Prepare Mounting Boards

What happens in this clip

Gather two pieces of hardwood flooring or similar sturdy wood planks. These pieces will serve as temporary, non-damaging mounting surfaces for the baby gate hardware. The video uses leftover hardwood flooring, which suggests they are pre-finished and relatively thin but strong. If not already cut to size, they should be measured to span the height of the gate and align with the staircase posts.

Goal: Obtain or prepare suitable wooden boards for gate attachment.

What's used

Tools

• Leftover Hardwood Flooring Pieces
• MDF strips
• Plywood strips
• Measuring Tape
• Saw
• Miter saw

About the full video

This DIY project provides a clever solution for installing a baby gate on staircases with non-standard or irregularly shaped banister posts, where traditional pressure-mounted gates are not suitable, and drilling into the existing posts is undesirable. The method involves securing vertical wooden planks (repurposed hardwood flooring in this case) to the banister posts using extra-long zip ties, creating stable and temporary mounting surfaces to which a standard wall-mount baby gate can then be attached.

Step 2 of 6: Select and Cut Barrier Material

Select a material that is sturdy and difficult for a child to break or chew through, such as clear acrylic sheeting, strong plastic mesh, or sturdy wood panels. Based on the largest gap measurement from the previous step, cut the material to the appropriate width to cover all gaps. If using panels, cut them to the length of the banister section needing coverage. Ensure edges are smooth.

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