How to acquire a metal gate to block off my upstairs?
- Thread starter shakytoad
- Start date
data junkie
Membership Revoked
Is this an exterior entrance to the stairway, or interior? I take it there is already a full sized door frame there? Did you measure the existing door you want to replace? You could search for metal security 'screen doors' for something attractive, or cast iron fences for the old rustic gate. As long as the door frame is a standard size, you may be able to find a prefab for less and not need a custom job. I'm not sure what you're looking for though. A metal screen door that is full sized, an interior gate which is usually half sized to limit access by pets and children, or a big ole clanky cast iron gate or fencing inside your house, or an interior door that is composed of metal or rigged to offer more security...
vulcan
Inactive
Beware of metal doors from Lowes or Home depot. Some of the doors I saw were constructed of very thin steel and filled with styrofoam. A good metal security door should be 18Ga or 16Ga steel and fire rated. To add addition security, the hollow metal door frame can be filled with concrete to deter prying.
Security gates should be fabricated if you have any unusual door/fame conditions. Better security gates don't have to look like jail. Some utilize plasma cut pieces and quite artistic. Security gates on the cheap can be made of angle iron from bedframes and rebar. I welded a few of these for friends on a budget. all the material came from dumpsters. If you are handy, you can rent a welder and give it a try.
Security gates should be fabricated if you have any unusual door/fame conditions. Better security gates don't have to look like jail. Some utilize plasma cut pieces and quite artistic. Security gates on the cheap can be made of angle iron from bedframes and rebar. I welded a few of these for friends on a budget. all the material came from dumpsters. If you are handy, you can rent a welder and give it a try.
shakytoad
Inactive
This is interior. A little farmhouse door that sits at the bottom of very narrow and somewhat steep farmhouse steps. And I don't mean big farmhouse with balustrades and high ceilings.
I need the option of air circulation. Heard a marine guy say that the gate should allow for seeing out and poking a barrel through it.
I need the option of air circulation. Heard a marine guy say that the gate should allow for seeing out and poking a barrel through it.
data junkie
Membership Revoked
Shakytoad,
I guess that you need to measure the existing door to search and see if there are any prefab replacements you could purchase for less than a custom job. I dunno if you want the door to appear burdensome, like a heavy gate, to act as a deterrent in appearance, or instead you want it to match existing decor but perform at a higher level of security. What does Mrs. Shakytoad have to say about it?
Inside a farmhouse, I wonder if you could have made a Dutch door, but coated with metal as are exterior doors? For inside, you could take out the glass panes, and make shutter slats for them that allow air to circulate and from the inside could be opened to look thru and shoot? Also, the Dutch style allows you to open the top to lean out and shoot, and still have the bottom for cover. Just one option...I can't believe I'm writing this; it sounds like a screen script for Gunsmoke...
I guess that you need to measure the existing door to search and see if there are any prefab replacements you could purchase for less than a custom job. I dunno if you want the door to appear burdensome, like a heavy gate, to act as a deterrent in appearance, or instead you want it to match existing decor but perform at a higher level of security. What does Mrs. Shakytoad have to say about it?
Inside a farmhouse, I wonder if you could have made a Dutch door, but coated with metal as are exterior doors? For inside, you could take out the glass panes, and make shutter slats for them that allow air to circulate and from the inside could be opened to look thru and shoot? Also, the Dutch style allows you to open the top to lean out and shoot, and still have the bottom for cover. Just one option...I can't believe I'm writing this; it sounds like a screen script for Gunsmoke...
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http://www.google.com/search?source...LG,GGLG:2006-08,GGLG:en&q=metal+security+doorshakytoad said:
GrayBear