Nice Gate but you must take caution when installing

I purchased this gate in 2001 to fit a large opening from our living room to our front entryway. This gate will be opened and closed multiple times in the course of a day due to the fact it's located in a main traffic flow area of the house. The look of the gate is very nice, and in 6 years we have not had any issues with chipping or scratching and trust me with two kids in the house just about everything has been latterly thrown at it!

Installation can be a challenge if you don't have the correct tools. A laser level works great or a door framing laser to pinpoint your locations for the hinges.

I truly suspect the reason why some folks are having hinge breakage problems is due to incorrect installation or incorrect handling. If you do not line the hinges up properly and over tighten the eyelets onto the hinges, you will induce added stress on the lower hinge and break it. Secondarily you must insure the gate is anchored adequately into your wall. Just mounting this gate to drywall and not into a wall stud will cause a failure. If the gate pulls out from the wall that is an installation problem not a gate issue. When you finish installing the gate it should swing with very little or no resistance and the hinges should flex very little but not lift off the wall. If the gate is not swinging or the hinges are lifting your installation is not correct and you need to fix it.

We have had this gate operating now for 6 years and just broke the lower hinge, but my 6 yo and two of her friends tried to climb over it for fun. The lower hinge broke but the top one and the place holders on the opposite side held fast so thankfully no one was hurt. I was amazed the gate stayed in place with all that weight on it. We never had any issues prior to this and I have replacement parts on the way. If installed correctly the gate works very well.

[Saturday, May 17, 2008]

low quality finish

We didn't even get a chance to install this gate. It came chipped and the finish is very cheap and seems it will chip as soon as your infant puts their mouth on it, which is inevitable.

[Wednesday, April 02, 2008]

Bad Hinge Patend (Plastic Breaks)

I have this same gate and my 24 month old was standing next to the gate and pushed it and the gate broke from the plastic hinges and he and the gate both went flying down the staircase of 12 steps. I just called evenflo and they are sending me the replacements hinge base... but will take over 2 weeks to get that. They claim that there haven't been too many problems...but I've read a few of this same thing happening on here.... well my son could've broke his neck or even worse. They really need to see why this is happening with these gates. The hinge base should not be made of plastic.

[Monday, March 31, 2008]

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