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Alleyway connecting to neighbor's backyard
A Neighbor's Request
A Neighbor's Request
COVID-19 had just descended upon the United States, and a quarantine swept the nation. This kept many at home, but the itch to go outdoors remained. My neighbor's solution to this itch was to use their backyard, but their backyard connected to the alleyway shown. How could they keep their toddler from leaving the backyard and getting lost?
Knowing how I enjoyed woodworking, the neighbors enlisted me to help them solve this task. They requested a gate that was tall and sturdy, but it also had to be easily removable. I eagerly accepted this challenge, and I got to work on my design.
Plan
Plan
Features
Features
First designed in CAD to decide basic idea
Sliding gate sections accommodate various opening sizes
Locking mechanism
Uses a lever to utilize tension in the wood frame as a means for locking the gate in place
Estimated cost of $25 in materials by using cheaper pine wood and making it durable with deck paint
Prototype of locking mechanism
Build
Build
What Worked
What Worked
The two gate sections slid nicely to fit many different openings
The wheels on the bottom worked well to help the gate roll up and down the alleyway
The gate was easy to install and remove with just the swing of a lever
Sturdy enough to keep toddler at bay
Tall enough to keep my Chihuahua from trying to get into their backyard all the time
What Changed
What Changed
The teeth on the locking lever easily snapped because they were rectangular and not supported by the direction of the wood grain
To solve this, the rectangular teeth were replaced with semi-circular teeth that provided more support for the locking pin
Velcro strap added on end of locking lever to prevent gate from opening if toddler tries to mess with the gate
Install
Install
Final Notes
Final Notes
After making the necessary design changes and adding a coat of deck paint, the gate fit in quite nicely at the alleyway. The neighbors use it whenever they let their toddler out to play in their backyard, and it also helps me keep my Chihuahua from trying to explore their yard all the time.
The only challenge now is to see how the gate holds up against the New England Weather. As Fall approaches and Winter sets in, I am eager to see if the deck paint does its job in sealing the wood and preventing any warping.Â
At just $25 of wood, this gate served to be a very affordable project to test my computer modeling and furniture making skills. I look forward to making more projects in the future, and I am glad that I could help out my neighbors!
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