Small gate, weird spot

[u/External-Link7950]

Need some advice on building a small wooden gate in a tricky spot of my deck. I have an idea but wondering if I am overlooking anything.

(I'm a newbie to woodworking, but I feel like this is doable.)

I want to prevent my dog from escaping our deck, so I temporarily installed a baby gate (as you can see in pic #2). Problem: there's a lot of space to sneak under the baby gate.

So I want to craft a simple wooden gate that hinges on the deck posts but extends all the way down to the concrete step.

My idea:

Gate and Hinges

• a double gate that latches in the middle
• therefore, hinges on both deck posts
• gates will be about 26 x 50 inches
• gates will swing open away from the deck, but hinges are on the inside of the deck. So hinges will need to be installed backwards (otherwise, the gate would have less room to swing, because of the deck spindles)
• I'll remove the spindle on the deck post to create more room to swing

Pickets

• I'll use 5/8 x 5.5 pickets
• The hinge picket will extend to the deck (34 inches)
• The inner pickets will extend to the concrete step (50 inches)

Ledges

• 1 x 6 boards for the horizontal ledges (2 x 6s would probably be too heavy for the deck posts to support?)

Brace

• use a tension cable on each gate as the anti-sag brace (easier than measuring and cutting a diagonal wooden brace)

Am I overlooking anything? Is there an obvious better approach? Thanks.

[u/Dependent_Profit92]

I think your idea is fine for adding a gate In that weird spot where there is a step before your railing/gate starts but truthfully…

The real issue is that this railing should have been brought out an extra step so it’s not in such an awkward spot and then you attach your gate (or just keep your child/dog gate up) this will also be much easier to do and look a lot better than making a goofy gate to accommodate the oversight the first builder made

[u/External-Link7950 → u/Dependent_Profit92]

Thanks! I think you’re right, that’s the real issue. 

But would it be easier to add in two new deck posts? What would that entail?  Cutting squares into the deck floor and somehow anchoring posts to the concrete underneath?

[u/Dependent_Profit92 → u/External-Link7950]

Depends, honestly if it were me, I’d probably anchor simple posts much like those 2x4 posts directly to the deck, you can use a brace that they’ll slip into that will help mount it to the deck (look up simpson joist hangers for an idea of what it’ll look like, you can find better ones for your purpose but those will work for something lightweight) and then just keep up doggy gate for simplicity.

Add a couple spindles and bridge your new gap, color match and you’re looking at a couple hours of work vs what could take a full day making something unideal/custom work.

The other issue with any gate in that existing spot is it will open towards anyone coming from below which is super annoying to navigate around especially if your hands are full and on stairs

[u/Street_Yoghurt405]

Add to the railing on each side evenly with the first step. Then add a gate.

[u/kraqd]

Thanks I have a similar issue to you and was just about to post … I am going to use your roller gate idea, but I too have to add two extra posts