How to Build a Pet Gate

Not every pet gate is made the same. Various gates are available on the market, but one may not get the desired results for smarter dogs, larger cats, and tricky furry friends. Since your pet is like a member of your family, it's your responsibility to keep your pets as safe as possible. The good news is that pet gates can be made at home as well, and with a few items from fabric, tool, and garden shops.

Things You'll Need

  • Three wooden garden trellises with one hinge per arm
  • Window screen
  • Staples and staple gun
  • Stain and polyurethane or 1 quart of primer and paint
  • Two paint brushes
  • Fabric seam binding
  • Screws
  • Drill
  • Saw
  • Sand paper
  • Scissors
  • Measuring tape
  • Rag
  • Hot glue
  • Glue gun
Show More

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Materials

    • 1

      Measure the space where you will install the pet gate, which will allow you to purchase the proper size garden trellis for your requirements, as well as screen and seam binding.

    • 2

      Saw off the legs of the trellis that go into the ground, while checking to make sure the trellis is now even.

    • 3

      Sand the surface of the trellis where the legs were removed with sandpaper, and brush off all dust particles before painting/staining.

    • 4

      Apply primer. Choose a well-ventilated area, and after applying it to the surface of the trellises using a brush, allow them to dry for 24 hours.

    • 5

      Apply the first coat of paint to the trellises, and let it dry overnight. Afterwards, apply a second coat.

    Assemble Your Pet Gate

    • 6

      Assemble the pet gate by first laying one trellis down on a clean, dry surface and rolling the screen over the trellis surface. Using your scissors, cut the screen as needed to cover the surface properly, and then use this cut screen as a template for the other two.

    • 7

      Position the screen over the open areas of trellis and affix using a staple gun. To avoid wrinkles on the screen, keep the screen pulled tight while stapling.

    • 8

      Lay two trellis panels side by side, and begin attaching the hinges on the front of the new gate. Use one hinge on each arm of these panels and repeat the step with the remaining hinges.

    • 9

      Use fabric seam binding on each panel to hide the staples and finish off the edges. Apply a line of hot glue and place the fabric binding over the glue.

    • 10

      Repeat this step on all the panels, and then install your gate using hinges and closure as necessary.