazardous locations such as the bottom of stairs. It is important to note that only hardware mounted stair gates should be used at the top of stairways.
Both styles of stair and safety gates are typically available in a wide range of options. Gates range in size, there are various ways of adjusting width to fit, and optional attachments and hardware are available for most situations. And although both are adjustable and optional extensions are readily available, pressure mounted gates are best used for narrow openings, while hardware mounted gates are often used in larger spaces.
Safety and stair gates are manufactured using a variety of materials including metal, wood, plastic, wire, and mesh. However, metal and wood options are recommended by this author for the strength, durability and beauty. Most manufacturers provide a host of finish and color options to suit the design of your home.
Pressure mounted gates are temporary installations and can easily be moved and relocated to various areas. Hardware mounted stair gates, on the other hand, are more permanent fixtures and are not frequently moved. This major difference is due to the dissimilar methods of installation.
Pressure mounted safety gates are wedged within a doorway or between two walls, secured only by tension which is manually adjusted. Therefore, no tools are required and installation is extremely quick and easy. Damage to walls is minimized with pressure mounted gates. Hardware mounted safety and stair gates are semi-permanently attached using brackets and/or screws. Installation is more complicated and requires various tools and hardware. Additionally, there is more damage to walls, which can be repaired with putty and paint. Pressure mounted gates work best when wedged between two surfaces that are parallel and level, whereas installation of hardware mounted stair gates is more flexible.
Pressure mounted safety gates are not permanently attached to the wall, therefore they are less stable than those that are hardware mounted. Furthermore, to ensure maximum safety, you will need to consistently check and adjust the tension. Because of these consideration, pressure mounted gates are best used in less hazardous locations such as the bottom of stairs. It is important to note that only hardware mounted stair gates should be used at the top of stairways.
Both styles of stair and safety gates are typically available in a wide range of options. Gates range in size, there are various ways of adjusting width to fit, and optional attachments and hardware are available for most situations. And although both are adjustable and optional extensions are readily available, pressure mounted gates are best used for narrow openings, while hardware mounted gates are often used in larger spaces.
Safety and stair gates are manufactured using a variety of materials including metal, wood, plastic, wire, and mesh. However, metal and wood options are recommended by this author for the strength, durability and beauty. Most manufacturers provide a host of finish and color options to suit the design of your home.
About the Author:
Before reviewing stair gates or safety gates, save time and money by reading this article by Thomas Eve.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment