Fit a screw-fit stair gate to a solid brick or block wall

Fit a screw-fit stair gate into solid brick or block walls safely, levelled, secure, and ready to use.

SG-01Check the kit and choose the positionUnpack the gate and lay out all the parts: the frame, two wall cups or brackets, tension bolts and screws. Decide where the gate sits — at the top of the stairs it must sit flush with the top step, not overhang it. Hold the frame in place to check it fits the gap and swings clear of the top step or door.

1 each · Screw-fit stair gate kit

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SG-02Mark the fixing pointsHold the frame square in the opening and mark through the bracket holes on both walls with a pencil. Use a spirit level to check the marks line up level on both sides, or the gate will sit crooked. Double-check the gate will still clear the top step once fitted.

1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Spirit level

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SG-03Check for cables and pipes before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, even away from sockets and switches. Run a detector over each marked spot, but treat this as a guide, not a guarantee — detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or outside the usual safe zones. Find your stopcock now (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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SG-04Drill the pilot holesFit a masonry drill bit matching the size of your wall plugs — usually 6mm for the plugs supplied with most stair gates. Drill straight into the brick or block to the depth stated on the plug packet, typically 40mm, and stop to clear dust from the hole every so often. If the hole feels loose or crumbly, drill a fresh one nearby rather than forcing a bigger plug in.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 6mm

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1 each · Drill

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SG-05Fit the wall plugs and bracketsPush a wall plug into each hole until it sits flush with the wall surface. Hold the bracket or cup in place and drive the screws in firmly with a screwdriver, but don't overtighten — you want the bracket solid, not the plug crushed. Repeat for all fixing points on both walls.

8 each · Red wall plugs, 6mm

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8 each · Screws (as supplied with kit)

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1 each · Screwdriver

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SG-06Fit the gate frame and tighten the tension boltsSlot the gate frame into the fitted brackets or cups. Wind the tension bolts through the frame until they press firmly against the wall on each side — snug enough that the frame doesn't move, but not so tight the wall marks. Check the gate hangs level and swings freely on its hinges.

SG-07Test the gate before you rely on itOpen and close the gate several times and check the latch engages properly every time. Push firmly on the closed gate from both sides to check it doesn't shift, rock or pull away from the wall. Check there's no gap large enough for a child to squeeze through underneath or at the hinge side.

SG-08Tidy upVacuum masonry dust from the floor and skirting, and wipe down the wall around each fixing. Bag up any offcuts and packaging for disposal. Give the gate a final check a day later, once you've used it a few times, to make sure nothing has worked loose.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Vacuum cleaner

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