Fit a screw-fit stair gate to a dot-and-dab plasterboard wall

Fit a screw-fit stair gate safely, choosing the right fixing for whatever wall you have on each side.

AB-01Check the kit and measure the openingUnpack the gate and check it has both fixing brackets, a pressure bar, screws and wall plugs. Measure the opening at the top, middle and bottom of the gap, since stair walls are rarely perfectly square. If the gap is wider than the gate's stated range, you'll need an extension kit before you start. Check which way the gate should open (away from the stairs, never over them).

1 each · Screw-fit stair gate kit

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1 each · Tape measure

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AB-02Find your stopcock before you drill anythingCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, not just in the 'safe zones' you might expect. Scan the wall with a detector, but still treat it as if something is there — cheap detectors miss deep cables, shielded cables, and anything behind metal-backed board or a metal stud frame. Before drilling, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely, and know where your consumer unit is. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit first, and turn the water off at the stopcock before cutting into anything that could carry water.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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AB-03Mark up the bracket positionsHold the fixing plates against the wall at the height given in the gate's instructions, usually with the top rail 700-900mm above the stair tread. Use a spirit level to get both plates level with each other before marking the screw holes in pencil. Check the marks don't land on an architrave, skirting or door hinge that will get in the way.

1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Pencil

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AB-04Work out what each wall is made ofTap the wall — a dull, solid sound is brick or block, a hollow sound between regular upright points is a stud wall. Run a magnet or stud detector across the marked area, tracking screw heads: metal studs pull a magnet in a regular line, timber studs don't. Drill a small pilot hole at one mark — fine wood dust means a timber stud or lath, grey dust means masonry, and bright metal swarf means a metal stud. Dot-and-dab plasterboard sounds hollow everywhere except at scattered adhesive dabs, and lath and plaster feels slightly springy and has a rougher, uneven surface than plasterboard.

1 each · Small magnet

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1 each · 2mm drill bit

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AB-05Fix into solid brick or blockDrill with a 6mm masonry bit to a depth of about 40mm, matching the depth of the wall plug supplied. Blow out the dust, push in a red or brown wall plug flush with the surface, then drive the bracket screw in firmly. Check the plate doesn't spin or feel loose before moving on.

1 each · 6mm masonry drill bit

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1 pack · Wall plugs, pack of 10

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AB-06Fix into a timber stud wallOnce you've confirmed timber with your pilot hole, aim your bracket screw at the centre of the stud, not the edge. Drill a 2mm pilot hole first to stop the wood splitting, then drive in a 40mm wood screw directly — no wall plug is needed in solid timber. If the bracket position doesn't line up with a stud centre, move it slightly or fit a timber noggin between the studs first.

1 pack · Wood screws, 40mm, pack of 10

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AB-07Fix into a metal stud wallNever use a plain plastic wall plug or an ordinary wood screw in a metal stud — it strips straight through the thin steel. Use a proper metal-stud fixing (a self-drilling steel screw or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor) instead. A stair gate gets pulled, pushed and knocked constantly by a child leaning on it, and a metal stud fixing alone will not stand up to that over time. Fit a timber noggin (about 38x50mm) screwed between two studs behind the bracket position, or fix through to solid masonry behind if there is any, before you rely on this wall for the gate.

1 pack · Metal stud toggle fixings, pack of 4

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1 length · Timber noggin, 38x50mm

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AB-08Fix into dot-and-dab plasterboardBehind dot-and-dab plasterboard there's a hollow gap of up to 50mm before you reach the real masonry wall, held apart by blobs of adhesive. A gate takes real sideways force, so don't rely on a plasterboard toggle here — use a long fixing (75-100mm) that passes through the board and the gap and grips into the masonry behind. Drill with a 6mm bit through the board first, then switch to an 8mm masonry bit for the solid wall, and drive the fixing home so it clamps the board tight against the bracket.

1 pack · Long frame fixings, 75mm, pack of 4

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1 each · 8mm SDS masonry drill bit

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AB-09Fix into lath and plasterLath and plaster is thin timber strips nailed across the studs and covered in lime plaster, and it crumbles easily around a drilled hole. Find the timber studs behind the laths (usually spaced around 400mm apart) with your pilot hole test, and screw into the stud itself rather than trusting a plasterboard-style toggle in the plaster. Drill a small pilot hole through the plaster first to stop it cracking outward. If your home is a listed building, check with your local council before making new fixings into original lath and plaster, as Listed Building Consent may be needed for alterations.

RULES

1 pack · Wood screws, 40mm, pack of 10

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KNOW THE RULES

Listed Building Consent may be required before altering original fabric, including lath and plaster, in a listed building. Check with your local council if unsure.

AB-10Fit the wall cups and cross barWith both fixing plates secure, clip or screw on the pressure pads or wall cups that came with the kit. Fit the gate's cross bar or threaded rod between the two cups and tighten it by hand as far as it will go, following the manufacturer's instructions for final tension.

AB-11Hang the gate and check the latchHang the gate on its hinge pins and check it swings freely without dragging on the floor or frame. Adjust the tension screws so the gate closes fully under its own weight if it's meant to be self-closing. Test the latch several times, checking it clicks shut securely without needing excessive force.

AB-12Test the fixings and tidy upPush firmly on the gate from both sides, near the top, to check nothing flexes or pulls away from the wall. Sweep or vacuum up any drilling dust and wipe down the wall and skirting. Check all fixings again after a day of normal use, as new fixings can settle slightly, and tighten if needed before children start using the gate unsupervised.

1 each · Dust sheet

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PART OF A BIGGER PROJECT

Childproof your home room by room

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