Constructing your Gateway to Play!
Before starting, please note that the diagonal tie method is used to connect as many grids together as possible. This keeps the grids stable and less likely to shift around.
ALSO NOTE: we find it extremely helpful when attaching the zip-ties to leave them a little loose and then tighten them as you go. It helps immensely when trying to line the grids up.
BUILDING THE STRUCTURE
Step 1
The Back Wall:
- Take one Ledge Grid, and three Standard Grids. Place the Ledge Grid on the left with the larger end flat against the ground and the smaller end facing up on the left.
- Line the three Standard Grids next to the large flat edge of the Ledge Grid. Zip-Tie all the grids together and cut off excess.
Step 2
Support for Landing:
- Using 2 Ledge Grids, the first Ledge Grid will lay with the larger side flat against the floor. The second Ledge Grid will lay with the short side flat against the floor next to the larger end, as shown in the photo. Then zip-tie together.
Step 3
Standing Structure:
- Stand up the back wall by folding the ends on the back wall in toward the center to form a 90 degree angle.
- Stand up the support Ledge Grids from Step 2 (the LARGER end of the Ledge Grid support structure FACING OUT and the shorter end of the Ledge Grid support structure facing in toward the back wall). See photos for placement.
Step 4
Landing Platform:
- Using a Portal Grid (the opening needs to face you on the RIGHT-hand side) place the Portal grid on top of the Ledge Grid Support Structure and on top of the Standard Girds that create the back right corner of the back wall. Please reference photos.
- Use Binder Clips to keep the Portal Grid in place while you Zip-tie to the Back Wall and the Support. This needs to be sturdy, reinforce corners as needed so there's little movement as possible.
Step 5
Ramp Support Wall:
- Take a Ledge Grid and a Portal Grid, lay the Ledge Grid down just like in Step 1, larger side down and smaller side facing up on the left.
- Take the Portal Grid, the portal opening will be turned AWAY from you and on the upper LEFT-hand side, and lay next to the large edge of the Ledge Grid. Zip-tie the two together.
Step 6
Connecting Structure and Ramp Support Wall:
- Lay the Standing Structure down along its back wall. Take the Ramp Support Wall and lay it above the structure, lining up Ledge Grids and Portal Grid to the Standard Grid. See photos for reference.
- Zip-tie the Structure and the Ramp Support Wall together and stand the whole structure up.
Step 7
Safety Walls:
- Next take 3 Short-Half Grids and 1 Wide Mini Grid (these will act as safety walls for the Landing Platform). The 3 Short-Half Grids will be zip-tied along the back wall, the right wall, and the front wall.
- The Wide Mini Grid will be zip-tied to the Short-Half Grid in the front, leaving a gap in between itself and the back wall. See photos for reference.
Step 8
Ramp Support:
- Taking the last Ledge Grid and Wide Mini Grid, overlap the Wide Mini Grid ontop of the Ledge Grid by 2 grid squares with the short side of the Ledge Grid facing you.
- Loosely zip-tie the two together.
Step 9
Attaching Ramp Support to Structure:
- Attach the Mini Grid from the ramp support about 4 grid squares down on the top Ledge Grid next to the Portal Grid on the structure and loosely zip-tie to the Ledge Grid.
- Make sure the Ledge Grid of the Ramp Support is around 1.5 to 2 grid squares in from the edge of the Landing Platform.
- Zip-tie the Ramp Support to the back wall of the structure DO NOT zip-tie the ramp to the FLOOR of the Landing Platform, but instead the Wide Mini Grid safety wall. See Photos for reference.
Step 10
Ramp Safety Wall:
- Taking the Skinny Grid, line it right on top of the short edge of the Ledge Grid of the Ramp Support and zip-tie to the Ramp Support Ledge Grid, the Ledge Grid from the Structure, and the Wide Mini Grid safety wall. See photos for assistance.
- Please check the stability of the Ramp Support and Structure with a little shake and some pressure. If you find any weak points, reinforce them with more zip-ties.
D.I.Y. Ramps
Step 11
Creating the Mini Ramp:
- Starting with the first Reinforced Ramp, cut off the ramp flap at the top of the ramp and save the ramp hooks for later.
- Measure the length of the Ramp Support all the way down to where it hits on the Landing Platform. This is the length you’ll need to cut the ramp and carpet to. PLEASE NOTE, you may need to remove one of the wires inside the ramp to make this cut. You’ll need to use something sturdy to be able to PUSH the wire through and out the other side enough to take hold and pull the wire out.
- After cutting the ramp and carpet, place Ramp Hooks inside the coroplast slots in Reinforced Ramp and place the ramp on the Ramp Support. ALSO NOTE, save the piece of carpet that was cut off, you’ll need that later!
Step 12
- Next, to cut a portal into the wall of the ramp use a pen or marker to mark on the ramp wall where the Portal Grid opening ends.
- Carefully use razor, scissors or Coro Claw to cut the ramp wall off and create the opening. Using scissors, round the edges of the ramp walls and to trim the edging of the ramp wall to fit the new size.
Step 13
Large Reinforced Ramp:
- Install ramp hooks in the ramp flap as usual and place ramp on Landing Platform. Using a pen or marker, mark where the outside of the LEFT wall of the ramp meets the floor of the Platform.
- Remove the ramp from the platform, and score the INSIDE of the ramp as shown using your marks from the floor as a guide. You can cut that portion of the wall clean off. We are showing a scored version in case you ever wanted to reuse the ramp in another location. Trim the edging of the ramp to fit the new length of the wall.
- Insert the ramp back onto the Landing Platform and tape down the scored flap to the grids of the Landing Platform.
Step 14
Coroplast Landing Platform:
- To create the Coroplast Landing Platform floor, measure a 13.75” x 13.75” square of Coro. Using your extra Portal Grid, trace the outline of the portal opening and cut the portal into the Coro or cardboard. (PLEASE make sure you cut the portal opening into the correct position of the Landing floor)
- Slip the coro into place on top of the Landing Platform and UNDER the ramp support (which is why the Ramp Support is not zip-tied to the floor of the Landing Floor). See photos for reference.
Attaching Gateway to Play to your Cage on a Stand
Step 15
- Before attaching the structure to the cage, you will need to replace one of the Standard Grids of the cage with your last Portal Grid. The Portal grid will need to be placed with the portal opening on the LEFT and FACING UP. Zip-tie to Standard Grids of the Cage.
- Move the Gateway to Play Structure to the Portal Grid in the cage, the two Portal Grids should match up in the UPPER LEFT hand corner. Use a Velcro Strip or Binder Clip on the corner with the two Portal Grid ends to attach the structure to the Cage.
- Note, because of the connectors at the foot of the Cage Stand the Structure will not be completely flush against the cage. You can Binder Clip the Landing Platform walls to the cage as well. Refer to photos.
Step 16
- Taking the Reinforced ramp carpet that you cut off earlier, you’ll use that as the “bridge” from the Structure to the Piggy Perch or Porch, etc. TAPE the carpet down and then cover with fleece.
- Please note, if you're connecting the Gateway to Play to a Patio, you will need to cut a portal hole into the coroplast of the wall of the Patio as well.