Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Gate, White features A maximum safety gate designed for the top of a stairway but it’s great for all areas one hand operation for adults ( the latch system baffles toddlers ) Has an optional stop bracket that prevents opening over a stairway for greater safety It will mount at angles up to 30 degrees with quick and simple installation Width is adjustable 27″-42.5 Height is 29.5″

The Stairway Special Gate (Model SS 30) is our maximum safety gate designed for the top of a stairway it’s great for all areas. Features include a latch system that baffles toddlers yet allows one hand operation for adults, and an optional stop bracket prevents opening over a stairway for greater safety. The Stairway Special will mount at angles up to 30 degrees allowing location of a stud when mounting on drywall. The gate is constructed of aluminum which is lighter weight than steel and rustproof. A powder coated finish provides a long lasting, easy to clean surface and is available in White and Black. If you’re using this gate outdoors, we recommend the purchasing a stainless steel hardware pack (sold separately). Gate Dimensions: Gate width is adjustable 27″– 42.5″ Height 29.5″ Bar Spacing 2.5″, 10.5″ extension (Model BX1) is available for openings 42.5″ to 53″, 21.75″ extension (Model BX2) is available for openings 42.5″ to 64″

Q:”the latch system baffles toddlers” – Has anyone’s child learn to open this gate?

A:

My 22 month old attempts to open it regularly and has been completely unsuccessful. Frankly most people struggle with it if you haven’t explained it to them. To successfully open the latch you need to 1) push down on both sides of the latch while 2) lifting the gate up around an inch or so then 3) swing the gate open. My money is (and has been for the past year) on the gate. Buy it, you won’t regret it.

Q:Do you have to drill into your banisters to install this gate?

A:

If you don’t want to drill into your nice newels, use some 1×2 scraps to drill into, then secure that to the newels using velcro or zip ties

Q:What is the installed height of this gate?

A:

The unit itself is 28″ high, but it is not installed flush to the ground. Mine is 3″ off the ground, making the total height 31″.

Q:Does this gate automatically close, or does it have to be pushed closed?

A:

It has to be pushed and lifted slightly to close.

Q:We have a iron newel on one side and wall on the other at top of stairs. What will be the best way to mount without drilling holes in the newel?

A:

We have the same at the top of our stairs except the newel is wood. We attached the hinged side of the gate to a stud in the wall. We used zip ties to attach the latch piece of the gate to the spindle just in front of the newel so we wouldn’t have to drill holes in the newel. You just have to make sure to attach them tightly. This gate can be installed at an angle so that makes it easier to attach it to a stud which is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it will come lose. You could probably use the zip ties to attach it to the newel if you’d like or if your spindles don’t taper from top to…
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We have the same at the top of our stairs except the newel is wood. We attached the hinged side of the gate to a stud in the wall. We used zip ties to attach the latch piece of the gate to the spindle just in front of the newel so we wouldn’t have to drill holes in the newel. You just have to make sure to attach them tightly. This gate can be installed at an angle so that makes it easier to attach it to a stud which is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it will come lose. You could probably use the zip ties to attach it to the newel if you’d like or if your spindles don’t taper from top to bottom like ours do. Good luck! These are really good gates. I would highly recommend them.
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Q:Can this gate be used for outdoors? Will it get rusted?

A:

It’s been outside for almost a year and no rust on the main portion of the game. There’s very small bits of rust ringing the metal fasteners but not enough to make me upset and I can be very picky about things like that. Since spring is just coming, I haven’t yet given it a solid cleaning. My guess is that I can remove those spots. It was the perfect, inexpensive solution for your deck to keep dogs and grandchildren safe.

Q:How wide is the strip that screws into the wall? We have a narrow space between the railing and the end of the wall and I’m not sure if it will fit.

A:

No more than 2 inches wide. I have about 4 feet of snow on the deck so can’t measure.

Q:IS THIS HARDWARE MOUNT ONLY?

A:

Yes

Q:do you think it would be easy to open with arthritic hands, or too complicated?

A:

It does not require a great degree of dexterity or strength to operate, so I think it would probably be okay. Both of my parents have arthritis – my mother particularly in her thumbs, and my dad in all of his fingers – and after showing them how to use the latch, they were able to operate it with one hand. A good, plumb installation, with the door set exactly to the width of your opening, is key. If anything is out of alignment, the latches will stick a little bit.

Q:I have only 30.5 inches of height to play with. Will the mounting brackets fit in these dimensions?

A:

The mounting brackets will fit, but you also need some additional space between the floor and gate. The additional space is needed because a gate, (any gate), has some natural droop at the non-attached edge when not in the closed position. Our larger bracket is mounted exactly 29 5/8″ above the floor. Minimum floor clearance is 1/2″ when the gate goes from the closed to open position.

 

Q:Can a wheelchair fit thru this gate or any others available? Your answer will really help,

A:

I think it will.

Q:How wide is the gate. Thanks for your time!

A:

Width is adjustable 27″-42.5 Height is 29.5″

Q:Can you install this with baseboards?

A:

Yes……. If you have a baseboard along the bottom near the floor, you must provide another similar piece of wood at the top of where the gate connects to make things level. Otherwise, you can raise the gate above the baseboard and attach to the wall. Make sure the space at the bottom is not too high so a child could crawl under. Try for not more than 4 inches. You want to screw both sides into the wall area supported by wood studs for the most safe and secure gate.

Q:I’ve read that this gate can be noisy. Can anyone else confirm this? My daughters room is right next to the top of the staircase.

A:

The gate is silent when swinging open and closed. However, to make it latch/unlatch, you lift it approximately 1 inch and then lower it (into or out of) the locking mechanism. I can open and close it without disturbing anyone. My boys(10 and 7) are not as intentional and tend to just drop it. That makes a thump-like sound. Still, the gate works great and I wouldn’t purchase anything else to keep my 2 year old daughter from tumbling down the stairs.

Q:what else do you need to buy with it?

A:

I didn’t need to buy anything. It came with all the hardware for mounting. I’m using three at home and they all installed very easily. I was able to install them all into studs in the wall and they all feel quite sturdy. Our now 26 month old can give them a real workout and they don’t even budge!

Q:Can this gate mount at the top of the stairs onto a SINGLE spindle on one side? (Wall on the other) I don’t have 2 consecutive spindles for the clamp.

A:

We installed them with a post on one side and a wall on the other. It’s not a “spindle” but the main post of the railing.

Q:When the gates is opened, can it be compressed, or is the width of the gate fixed? If it is fixed, it will run in to a banister when it is opened.

A:

You set the width on installation. You use set screws to set the width. It is not really adjustable without a wrench once installed. It does swing freely either way.

Q:Does this gate slide open?

A:

It swings open on a hinge. It can swing in either direction.

Q:I live in an old house. Our opening is 32.5 at the bottom and 33.5 at the top. Is the hardware adjustable to my crooked old house?

A:

I’m really not sure. I use it outside with the top and bottom the same height. With the metal sides it may be difficult to install with different measurements. It may not remain flush on the sides.

Q:Can the door swing out and in? Or can it only go in one direction?

A:

It can swing freely in both directions. It does come with a bracket to put on the latch if you only want it to swing one direction. I have one near our front door so it’s sort of in a hallway type area. It opens quite nicely in either direction so it’s easy to pass right through as you walk down the hallway.

 

Q:Is this easy to open with one hand?

A:

It takes some getting used to. Yes, once you have the hang of it, it’s totally doable, but will take a couple of days to get the hang of.

Q:Does this only work with a banister on one side or can it be mounted to wall on both sides?

A:

I have mine mounted in a doorway, which would be the same as having a wall on either side. Make sure to screw it into a stud. You don’t want the screws pulling out of sheetrock if your kid crashes into it with a walker.

Q:Is it available in bronze or brown?

A:

Yes, it does come in Brown. However, ordering from this listing will be for the white.

Q:We have very tall baseboards, and I have had a hard time finding a gate for the top of the stairs that will install without having to drill into the baseboard itself. Has anyone installed this gate successfully with tall baseboards (our baseboards are…

A:

The Cardinal Gates install instructions show the bottom mounting location at 6 1/2″ from the floor. http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-25033709004422/SS30feb2014.pdf

It would probably not work very well with baseboards that high, without drilling into it and adding a shim at the top mounting point so the side of the gate is parallel with the wall.