As a homeowner, being able to build a deck gate is an important and helpful skill to have. Not only is it an easy safety solution, but it also allows your children and pets to play freely. Like many other home improvement projects, you don’t need to be an expert contractor. Through gaining some experience with doing smaller projects like this, you will gradually be able to work your way up to bigger and more complex ones. With some preparation and straightford instructions in hand, anyone is capable of building a deck gate. If you’re interested in building one of your own, keep reading the instructions provided below.
Safety Guidelines
Before you start building your desk gate, take safety into account. The International Building Code regulations are important guidelines that should be used. For that reason, the following rules should be followed when building a deck gate:
- Handrails & gates: 42″ above the deck surface
- Gate: No gaps in or under wider than 4 inches
- Gate must open onto the deck and not the stairs
Materials
When you are prepared to build your deck gate, you will need to have these materials:
- Measuring tape
- Table saw
- Drill
- Lumber – pressure-treated 2x4s and many 2×2 balusters
- Wood screws
- Two gate hinges
- One gate latch
- Four metal corner braces
Instructions
Follow these eight simple steps to build a deck gate:
- Make measurements of the opening at the very top of the stairs. Next, subtract one inch from the taken measurement. This specific amount is needed in order to make room for hinges and a latch. Then, cut two pressure-treated 2x4s according to this length. These numbers will make both the top and bottom of your gate’s frame.
- Measure the height of the gate based on your own preferences. Keep in mind that the bottom edge of your gate cannot be more than four inches above the deck surface. Subtract the width of the top and bottom boards from your measurement. Next, cut two 2x4s based on that length. These measurements will help frame the sides of your gate.
- In order to make an open rectangle, attach the four 2×4 beams together. Use three-inch wood screws that have the wider edges of the boards that are facing outward like a picture frame.
- Lay a 2×4 diagonal to the underneath of the gate frame. Mark the area where you need to cut the ends of the cross member. Afterwards, trim the 2×4 and screw it into place.
- Add balusters to the inside of the frame. Begin by measuring the inside dimensions of the frame and cutting the desired number of 2×2 balusters to the appropriate length. Note that you cannot have any gaps in the gate that are greater than four inches. Attach the balusters to the frame with the help of good-quality wood screws. If you would like to paint your gate, make sure to do it before progressing onto step 6. Apply exterior paint while outside and continue to work on the gate, once the paint has dried.
- Now, it’s time to add hardware to the gate. Attach the top and bottom hinges to one side of the gate, following that up by affixing a latch barrel to the opposite side. Screw a metal brace into each corner to ensure better stability.
- Ask someone to hold the gate in place by resting it on a level for further support. While this is being done, attach the hinges to the deck railing. Don’t forget that the gate must be able to open onto the deck – not the stairs.
- Attach the latch mechanism to the opposite side of the deck railing.
After learning how to build a deck gate, you can find yourself enjoying the experience, and feeling rewarded, knowing that you have acquired a new, useful skill that can come in handy again in the future. Give it a try!
Author’s Bio
Afsara Tasnim is a content writer for BreezeMaxWeb, who helps businesses grow their online presence through creating engaging copy. During her spare time, she enjoys taking photographs of nature and exploring the outdoors.
