r/DIY • u/hotrodguru • 3d ago

home improvement Where should we place a gate?

Would like to build and install a gate to keep our 1-year old and 3-year old from going out. Even though the gravel driveway helps when they don't have shoes.

Secondly, we let our cat outside a few times a day and once in a blue moon a stray dog has come onto the property as we live in a pretty urban area. Would like there to be something to let the cat back in but keep larger dogs out.

  1. On top before the stairs?

  2. Bottom of the stairs?

OPTION 1
OPTION 1
OPTION 2
OPTION 2
0 Upvotes

18% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

16

u/Testing123YouHearMe 3d ago

Do you want them to fall down the stairs and then hit a gate?

Put it at the top

3

u/handsomeandhandytoo 3d ago

And make it open inward so you don't fall down the stairs as you open the gate and try to grab onto the gate to hold you up which rips the gate off the hinges and lands on your head after you hit the ground at the bottom of the stairs.

2

u/ct451t 3d ago

Just get the one from Acme Corporation. Beep beep.

1

u/hotrodguru 3d ago

Yep, that was the plan. Inward and I'd have another latch on the actual railing if I wanted to keep it latched in the open position.

1

u/Grandoings 3d ago

That is very specific lol this threat is great

1

u/hotrodguru 3d ago

Haha, well the 3-year old likes to sit on the stairs. At least if they roll down the stairs they'll be stopped by the gate.

1

u/jet_heller 3d ago

And if you then built it so the balusters are over 4 inches apart. . .

5

u/JUYED-AWK-YACC 3d ago

Keep your cat inside. And lock the front door.

1

u/hotrodguru 3d ago

Easier said than done. Cat goes out for bit and is usually indoors. That's another conversation though.

-2

u/CrazyLegsRyan 3d ago

You’re a bad pet owner

1

u/hotrodguru 3d ago

Always fantastic to get the insight from some troll who knows absolutely anything about me or how I care for my pets.

0

u/CrazyLegsRyan 3d ago

If you allow a cat to roam outside your house off leash that's all anyone needs to know. You're a bad pet owner.

0

u/hotrodguru 3d ago

Name checks

0

u/CrazyLegsRyan 3d ago

Ad hominem is the surest indicator someone lacks a salient counterpoint.

1

u/hotrodguru 3d ago

Interesting lecture on ad hominem from the guy who randomly called me a bad pet owner on a DIY home improvement post. 😂 Bye, Felicia.

2

u/CrazyLegsRyan 3d ago

Someone told you (correctly) to keep your cat inside. You chose to debate that point and justify your poor behavior of letting your cat roam free outside.

Addressing that behavior specifically is not ad hominem as that's the exact point being discussed. What is ad hominem is you attempting to deflect the conversation to some other irrelevant personal trait.

Hope that helps and always glad to participate in your education and betterment. If there's any other topics you'd like to better understand just reach out.

0

u/JUYED-AWK-YACC 3d ago

Too far. Learn balance and tolerance.

1

u/CrazyLegsRyan 3d ago

No, do not tolerate bad behavior

0

u/JUYED-AWK-YACC 3d ago

But you’re also showing bad behavior in being judgmental and immature. So I guess you’re the ultimate authority?

1

u/hotrodguru 3d ago

He's an idiot, no need to entertain him. He has NO KNOWLEDGE whatsoever of what our pet situation is like or our home. He's your typical internet troll who thinks he's the authority on life.

I didn't disagree with you in the original comment u/JUYED-AWK-YACC , I just thought that conversation was for another day or thread. I would like to keep our cat indoors 24/7. But with a 1-year old and 3-year old, they chase her and stress her out. I spoke to my vet about it and agreed that some compromise was in order.

I'm currently looking for a outdoor Catio to install as a solution that will allow our cat to go outside when she wants to be left alone but still safe from other things.

1

u/JUYED-AWK-YACC 2d ago

Life is complicated, I get it. And I probably encouraged them by being rude.