How do you fit a new garden gate?

[KarenBrockman]

I have a gate in my basket on the Wickes site. The final straw was finding wet smelly recent dog poo in my garden.

I have someone coming to do some fencing for me, so I am going to ask them to add on this job when they can.

What is involved? What other materials will the guy require to fix the gate to? The gate is going next to a low wall and a hedge where there is a current gap.

Gateposts! The gate has to be fixed to one by hinges and have a latch of some description so it can be opened. The latch has a keeper on the other gatepost. You need a hole dug for each gatepost and get the fencing contractor to tell you how big each gatepost should be. They should be sunk into concrete so they do not move. The gateposts could be timber, bricks or metal depending on what the gate is made from. A metal gate will probably have the latch included in it but often wooden ones do not.

if there is a low wall, try to have the hinges of the gate on that side. Gates tend to pull posts over and make them lean (there are various ways to prevent it)

you may be able to fix a wooden post to the wall, and the hinges onto that.

If you are having wooden fence posts rather than concrete, it will match if you use the same sort of posts. It will look better if you have a full-size fence panel beside the gate, and any cut-down gap-filler in the furthest corner.

Hinges for small gates are usually thin steel T-hinges. See if you can afford a more substantial hook and band as used on garage doors or big gates, it will last much longer and you can oil them when they squeak. Thin steel outdoors quickly rusts. If you are handy, prime and paint the hinges and other metalwork before they are fitted. I am a great believer in using stainless screws for all outdoor work now.

You can get spring closers for gates, they are tricky to fit unless you have done it before.

I like to do my gates in dark brown fence stain, and paint the hinges dark brown gloss to blend in. Your taste may differ.

Wow that was loads of information, thank you both.

I am going to order this gate I will get this delivered and go in and have a look around the store at the size of the hinges and screws in person, so I get something sturdy. I will have to get the guy to order me some more wood for next to the wall and an extra post then.

it's a tall metal gate, so it will (should) come with its own hinges and catch.

if you have time to paint it before fitting (esp. underneath and the hinge side) it will be easier to do a good job. Any scratches during fitting you can touch up later.

Like this?

hammerite is a very peculiar coating, incompatible with ordinary primers and undercoats. it dries very fast (on your brush) and ordinary chemicals do not thin or clean it. The proper thinners is quite harmful, used to be trichloroethane but has changed.

It dries very hard and glossy and other paints will not easily stick to it when you want to recoat. I would go for an oil based gloss, (thinned with white spirit). A litre should do it.

I see your gate is powder-coated, so unless it is chipped or scratched, will not need metal-preservative primer, as bare metal does.