Safety and stair gates are useful to keep your children and pets from dangerous situations and areas within the home. The two main types of safety gates are pressure mounted and hardware mounted, yet there are still many important considerations when choosing the stair and safety gates that are right for 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 sandwiched within a doorway or within the opening between two walls, secured by manually adjusted tension. Because of this, no tools are required and the installation process is quick and easy. Furthermore, damage to walls is minimized with pressure mounted gates. However, hardware mounted safety and stair gates are attached using brackets and/or screws mounted to the wall or posts. Installation is more involved and requires the proper tools. In this process there is more damage to walls, which can be easily repaired with putty and paint. Considering this, 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.

Because pressure mounted safety gates are not permanently attached to the wall, they are less secure than those that are hardware mounted. Additionally, to ensure safety, it is important to continually adjust the tension. Pressure mounted gates are best used in less hazardous locations, such as between rooms or at the bottom of stairs. Only hardware mounted stair gates should be used at the top of stairways.

Both pressure mounted and hardware mounted safety and stair gates are available in a wide variety of options. Gates range in size (both height and width), there are different methods of adjusting width (e.g., sliding panels or knobs), and optional attachments and hardware are available for most options. Although both are adjustable and optional extensions are available, pressure mounted gates are typically used for narrow openings (two to three feet), whereas hardware mounted gates are often used in wider openings.

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.

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Written by Thomas Eve using tags: Pets