Retractable Fence Latch Ideas

[DavidI]

My wife and I are watching our 8-month-old granddaughter during the workweek. We live in a 2 story home and I installed a retractable fence on the lowest step to prevent her from crawling and later climbing our stairs.

The retractable fence is mounted to the wall and will be latched to the bannister cage with two hooks that are part of the kit. I am looking for ideas to attached the two latches to the metal bannister cage without any permanent changes to the cage bar.

I am including several photos to better depict the project.

What do you suggest?




The first photo depicts the gate retracted and the second is with it opened.

[DavidI]

These photos depict the latches and their respective locations where they will attach to the metal cage. The bottom latch will be below the metal cage and I am considering adding something below the cage to attach to latch to.

[DavidI]

This is the cage bar I intend to attach the latch hooks to:



What suggestions do you have to attach the plastic hook latches to the cage bar without permanent changes? I am considering sandwiching two pieces of wood around each location and then bolting the latches to the wood.

Thank you for your suggestions!

Rock on, David

[DavidI]

Here is a photo of my granddaughter Aurora!

[trials935]

Zip ties through the latch screw holes to the vertical bar.

[pwd72s]

Carabineers? (Edit) Gosh, she's a cute one. I'm sure appropriate spoiling is going on...it's your job.

[john70t]

^ that. Wrap the balusters with a couple layers of blue tape.
You can also get cushioned pipe clamps from Ace and bolt thru, but it's more work for a temporary thing.

or get the baby bigger with a few gallons of human growth hormone

[dad911]

Pipe insulation on the spindle then zip tie the hooks.

But I think I would sandwich wood around 1 spindle, mount the retractable side to that, use the clips on the wall.

[gregpark]

I went through the dilemma with my grandkids. I ended up using simple pinch latches on the gate. If the latch isn't fast and easy for an adult, people tend to not relatch thinking it'll be open for just for short minute, which is all the time a three year old needs to get into trouble. The simple pinch latch is easy enough for big people to use and by the time the little one can pinch it open they're ready to handle stairs

[DavidI]

Thank you for the suggestions! I'll try dense foam and zipties. I appreciate it brothers. Also, thank you for the compliment regarding my granddaughter. We are grateful she resembles her mother (my daughter) because she is a beautiful person.

Rock on, David

[onewhippedpuppy]

Cute kid!

I would use hose clamps over zip ties, way more robust. I have a bunch of stuff mounted to my marina poles using hose clamps because I can’t drill holes, 5 years in the elements and nothing has moved.

[DavidI]

I appreciate the suggestions. I purchased some dense foam and wrapped it around the metal stringers in the cage to protect the finish. I wrapped two segments of 1/2" galvanized pipe with the same foam and then ziptied each latch to the upper and lower sections of foam. I ensured the cut ends of the zipties are smooth and will not cut my granddaughter's hands.

I appreciate the wisdom of the board!

[Baz]

Good job, David!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Little kids are all escape artists, when she starts walking she’ll defeat that fence in a few hours.

[DavidI]

Originally Posted by Baz

Good job, David!

Thank you Baz!

You are 100% correct puppy! She will learn to defeat it soon and it is a temporary solution.

David