Need to fit a side-gate diagonally to house

[ABitBesottedWithMyDog]

Is this even possible, and how? Our favourite handyman died last year of cancer, RIP, so I can't ask him, and we haven't so far had a reply to messages to local fencing companies.

Attached is a pic of the area. We just inherited this house, and need a gate urgently as have a dog.

Also, is this a job I could do myself with a drill, a spirit level and some concrete, or realistically will I have to try fencers in the next town?

I’d have thought if you could acquire a long, thin, triangle wedge shape piece of wood and screw the flat side into the wall. Have the triangle wedge side facing outwards and then attach the hinges to that wood and then the gate to the other side of the hinges?

You’d need a right angle triangle.

ahh! I can visualise that now. Thank you.

I've made planters but not attempted to hang a gate

I always think there’s a YouTube video for everything so I’d start there. I have hung a gate before but only on a wooden shed. I’d assume for drilling the initial piece of wood into the wall you’d need rawl plugs.

This is how I’d do it if I needed to do what you’re aiming for. Not sure if there’s a better way.

If you're going down the route of a triangle-shaped piece of wood, look up arris rails.

If you're planning to fix a wooden post into the ground, Postcrete is a very good product, especially for smaller DIY projects.

However, isn't there aleardy a (neighbour's?) gate right next to that arch and your new gate will be blocking it?

If you fit it diagonally are the neighbours going to be able to access their gate ok?

I think you might need to square it off so you can both actually use your gates.

It doesn't look very diagonal to me

Please sketch a plan.

Please indicate which walls, fences and land are yours.

If you fit it diagonally are the neighbours going to be able to access their gate ok?

I was wondering the same. And @PigletJohn is making a good point about the ownership of fences and land.

If that archway is yours, why not fit a gate inside it, as opposed to impinging on the path? Depending on agiligty and friendliness of your dog towards passers-by, you can opt for something solid or see-through, from full-height to half-sized (attaching some random ideas).

If you fit it diagonally are the neighbours going to be able to access their gate ok?

Of course. Their gate opens inwards into their garden. I wouldn't put up a gate that did harm to the neighbour. The archway and passway belong to us, as does the brick house corner with the remains of fence post on (there used to be a gate here, but the previous owner took it down when it was damaged in a storm in the 80s) but that fence on the neighbour's boundary (although probably erected by the previous owner of this house- let's say it's the neighbour's). I can take a bit off that brick flower bed to put another post up on my land, of course, and to allow the gate to swing in.

If that archway is yours, why not fit a gate inside it, as opposed to impinging on the path?

Gate in the tunnel was my first thought, but the post which is partway between the two sides is too close to allow a gate in across the end of the tunnel to swing comfortably outwards, plus I couldn't really have my dog's safety dependent on a neighbour and his various visitors shutting the gate. I need it to be lockable, too- which would impact on the neighbour.

The proposed gate would be wholly on our land, including any post and would swing onto our land.

I can post a sketch later but it's too early for art.

Thanks

I forgot to sy thanks to Quantum. - YouTube tutorials are a good shout!

I think diagonally might affect neighbour getting in as it would give much space to go down with say new garden furniture or a bike.

I assume the alleyway is yours, but neighbour has right of way to garden or parking at the back?

I think the best way would be to add a fence panel to square it off, and then your own gate opposite

It would essentially be a mirror of the neighbour's gate, but the idea of a small fence panel to square it off is a good one. I am going to go this route, I think!

I see alleyways and gates like this all the time, I'm struggling to understand why other posters think this is odd or won't work

I think it’s like this, I used to have a very similar house. I really can’t remember how we fitted the gate or even if we had one.

That's exactly it, Quebec. Thanks Georgie, that is reassuring. People around here mostly have a gate at the top of the passage (which wouldn't do me much good as I wou ldn't want my dog up barki g at the street, or to maketheeighbour have to traverse another gate, as he's getting on a bit)

I like Caspian's squaring off idea because then I would have a larger array of premade gates to choose from, I think.

Squaring it off does seem the easiest option.

Hang the hinge side of the gate (the heavy side) on a post screwed to the house wall, which is strongest.

Avoid putting a wooden post in the ground if you possibly can, it will rot.

Put a pad bolt (Brenton bolt) top and bottom.

I’ve got a diagonal gate and it’s the exact set up my mum has with her neighbours. Both are fine.

A diagonal gate rather than squaring it off will make it easier for coming in and out with large stuff if there isn't a lot of room between the gate and the house. Depends if you have a kitchen extension sticking out or not.

@QuebecBagnet

I think it’s like this, I used to have a very similar house. I really can’t remember how we fitted the gate or even if we had one.

We had this on previous terrace house, the gunnel was shared with the neighbour, had a gate at the front and our gates to our private gardens as per Quebec's drawing.

The front gate was the wrought iron style which was handy as couriers/postie would put parcels through it if we were out. The gate being locked was an extra layer of security and I'd recommend OP gets that done at some point also.

Our garden gate was rotten when I bought the house so we replaced it with exactly the method PigletJohn says. We bought the wood and fixings and made it ourselves, it wasn't difficult and meant we could customise it to the size of aperture we had. The worst thing was those red engineering bricks are harder than rock, so took some drilling... worth the bother though!

There are lots of houses with gates like this round here. Have you got local Facebook pages where you can ask if anyone is able to help?

@QuebecBagnet

A diagonal gate rather than squaring it off will make it easier for coming in and out with large stuff if there isn't a lot of room between the gate and the house. Depends if you have a kitchen extension sticking out or not.

That's actually a great point. There's no extension to contend with but I do lug a lot of garden stuff in and out.

Thank all for the great advice.

@Goodbyetowinter

There are lots of houses with gates like this round here. Have you got local Facebook pages where you can ask if anyone is able to help?

I haven't been able to find any apart from a Buy sell and exchange type group, but I don't really get FB tbh, probably missing a trick.

I contacted a couple of fencing businesses via FB but I can see the messages haven't been read.

It's odd and unprecedented that there were no replies at all via checkatrade (usually everyone replies!) so I'm wondering if I entered my details wrong.

I think tradespeople are run off their feet with work so possibly not interested in such a small job?