Unlike humans, our pets can often lack basic critical thinking, so things like pet gates allow us to set healthy boundaries that keep our pets safe and us stress-free. Pet gates can also make household maintenance a simpler exercise since - not having access to certain areas - can keep our pets from damaging valuables or tracking mud. In this quick guide, we'll be helping you make the best choice in pet gates for your home.
Which mounting type will be the best for your home, depends on several factors. A few of these are:
Pressure Mounted
Pressure mounted gates offer a stable, and study barrier that your pets are unlikely to shove right through - provided they are not monstrously strong or big - by creating friction between your walls and the edges of the pet gate to keep it in place.
Installation of the gate requires little in the way of tools, at most you'll need a measuring tape, since everything else necessary for installation will come with your gate. Once you've measured the opening you're hoping to block off, you will have a good idea of how many extension panels you'll need to use for a secure installation.
Extension panels are provided with most pressure mounted pet gates as they allow you to customize your installation per your individual needs. Always ensure that no more than 3 inches of space is present between the edge of your wall and the pet gate.
One major benefit of having a pressure mounted pet gate, is the lack of screws and potential wall damage. They also provide significant resistance to excited or anxious pets who are likely to lean on or jump onto barriers. Being mounted via tension nuts, also makes them relatively simple to relocate since you won't need to remove screws or refill holes in your drywall.
Hardware Mounted
Hardware mounted gates are the most permanent variety of pet gate available. They are typically installed with the use of brackets, screws and ideally a cordless drill to save you some hours of "screwing in".
Hardware mounted gates are typically the most sturdy type of pet gate since they rely directly on your walls and the installation brackets for support to resist your pets. This makes them the absolute best choice for homeowners who have very excitable, heavy, or strong pets. The biggest downside to hardware mounted gates is, of course, their inability to be freely relocated, due to the method of installation.
Hardware mounted gates are best for pet owners who expect to have a permanent location for their gate.
Free Standing
Freestanding gates offer the absolute most freedom when it comes to mobility. Since they stand on their own, you can use this type of gate to quickly adjust the access your pets have to various areas of your house.
Freestanding gates come with bases that support them unidirectionally- meaning, they resist force exerted in one direction extremely well but fall flat if pushed from the other. Contrary to the popular opinion that freestanding gates do not work, this feature allows them to resist forces that are comparable to other gate types- though they can get knocked down easier than their sturdier cousins.
