How to Build a Pet Gate for the Porch

A gate on your porch will keep your pets close to home and out of trouble.

If you have pets, you know that you must keep them contained for their own safety. If you have a house with a porch, you may wish to sit out there with them. Usually this will require you to keep them on a leash so they don't go running off your porch. However, if you build a small gate, you can keep your pets on the porch without having to restrain them.

Things You'll Need

• 5 pieces one-by-four, 8 feet long
• 2 pieces one-by-four, 32 inches long
• 2 "T" hinges
• Gate latch
• 4 flat braces
• 1-inch wood screws
• Measuring tape
• Hand saw
• Pencil
• Drill with screwdriver bit

Instructions

1. Measure the length of the porch opening. This will give you the length of the gate. Cut two pieces of one-by-four to this measurement.

2. Place the two pieces of one-by-four and the two pieces of 32-inch one-by-four on a flat surface in a rectangle with the 4-inch side of the wood on the surface. The 32-inch pieces are the side of the gate and will go in between the pieces you cut for the lengths. Place the flat braces at the corners and screw the braces into the wood to attach the corners.

3. Turn the gate frame over so the braces are on the flat surface. Place a piece of one-by-four so it lays on top of the gate frame on a diagonal. Make pencil marks where it meets opposite corners and cut the wood at these marks to create a cross beam. Fit the cross beam into the inside of the frame, turn it over and screw it to the frame by driving screws through holes in the flat braces and into the cross piece.

4. Cut pieces of one-by-four to 40 inch lengths. These will be used as the gate slats and will be spaces 2 inches apart. The number you need to cut depends on the length of the gate. For example, for a 4-foot gate you will need 8 slats.

5. Attach the top part of the "T" hinges to one side of the porch opening using the screws. The "T" hinge should be set 18 inches apart so they are 9 inches off the center of the 32-inch pieces. Attach the gate to the hinges so it freely swings. Attach the gate latch to the other side of the porch opening and gate so the gate latches.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the slats are close together so your pet can't get through them. Two inches is a good space because any more may allow your pet to squeeze out, nullifying the gate function.

References

• Home Time: Fences and Gates