Introduction: Sliding Dog Gate Protects Door From Scratches
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About: It's said that to perfect a skill takes about 10,000 hours of work and study. If that's the case I've got around 9,000 hours to go. But, like they say, it's not the destination but the journey.
Anyone with a dog knows that if you let them out to do their business you better be waiting by the door when they want to come back in. If you're not, it's a sure bet that they will be scratching at the door trying to get your attention and, the bigger the dog, the greater the damage. This instructable is a classic example of my "closing the barn door after the horse got out" but, hopefully, it will save your door before it meets the same fate as mine.
Step 1: Low Tech, But Effective
This is a very low tech project that is inexpensive and easy to make.
I built this dog gate from left over scrap lumber but all you really need are a few 2 x4's that you can rip on your table saw plus piece of 1/8" or 1/4" thick hardboard.
The size of the gate, both the width and height are variable depending on the size of your dog AND the size of your door. For that reason I am not recommending specific dimensions.
The next few steps will detail the basic design which you can follow or modify as needed.
I built this dog gate from left over scrap lumber but all you really need are a few 2 x4's that you can rip on your table saw plus piece of 1/8" or 1/4" thick hardboard.
The size of the gate, both the width and height are variable depending on the size of your dog AND the size of your door. For that reason I am not recommending specific dimensions.
The next few steps will detail the basic design which you can follow or modify as needed.
Step 2: There Are Four Major Components to This Gate
As you can see from the photo, the gate consists of the following parts:
1) A base, ripped from your 2x4. My base was 1 1/2" tall, 2" wide and approximately 7' long
2) Two 1/2" square strips nailed to the base form a track that the hardboard gate slides in. The length should be at least as wide as the door opening.
3) A left and right gate support to hold the gate in place when open or closed. The supports are "U" shaped and fit over the outside of the base. Use two screws to secure each support to the base.
4) An additional support (not shown in this photo) which helps to stabilize the base. The design and location of this support will vary depending on your situation.
1) A base, ripped from your 2x4. My base was 1 1/2" tall, 2" wide and approximately 7' long
2) Two 1/2" square strips nailed to the base form a track that the hardboard gate slides in. The length should be at least as wide as the door opening.
3) A left and right gate support to hold the gate in place when open or closed. The supports are "U" shaped and fit over the outside of the base. Use two screws to secure each support to the base.
4) An additional support (not shown in this photo) which helps to stabilize the base. The design and location of this support will vary depending on your situation.
Step 3: Gate Base and Track
These photos show the base and the track.
Note the heavy door mat used to stabilize the gate base. The dog gate is very light weight and therefore isn't very well balanced. By pushing the mat against the base it presses it to the door sill which helps to steady it.
Note the heavy door mat used to stabilize the gate base. The dog gate is very light weight and therefore isn't very well balanced. By pushing the mat against the base it presses it to the door sill which helps to steady it.
Step 4: Left and Right Gate Supports
These pictures show the left and right gate supports.
There is not much to be said here except that the left support has a screw near the top that is used as a stop for the hardboard gate.
There is not much to be said here except that the left support has a screw near the top that is used as a stop for the hardboard gate.
Step 5: Hardboard Gate
I made my gate out of 1/8" hardboard but I would recommend 1/4" hardboard as a better choice. The dimension for my gate ended up being approximately 2' high x 4' wide.
I screwed an inexpensive door handle to the gate to make opening and closing easier.
I screwed an inexpensive door handle to the gate to make opening and closing easier.
Step 6: Secondary Support
Because the gate is so lightweight a heavy floor mat might not provide enough support to keep the gate from tipping if Fido really starts scratching. For my gate I added a secondary support which was braced against the leg of a decorative bench by the front door.
There are probably lots of ways to add support to the gate. A few ideas that come to mind are flipping the secondary support around and simply using a small piece of Velcro to stick it to the door frame. Wider feet at the ends of the base would be another option. Since you use Instructables, I'm sure you've got a solution rattling around in your brain if this is a problem you encounter.
There are probably lots of ways to add support to the gate. A few ideas that come to mind are flipping the secondary support around and simply using a small piece of Velcro to stick it to the door frame. Wider feet at the ends of the base would be another option. Since you use Instructables, I'm sure you've got a solution rattling around in your brain if this is a problem you encounter.
Step 7: It's Never Too Late
Even though my front door is in pretty rough shape this dog gate still comes in handy. On rainy days and during the winter it gives me time to get a towel and be in position to grab my dog before he comes in the house.
One day I'll get around to fixing all the scratch marks on the door - I'm just waiting for someone to post a helpful instuctable!
One day I'll get around to fixing all the scratch marks on the door - I'm just waiting for someone to post a helpful instuctable!