Help with gate dilema

[cashank]

I need to install a safety gate at the top of my stairs in my livingroom. The stairs run along an outside wall, so the gate would span from the wall on one side to the post of my railing on the other side. Because of the baseboard I need to attach a couple of pieces of wood to the wall to attach the gate to. My problem is.....there are no studs in the wall where I need to attach these pieces of wood. How can I attach a piece of wood, say a five inch piece of 2x4, to the wall without it being attached to a stud, and still have it strong enough to be able to attach the gate to it???

Thanks for any help.

Cheryl

[FrankC]

Star anchors should do the trick, rather than short lengths of 2X4 can you use one long length the height of the gate, this would allow you to use more anchors over a greater area.

[Jerry M]

I think Frank C is referring to what we call a Molly anchor around here. If so, then I concur. And a longer board will be easier to anchor--less tendency to twist with the anchors spread over a greater length.

---Jerry

[shouldawoodacoulda]

i have used these anchors in a number of applications in my house and they hold up great. currently using them to hold a curtain rod (which holds 3 bamboo curtains) and a fold out desk. should work great for your gate