Wooden Gate Installation Guide

2021-06-04

Wooden gates not only play an integral role in the security of your property but also add to the aesthetics of your home and garden. However, to ensure they function in the safe and correct manner it is essential that they are installed in the correct manner. The following information is therefore designed to give a general overview of the correct way to store, install and maintain them.

Treatment

Our range of wooden gates are available in a pressure treated option which is designed to protect against rot. If choosing this option, the timber will have a green appearance when delivered which is residue from the pressure treating process. This will fade down over time once exposed to the elements therefore please do not mistake this for mould.

Alternatively, if you wish to stain or paint the gates, many of our designs are also available with a smooth planed untreated timber finish. This type of gate will however need to be treated prior to installation and will also require more ongoing maintenance to provide adequate levels of protection against decay.

Storing Prior to Installation

If the gates are not to be installed immediately upon delivery it is essential that they are stored in the correct manner to help prevent twisting or warping. We recommend they are stored flat on as level surface and be equally supported on timber bearers. When storing the gates is important they are not exposed to extreme heat, high levels or humidity or water.

Installing Posts

We recommend that all wooden gates should be installed using pressure treated wooden posts. There are 2 options available when doing this depending upon the current layout of the opening.

Wall Mounted – Wooden posts should be secured to any existing masonry structure using appropriate mechanical fixings. The type used will be dictated by the material you are fixing the post to and is down to the installer to decide the most appropriate screws, anchors, or bolts. To ensure a prolonged lifespan, we recommend that a small gap should be left between the bottom of the post and the ground to prevent it sitting in any accumulated moisture.

Concrete into Ground – Where no suitable support structure is in place you will need to set the gate posts into the ground. A freestanding post will take all the weight of the gates therefore make sure you have selected the appropriate size to prevent it bowing over time. When digging the hole, it is recommended that it should be a minimum of 2 – 3 times the width of the post and that it is deep enough to allow around 1/3^rd of the overall length to sit below ground level. When this process has been completed, 200mm of gravel should be placed into the bottom of the hole as this will help with drainage. The post can then be placed in the correct position (ensuring the correct spacing is left for the gates) and checked for level. To aid this process temporary supports can be used. Once happy with the position, the hole can be backfilled with concrete. Once the posts are in place it is essential the correct amount of time is left for the concrete to harden prior to hanging the gates.

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Fitting the Gate

All wooden gates are supplied with small timber blocks nailed to the underside of the gate. This is to protect them during transit. Prior to installing it is essential these are removed as this will not be possible once the gate has been installed.

Prior to attaching any fittings, you will need to decide how much you want to allow for ground clearance. We normally suggest allowing around 50mm between the underside of the gate and the floor surface as this should allow for any uneven ground that may be present.

To help maintain the required ground clearance timber packers can be positioned under the gate when it has been placed between the posts. With this done, you will also need to place packers between the post and the vertical stiles of the gate to even out the gap. Ideally you should have around 10mm space to allow sufficient room for the hinges and to prevent binding.

When you are happy the gate is sat in the correct position, the hinges can be installed. It is important that the hinges holes align with the top and bottom horizontal rails on the back of the gates. If using a coach bolt when installing hook and band hinges the optimum place for the bolt is through the centre of the hanging stile. Care should be taken not to fix into the shoulder joint of the gate as this will weaken the timber and could damage the gate and render it unusable. Once the gate hinges have been installed, the latch can then be drilled into the required position. In the case of double gates, you can then install the drop bolt.

Disclaimer – The above information is intended as a general guide to the installation of wooden gates and should not be solely relied upon. All gates supplied are sold on a supply only basis and we accept no liability for incorrectly installed products. It is always down to the installers discretion to decide the most appropriate installation method for any given application.