I installed a Munchkin MK004 security gate in drywall (no studs were available at the location) using the supplied screws and plastic anchors. The gate hinges on one side of the opening and opens at the other. Within a day, the hardware at the bottom where the gate hinges was pulling out of the wall (probably not helped by kids opening it every 2 minutes). I replaced those anchors with molly bolts. The same thing happened. Should I call it a day, remove the gate and patch up the holes or is there another solution – such as using a snaptoggle or screwing a wood board across two studs and screwing the hinge into the board? (Where there are studs on that side of the opening, it is also where there are bull nose corners and I think they are covered with metal and there is no wall on the other side of the opening).
How to attach a security gate where there are no studs
child-safetyrepair
Related Solutions
Measure your baby. The 3" gap is based on (a) minimum baby size across all babies expected to use the units, plus (b) a generous quantity of CYA on the manufacturer's part. Thus, 4" is likely just fine, and you can verify this by figuring out the minimum gap that your actual baby can squirm through, plus enough extra to satisfy you and your wife (reasonable and sane people) rather than lawyers who smell blood (and/or money).
Pick up a small bucket of an all purpose patch likeDap Flexall All Purpose Filler. The all purpose stuff is a little thicker than typical joint compound, so it makes filling a bit easier.
Remove the switch cover.
Using a taping knife, fill in the holes by pushing the compound into the hole and drawing the knife away from the hole.
Like so...
Repeat for each hole.
Wait for patch to dry.
Sand, Prime, Paint, Reattach the face plate.
If you find the holes are too big, and the compound is just falling through the hole. You'll have to get a wall repair patch kit, to fill the holes before covering them with compound/plaster. Follow the directions on the patch kit.
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Best Answer
You need to mount it in studs, concrete or something else that can handle the load; drywall by itself will not.
If there are no studs available where you want to mount it, you can open up the wall and either install a stud at that location, or depending on how the gate mounts, you might be able to add bracing between two existing studs and then mount to that.
I wouldn't be too concerned with the metal corner bead, you can screw through it pretty easily.
You might also be able to put up a seperate structure (ie: mounting a metal pole in concrete, etc.) to support the gate.