Structures + Safety
Fitting a Garden Gate
When picking your gate, choose a style to match your fence and house. Go for a good quality hardwood gate, or a softwood which has been pressure treated with a wood preservative. Gate posts should also be pressure treated. Alternatively, use concrete posts with pre-drilled holes for attaching timber gate fittings.
Time to complete job: 6 hours plus one week for the concrete to set.
Approximate budget: £90
You will need:
- Gate
- Two 10cm or 12.5cm (4 or 5in) square gate posts
- Hinges and latch
- Measuring tape
- Battens: 5cm x 2.5cm (2 x 1in)
- Nails
- Spade
- Bricks
- Concrete
- Spirit level
- Hardcore
- Trowel
Step 1: Sizing up
Lay the gate on the ground and place the posts on either side.Lay the hinges and latch in position.
Check the posts to make sure there is a small gap when the gate is closed.
Use a measure to check the posts are parallel with their tops aligned.
Tip: For gates under a metre high, post widths should be 10cm (4in) square. Higher gates should be 12.5cm (5in). Posts should be at least 45cm (18in) longer than the gate to stand slightly higher and must be sunk into foundations at least 45cm (18in) below ground level.
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