New gate help

[Matt42]

Hi,

Excuse my complete 'denseness' on this matter!

I need a new garden gate. Do I buy the gate and get a man to fit it or is it best to go to a specialist gate place if one exists? I asked my home improvement 'expert' mum about this (She's like Mrs Bucket!) and she said B&Q gates are thin and rubbish. She reckons I should get a 'chippie' in to build a gate. I mean it's just a gate not a dining room table or something. But I also need a man to build me a new attic ladder on the attic hatch wooden surround (maybe reinforcing it) as everytime I want to go in the loft I need the stepladder from the shed to release the attic ladder than is inside the attic. Sorry, what a ramble. Worth getting a chippie to do both of these things? Would they be interested?

TIA

John

 

[HERTS P&D]

I see you are in Herts, try this place they make gates to order and can recommend a person for you:

Fencing and Timber Supplies near Enfield, Harlow, Ware & Hertford. | 414 Fencing - Timber Supplies to Hertfordshire, Essex & London

Premier supplier of Fencing, Sheds and Timber, located conveniently near Ware and Harlow just off the A414. Servicing Hertford, Harlow, and Enfield.

www.414fencing.co.uk

Andy

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Do I buy the gate and get a man to fit it or is it best to go to a specialist gate place if one exists?

Have you considered a metal one?

 

[Matt42]

I see you are in Herts, try this place they make gates to order and can recommend a person for you:

Fencing and Timber Supplies near Enfield, Harlow, Ware & Hertford. | 414 Fencing - Timber Supplies to Hertfordshire, Essex & London

Premier supplier of Fencing, Sheds and Timber, located conveniently near Ware and Harlow just off the A414. Servicing Hertford, Harlow, and Enfield.

www.414fencing.co.uk

Andy

I'll check it out. It only 5 miles from me. Never knew it existed. Thanks

 

[Matt42]

Have you considered a metal one?

I am now!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I am now!

If you do order a metal one, have it galvanised - it would save you a whole lot of work later, from rust.

 

[JohnD]

If you buy a ready-made gate, it has to be measured to be a really good fit between your gateposts. Especially a metal one, which you won't be able to plane or saw. Some large metal gates have a hinge where the female part is an eyebolt that can be screwed in and out to adjust.

It's best to have them quite a loose fit in case they warp or swell and jam, as will happen in wet weather.

Wooden gates are inclined to sag.

If you are fitting between two walls, such as an alley between houses, they will probably stay upright, but the weight can make posts lean together. There are a few tricks to avoid it.

Hook and band hinges are the most durable, though they are more expensive.

Wooden posts concreted into the ground will rot surprisingly quickly, and it is very difficult to dig the old ones out of concrete.

Some photos and measurements of the situation will tell us more.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Some large metal gates have a hinge where the female part is an eyebolt that can be screwed in and out to adjust.

I hear it is best if the adjustment threads are welded, once set up, to prevent theft in some areas.

It's best to have them quite a loose fit in case they warp or swell and jam, as will happen in wet weather.

Not a problem with well-made steel gates, though inadequate sagging posts can be, with heavy gates.