First thing. Draw a vertical center line on both sides of your opening with a carpenters level. This will help because as others have said, I wouldn't use the template because your flooring is uneven. When you adjust the gate to the width of your opening, you have to keep in mind that the stiles (vertical bars) have to lineup in order to reinstall the assembly that keeps them from sliding.So slide them open get as close as you can, back off until the styles line up and reinstall the assemblies. Loosen the hinge and latch screws EVENLY to fill the gaps on either side. This will give you more play as you adjust the gate so it latches properly. Don't tighten the lock nuts yet.I would start with the lower LATCH side because I found this one the most finicky and remember to install the lower hatch housing because it adds at least a quarter inch at the bottom. Line it up on your center mark, pre-drill then install the long screws.Now, get help if possible to hold the gate rest in the bottom latch, and put the upper latch on the end bolt of the gate pushing up from the bottom and line it up holes on the center line on the wall and pre-drill. Now move the gate away and screw in the latch and housing.While the gate is loose, install the hinge assemblies on the hinge loops. You might have to screw in the loop bolts a bit to compensate for the latch and hinge assemblies. Rest the latch side bolts in the latch side and level the gate with a speed level if you have one, and line the hinge holes on your center line LIFT SLIGHTLY (like an 1/8") and predrill the bottom holes ONLY. Lifting This will give you slight play with that $#*@ lower latch. If it's too low, it won't latch and it's hard to fix.Now take those hinge assemblies off and apart and take the bottom part (the three hole one) line them against your center line and put in the lower screws you just pre-drilled and pre-drill the middle hole and screw. The upper hole is to hold the upper piece on, you won't use it yet.Now install the gate on it's hinges and check if it latches. Don't slam it. It should click into the split, spring loaded notches. You can adjust the bolts back and forth to easily slide into the notches. You have to lift them out of those notches while pressing the thumb latch to open.If you have to adjust the the gate up or down to get in those notches, you'll actually have to adjust the hinge side at the opposite corner. So if the latch side is drooping, you'd tighten IN the top hinge loop and screw OUT a few threads on the bottom hinge loop. After you've done your adjustments THEN tighten the set nuts to hold the bolts in place.The last step is to put the upper hinge piece in and use the short screws to hold. We cut off the ridge on the hall side with a dremel (see pics) so our gate could lay flat against the wall. If you don't want to do that, you'll leave that cap off if you want it to open fully but I suggest you get a shelf peg (pictured) to put in the hinge or every time you open the gate you might lift the gate right off the hinges.We installed a magnetic latch (pictured) on the hall wall to hold the gate open when not in use. We have dogs and mostly need the gate at night so they don't scratch on our bedroom doors.I'm glad we got the gate but we have a lot of home improvement experience and this was a challenge. It seems like there are some improvements to the design that would make it easier to install. Just putting the metal pegs in the BOTTOM hinge piece would be an improvement.My biggest issue is having to lift the gate over the latch notches to open it. That needs a redesign.