The Mounting Brackets are installed on both sides of the doorway or opening. Then the reel side of the safety gate is attached to either the left or right side of the doorway by snapping the gate into both of the brackets on that side. To operate the baby gate, the mesh is pulled across and hooked into the brackets on the opposite side. The retractable safety gate is then able to be easily locked with a double-acting and simple push-and-turn feature. This prevents pushing down or pulling out the retractable safety gate. To retract the baby gate, an adult can easily unlock the gate, unhook the handle rod from the brackets, and guide the mesh back as it rewinds onto the reel.
An internal spring automatically rolls up the Retract-A-Gate mesh for hands-free rewinding. Unintentional retracting of the mesh is prevented by the secure locking feature; rewinding the mesh can only be done when the lock is switched to the open position. During retraction, the Retract-A-Gate baby gate operates quietly and smoothly, neatly containing the mesh and handle when the unit is fully retracted. As the ONLY retractable safety gate which is able to retract quietly, easily and automatically, Retract-A-Gate’s operation is very quick and can be done one-handed. The engineering and design of the Retract-A-Gate baby gate was extensive to ensure its safety and convenience. Although we are confident in your satisfaction with our products, we welcome you to check out how our customers value Retract-A-Gate in our Baby Gate Videos and Reviews.
For instructions on installation and use, see our Retract-A-Gate Install and Specs page.
To begin with, all other retractable gates on the market have undergone thorough testing by Smart Retract, and quality is the most important difference. Many of the other retractable gates are complicated to assemble and use, and don’t last long with repeated use. Priced competitively, Retract-A-Gate offers the most value in its class, all while being simple to use, to keep your little ones safer. The appeal of a cheaper gate fades quickly when it operates poorly or breaks down soon after purchase. Here are a few reasons why Retract-A-Gate is the better buy:
We’d rather you not just take our word for it – see for yourself why our customers rate Retract-A-Gate as the market’s best baby gate. View our Baby Gate Videos and read the customer reviews.
Our two Retract-A-Gate models fit openings up to maximum widths of 132cm or 183cm. The widths indicate the total space (including both gate and brackets) that the gate can extend across when the gate is installed in an opening. Mesh height on the retractable baby gate is 86cm and the complete height to the top of the lock is a little under 97cm. For wall bracket installation, about 6cm of flat wall surface is required to attach them, and they need to be mounted approximately 8cm and 77.5cm from the floor. There is some flexibility to the bracket mounting height, particularly on the side that holds the safety gate reel. Retract-A-Gate is less than 10cm wide when it is completely retracted.
When mounting the retractable baby gate in a doorway, most doors will still be able to be closed with the mounting hardware and baby safety gate in place. In the event that your situation does not allow for the necessary 6cm to mount the baby gate in the doorway, the brackets can be mounted around the doorway corner, either on the wall or the door moulding. If this is the case, the maximum gate width will be a bit less without the brackets contributing to the total gate width.
If you are installing your Retract-A-Gate in an area that has skirting boards, you will need to measure the height and thickness of the skirting board. This will help you to determine if wall spacers are needed, and the amount you will need. Shop our Online Store page. for more information on wall spacers. Click on the link within the Wall Spacer Set description to assist you in determining if you require that item.
Although installation of the Retract-A-Gate can be done nearly anywhere in and around the home or office, there may be unique installation challenges. Very often, these situations can be remedied by using some of the installation accessories found in our Online Store. Below are some usual types of installation along with a list of items you may need to streamline your installation.
Wall to Wall Installation
If the Retract-A-Gate is intended to be installed in an area where a wall is located on either side of the installation, such as the center of a hallway or walkway, this is a wall to wall installation. Below are the items that may be needed for this type of installation:
Retract-A-Gate
Plasterboard Anchor Kit
Wall Spacer Set
All mounting hardware (mounting brackets, screws and washers) is included with every Retract-A-Gate purchase, and the brackets are universal, meaning that they will fit all Retract-A-Gate models. If you choose, you can install a number of brackets sets throughout your home or office which allows the gate to be moved from one location to another. If the gate is to be installed on a plasterboard surface or where wall studs are not available for attachment in the desired location, Plasterboard Anchors will be needed. When installation is planned for a wall that has a skirting board or moulding at the bottom, you will need a Wall Spacer Set. Skirting boards can hamper the connection of the gate to the mounting brackets because the brackets do not project out from the wall more than 5cm. Therefore, the wall spacers are required for installation between the wall and the brackets to extend the brackets out from the skirting board. Very often the bottom bracket will need to be installed on the skirting board. If so, spacers will be needed between the wall and the upper bracket to ensure that both brackets are aligned with one another.
Banister Post to Banister Post or Stair Post to Wall Installation
When a gate is to be installed in any post to post, or wall to post situation at either the top or bottom of stairs or on a deck or porch, you may need additional items, which are listed below.
Retract-A-Gate
Stair Banister Adapter Kit
Plasterboard Anchor Kit
Wall Spacer Set
For more information about the Retract-A-Gate, Wall Spacer Sets, and Plasterboard Anchors, please refer to the Wall to Wall section above. If there is no flat surface on the banister post for attachment of the bracket at 8cm and 77.5cm from the floor, or if you prefer not to screw directly into the banister, stair post or spindle, the Stair Banister Adaptor Kit will be needed. The adapter is a plastic board that is 91 or 122cm in length, and provides a flat surface for connecting the brackets using the hardware that is included with the Stair Banister Adaptor Kit, without needing to screw into the banister post or spindle. When the brackets are in place, the adapter board is attached to the banister post with straps. One Stair Banister Adapter Kit will be needed for each banister post.
Doorway or Entryway installation
No accessories should be needed for typical installations in a standard entryway or doorway where there are no stairways or skirting boards and the bracket can be mounted to a solid wall. Additional information including a complete listing of our retractable safety gates and accessory items can be found on our Retract-A-Gate Store page. See the item descriptions for assistance in deciding whether the safety gate accessory is needed for your installation situation.
Retract-A-Gate has been tested and certified for use at the top and bottom of stairs, and can sustain a push-out force of up to 100kg. For stairway applications, wall brackets can be screwed directly onto the stair spindle or post, but a Banister Adapter Kit can be used if you prefer to avoid drilling holes into the posts.
Each set of brackets included with each retractable baby gate is screwed into the Banister Adapter. In turn, that assembly is fastened to the stair post with the straps that are included in the kit. The straps for the Banister Adapter will fit square posts that measure up to 18cm, and will also accommodate wrought iron or other metal spindles. The adapter will fit against the metal of thick iron spindles. For smaller spindles (2.5cm or less), the adaptor will fit in the gap between the two sides.
For top-of-stairs installation
Mounting the safety gate at a minimum of 15cm from the edge of the top step is recommended to avoid creating a gap between the bottom of the gate and the stairway. If it is difficult to achieve the recommended 15cm distance in your situation, the Retract-A-Gate can be installed on a diagonal to help maintain this distance and angle it away from the stairs (see FAQ #6). As another option, nearby areas could be blocked off to prevent access to the stairs.
For bottom-of-stairs installation
We recommend mounting the Retract-A-Gate on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. Installing the safety gate up on the step is not recommended due to safety concerns. A child who is able to step up and happens to fall backwards would have farther to fall. Some stairways are not configured for mounting the gate at the lowest level. In these cases, installing up a step can be accomplished if designated safety precautions are taken. Before attempting to install Retract-A-Gate on a step, however, please contact us for assistance to determine if your location is suitable for this type of installation.
How many Banister Adaptor Kits do I need?
For installations that will attach the baby gate to stair posts on both sides, two Banister Adapter Kits will be needed. If your stairway has a wall on one side, you will need just one Banister Adapter Kit.
Which size Banister Adaptor Kit will I need?
Some stair posts are narrower in the middle than at the tops and bottoms. The Banister Adaptor is designed to span the narrow area in order to provide a level mounting surface for the brackets. Our Banister Adaptors are available in 91cm and 122cm sizes. In most cases the 91cm adapter will be sufficient, but when fitting to taller posts, the 122cm adaptor may be the best option. When the adapter must reach a distance from the floor to the upper area of the post that is more than 91cm, the 122cm adaptor will be required. If needed, the adapter can be sawed shorter so that it does not stand taller than the stair post, but it should not be cut shorter than 81cm.
Need more details?
Visit the Install & Specs Page for complete installation instructions and user guides for all of our products.
Certainly! One of the best features of the Retract-A-Gate is its versatility. Unlike many other baby safety gates, installation can be done at all angles which allows for a great many mounting options. For top-of-stairs installations, the Retract-A-Gate should be installed to angle away from the stairs to the wall to allow for a distance of at least 15cm between the edge of the top step and the gate.
Additionally, when properly installed, the bracket openings should face away from the Retract-A-Gate.
The Retract-A-Gate can be mounted to a variety of surfaces. Listed below are some of the common applications, including considerations for the particular surface.
Cabinet or bookcase: Brackets should be mounted only to stable, wall-mounted bookcases. A backer board may be needed on the inside bookcase or cabinet wall if the wall is thin, so that there is a minimum of 2.5cm of solid wood for the screws to attach to. Wall spacers can be used under the top and bottom brackets when mounting the Retract-A-Gate baby gate to a cabinet that has a small countertop overhang. The spacers will function to move the safety gate outward and away from the counter’s edge. This will ensure enough clearance for proper mounting of the baby gate.
Concrete, stone, brick or mortar: Masonry anchors will need to be purchased for any of these applications. Take the screws that are included with your Retract-A-Gate to a hardware store and ask them to size a masonry anchor. The provided screws are 5cm long, but if you need shorter screws, you will want to use 3.5mm flathead screws, and use the finishing washers that are included. As another option, you can also attach a board to the concrete/stone/brick/mortar using similar anchors and then fasten the brackets to the board.
Fibreglass: Mounting the brackets to the stud or support behind the fibreglass is always recommended for the most secure attachment. If there is no support, you’ll need appropriate anchors or a backer board that will be suitable for your fibreglass.
House cladding or vinyl siding: If there is solid wood sheeting or boards beneath the cladding, which is typically the case, the retractable baby gate wall brackets can be attached to the house.
Yes! Retract-A-Gate has undergone extensive testing in wet rainy seasons, hot dry summers and even outside during a northern winter. The gate performed flawlessly. Retract-A-Gate was made to withstand UV exposure, but please be aware that some fading or long-term wear can become evident when exposed to the sun for long periods of time. You can be sure that the retractable safety gate will hold up well outdoors, but any product used outside extensively will have reduced life compared to those used only indoors. Due to this, we recommend bringing Retract-A-Gate inside during freezing temperatures and when not in use to ensure that it will have a long life. It’s easy – simply unsnap the safety gate from the brackets.
Can I install the gate on my composite deck?
The posts on a composite deck will typically have 10cm x 10cm treated wooden posts inside them. Our recommendations include pre-drilling the screw holes and using stainless steel screws the same size as the ones that are included (3.5mm flat head). For contact with treated wood, stainless steel is the better, longer-lasting choice.
Currently we offer just two standard-sized retractable safety gates for openings up to 132 and 183cm. Below are some potential solutions for wider openings:
Option 1: Multiple Retract-A-Gates can be connected together using straps, which is generally the best option. Using the handle rod of the first gate, it is connected to the second gate by the rod of the reel section (see photos below). What is great about this option is that it can be used with as many gates as you need to extend across the opening. Even better – the gates can still be open and closed with one-handed operation.
When using this option, it is important to make sure that all the connected gates are locked. Please also be aware that this solution is only for certain applications that are not critical or where only a visual barrier is necessary. Using straps to attach multiple gates together has NOT been certified for use with children. If you decide to use this option, Gate Connector Straps are available to purchase on the Retract-A-Gate Online Store page.
Option 2: S-hooks have been used in some situations to hook two Retract-A-Gates together to cover openings up to 264cm/366cm. In this option, each retractable safety gate is mounted to opposite sides of the opening, with the handle rods hooked together by the S-hooks in the middle. Two S-hooks would be needed in this application – one in the top cutouts and one in the bottom cutouts (see photos below).
Like Option 1, this solution is also for special situations that are non-critical, including a low-traffic area or where only a visual barrier is desired. Retract-A-Gate is typically very simple to operate with one-hand. When using this option, however, you would need both hands and the open-close operation will be slower. Available only for non-critical situations, this S-hook option has NOT been tested or certified for use with children. See our Online Shopping page to purchase a set of S-hooks if you choose to use this option.
Option 3: For making up shorter distances of 2.5 to 5cm in order to increase the overall coverage, spacers can be used underneath the brackets. Do not use spacers that are more than 2.5cm under the brackets. A final option for having the safety gate span a greater distance is to put up a partition. This would close the gap, and the Retract-A-Gate could be attached to the partition, which could also be stained or painted to blend in with the décor.
If it is properly installed, a certain amount of stretch is normal because the mesh has to be flexible for it to retract. When installed incorrectly, however, there may be too much give in the material. We provide the guidelines listed below to help lessen the possibility of any difficulties:
The Retract-A-Gate is one of the tallest on the market, with a mesh height of 86cm. The mesh is held tightly when the gate is locked, so it is difficult to pull or push it down. Additionally, the mesh fabric of the Retract-A-Gate is very tightly woven, which prevents a baby from being able to get a toe hold to climb over it.
Chartered in 1962, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JPMA) is a national trade organisation that advocates for safety of products through certification programmes, legislation and regulation and acts as a source for consumers for information and education about products for babies and children. JPMA’s comprehensive Certification Program is designed to assist consumers in purchasing juvenile products that are manufactured with safety as a priority. In obtaining JPMA Certification, Retract-A-Gate was professionally and independently tested to ensure compliance with specific standards for the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM). A product that has passed the tests is allowed to be labeled with the JPMA Certified Seal, and our baby gates are retested yearly for certification maintenance. Retract-A-Gate is also tested and exceeds the baby gate safety standards for the UK, Europe and Canada.
Most baby gates are certified by independent testing organisations for the age range of 6-24 months. Beyond the age of 2 years, children can become strong enough and can learn to operate most baby gates. Unless they were taught how, a young child would not likely discover how to operate the lock on the Retract-A-Gate baby gate since it must be pushed down and turned simultaneously, similar to child-resistant lids on bottles. The Retract-A-Gate baby gate design is made for easy operation by adults while being difficult for small children.
Retract-A-Gate’s mesh fabric is a reinforced polymer composite that is non-toxic and tough at the same time. We are also proud to be able to say that we are at the forefront of eliminating toxic chemicals – our mesh contains no latex, lead, phthalate, or BPA chemicals and is free of formaldehyde.
The retractable safety gate mesh is extremely durable while allowing visibility through it and is resistant to UV rays and mildew. As an example of its toughness, this same mesh is also used to make tarps to hold down loads in the back of trucks.
Are you interested in receiving a sample?
Email our customer service at info@SmartRetract.co.uk to receive a sample of the mesh. Just be sure to include your name and mailing address, and we will send you small samples of the Retract-A-Gate mesh in the White, Black and Café colours.
Just use a mild soap and water on the Baby Gate to clean it when needed. Rubbing alcohol can also be used for more stubborn stains.
Our pledge to you is that Retract-A-Gate provides the greatest value of any gate on the market, and so our entire line of safety gates and accessories are priced competitively. Unlike some others, we don’t have sales on overpriced items or participate in advertising tactics that don’t do much else except flood you with unwanted emails. Our focus is simple – we want to provide you with the best retractable gate at the best value, accompanied by outstanding service and support. At various times we do sponsor promotional drawings to engage our customers, and if that were the case, the information would be found in Step 1 of our Check Out process. If there are no promotions listed in the Check Out area, then none are being offered at that time.
