Gate Questions

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Good morning!I was volunteered by my father to build a gate across the bottom of a set of stairs at his church's family life center to keep the kiddies off the steps.  The gate will be about 65" wide and 50" tall.  I plan on using a standard gate latch for the latching side, but I was hoping to get some suggestions for hanging it.  It will attach on the right side and swing back towards you and against the wall when opened.  It will mount on the front of the ballisters as the face of the ballisters sticks out about 1 1/2" from the inside of the side walls.I plan on using 1" x 1/8" square for the top, bottom and sides with 1/2" square for the verticals (4" oc).  They aren't after anything fancy, just functional.  Pictures of how you have hung gates in similar situations or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!Thanks!
Reply:Few things you can do.  you can always buy a set of heavy steel hinges and weld then to the gate then lag bolt them to the wood frame corner of the stair wall. You can also make your own simple hinges with some round bar and tubing. The tubing will require something like flat bar behind it with holes for lag bolting to the wood frame of the stair wall. Keep everything square and level.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:or you can put a steel sq. post on each side.  use a small thick footplate and keep bolts in view to a minimum, paint the posts white w/ a nice cap on top, shouldn't destroy the look to bad
Reply:Just a thought.  If you're not sure how small the kids will be playing in that area, you might want to space the balusters rails to just pass the "soda can test" used on cribs to avoid head entrapment possibilities:http://iafcs.org/docs/Docs_Head_Entr...vised_2013.pdf
Reply:or instead of a gate, just use a short section of self locking livestock stachtions.   that way if the kids are misbehaving, they cant get away
Reply:Looks like a fun little project - won't take you long I like snoeproe's recommendation - steel hinges and attach to the wood that is there.Make a rectangle, fill it with evenly spaced (4" or less) verticals - all done Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Thanks guys.  Like I said, they don't want fancy, just functional.  My plan is a rectangle with verticals 4" apart.I'm thinking about just putting rounded tabs extending off the top and bottom with a 3/8" hole in them.  Then attaching bent brackets to the ballisters with a 3/8" carriage bolt sticking up through them.  Sit the gate down on the bolts and then put nylon locknuts on.  No more than this gate will weigh and be used, I think that will be fine.Last edited by wicrules; 04-30-2015 at 03:15 PM.
Reply:It's funny, the projects I do for free are always the ones I spend the most time and put in the most attention to detail. Ends up being a great method of advertising as well. Unless you're so busy, you don't have any extra time to put into this gate, I would recommend spending a little more time than just minimal. Buy or make a picket twister and add some detail to the gate. Who knows, maybe someone in the church will want one of the gates installed in their house, then they recommend you to their neighbors, and so on. The better the job you do, the more likely you'll get referrals (but also more likely get asked to come back and do more free work!).Also, I would use 14ga, or even 16ga. 1/8" adds unnecessary weight and cost. Or consider making it out of aluminum if you can weld it. Definitely make sure it's mounted well. I bet you'll see plenty of kids hanging on or climbing on/over the gate.John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:I would hinge the gate on a post with anchors in the concrete with just one small brace to the stair end. I would also have both hinge pins pointing up so that the gate can be removed when heavy traffic is anticipated. Drill a hole in one hinge pin to put a cotter pin in so it can't come off unexpectedly.
Reply:Is it legal?   Sorry to be a downer , though it doesn't seen safe to have to stop on steps to open a gate.  I suspect you will need more floor space.  It is a church.  ...churches and  school watch out.
Reply:wicrulesThis is safety barrier - not a structural exterior gate.1x 1x .120 is much too heavy [UBC spacing is < than 4"].If you have an open-picket gate, the kids are going to standon the bottom stringer, and leverage the hinges and mounts.To: prevent and forgo the 'fun jump', and 'head-entrapment' concern, recess a solid [Birch] panel.  It would only require a feather-weight steel frame, andgreatly reduce the demand service on the hinges, and mounting section.To further reduce the gates 'lever-moment' on the hinges,incorporate a non-marring [gray] wheel on the out-boardcorner.This significantly reduces the hinge and structural demands on the dubious box-section/Delta-wall [right side] of the stair case.To insure that the wheel carries the weight - simply make the hinge slots 'variable'.Concept, design, engineer, execute - welding comes lastand least.Opus
Reply:Thanks for all the input guys.These stairs go up to a storage area that will only be accessed on occasion.  It is not a primary throughput or traffic zone.I spoke with the contractor about the construction on the ballisters.  It is solid framing- 2x4 anchored to the floor and wall with 1/2" plywood over that and then the 3/4" trim material.  Plans are to use long enough lag screws to go completely into the 2x4 framing.I like the solid panel idea.  Think I will use that.  I'm a woodworker as well, so that will be easy enough.Last edited by wicrules; 05-01-2015 at 08:54 AM.