(SO to Courtney V.R. for requesting these instructions)
Hi Everyone! At our house, we had a problem. Our baby was on the move and the "big kids" were still only 2,4, and 5 years old. I needed to know what they were doing and playing in the basement. I also needed my baby/newly toddling toddler to not fall down the stairs.
I installed a gate for about 3 minutes before uninstalling. It was such a hazard for literally everyone involved. (mostly due to tripping). I definitely couldn't leave the door open as I had done until this point. I was recommended a baby monitor but it wasn't exactly open communication. What I REALLY wanted was a door on the bottom that was open on the top! Yes. I realize that's a dutch door. I would've put in a dutch door in a heartbeat BUT if the top were open there was no wall for it to rest against due to our home layout. And I didn't want the 2 new corners for my kids to get head stitches on. So my solution?
A screen door!
Most nice exterior screen doors are a few hundred dollars but Menards has the basic wooden models for $20 or $30 depending on the size and quality. Hurray! Just what I needed! Here's what I did and how much it cost me with links to where I got the different parts.
The door:
I brought this unfinished door home as well as a wood panel and handle/latch (link below). Make sure to measure the door you're replacing and get that sized screen door! If it's a little off to the exact sizing, get one that's just a little too big and run it with a table saw or circular saw down to the exact match. And for the panel: 2' by 4' of anything 1/2" thick or bigger will do the job. I used a plywood to give the wood grain pattern on the door.
Leaving an overhang of about 1/2", I cut the wood panel down to size to cover the bottom to spaces. (On my door this meant a 24" by 29 3/4" panel.) I next cut and removed the screen on the bottom portion of the door with an utility knife. Then I glued and clamped it for the recommended time (30 minutes?) I might've even added a screw or two to make sure there weren't going to be any kids tumbling headfirst down the stairs, perhaps an overkill but whatever, not a risk worth it to me.
You'll want to sand, stain, and finish the door to match it's surrounding trim and home.
To install, I left the door hinges on the door frame and took the original door off carefully and placed it next to my new screen door. I lined those puppies up side-by-side and marked where the holes were from the previous door. Then I had my handsome husband help me carry the old (and beautiful and surprisingly heavy) 6 panel solid core door to the basement for when we sell our home someday. And we raised it off the floor a few inches in case our basement ever floods. :)
I predrilled those newly marked holes in the new screen door and hung the door with the old hardware, screws too!
The next step was to install the handle.
(double check on the thickness of the door you purchased and what these can work with. Also match your existing hardware. We have mostly oil rubbed bronze so we got a black handle. Not the end of the world to me!) Whatever you purchase will come with directions specific to the item.
I also installed an auto closing mechanism I hoped would work more quietly than a typical spring and chain system that is standard for this kind of door. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ANTQ45S/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I'm very happy with it and easily set it to a speed that consistently closes the door to avoid the 1000 reminders a day but also isn't at guillotine/shove- a-small-child-down-the-stairs speed. Again this will come with instructions for installation.
That's pretty much it!
It's a solution that works at our house and one that I'll be eager to use as long as we're in this situation of a baby and multiple kids. Which it seems like we'll continue to be in for a while since we're adding one more in a few months!
And, I'm not posting instructions for this because I also know I'm not the only person to do it: when our newest toddler is ready for the steps, we do have a second handrail and kid height installed to help make that stairway a bit safer!
Just something to consider ;)
