Fitting a dog gate around skirting boards

See the two widths hiding in one doorway

Skirting boards sit at floor level but may project well beyond the plaster above. The clear opening between trim faces can therefore be smaller than the opening between walls at latch height. A gate's lower pad or bracket may meet the trim while its upper contact sits on plaster. Choosing from one central width can produce a twisted frame or an unsupported bracket.

Use a straightedge against the wall to measure how far each skirting board projects. Record its height, the width between the two trim faces and the wall width above them. Mark where every gate contact point would land. The full gate measuring guide explains the other dimensions to record.

Wall-mounted gates: keep the hardware aligned

BabyDan specifically notes that Guard Me Wide needs a wall spacer at least as thick as the skirting where the trim projects. That instruction is model-specific; use an approved component and the fixing method specified for the actual wall. A loose wood offcut or stack of washers may not give the bracket the support intended by the maker.

The Guard Me also has different inside-frame and outside-frame width ranges. If the spacer moves the bracket outward, recheck which range applies. Confirm the folded stack does not collide with the trim, door leaf or furniture when open.

BabyDan FlexiFit can be mounted inside or outside an opening according to its instructions, which may help move the line of the gate away from awkward trim. Its flexibility is not a licence to mount one side on skirting and the other on an unsupported plaster edge.

Pressure-fit gates: inspect all four pads

A pressure frame needs the four pads to bear on surfaces the manufacturer accepts. If the lower pair lands on curved moulding while the upper pair land on flat wall, the frame can twist or lose even tension. Do not solve that by tightening one side excessively.

Safety 1st's Extra Tall is a pressure-fit example with a 73–80cm base range. Before buying, sketch the positions of all pads against both the wall and skirting. If there is no approved way to make sound, even contact, choose another gate or mounting position.

The full bottom frame is also a floor-level trip point. Near stairs, skirting geometry is only one of several reasons to consider a fixed, threshold-free design instead. Read our stair gate safety guide before using any gate by a flight.

Stop when the structure is uncertain

Decorative skirting, architrave and hollow lining are not automatically strong fixing points. If you do not know what is behind the surface, avoid drilling blindly and ask a competent installer to identify an appropriate anchor. Never use adhesive alone where screws or pressure fittings are required.

After installation, close the gate repeatedly and inspect alignment at the top and bottom. Gently check for movement at every contact point. Recheck after the dog has pushed the gate or furniture has struck it. If a bracket loosens, stop using the barrier until it is refitted correctly.