Gate Installation: New Gates Hung on Posts Built to Carry Them

Anyone can hang a gate that works on day one. The test is whether it still latches after a wet winter. That comes down to three things decided before the gate is built: the posts, the frame and the hardware.

QC Fence Contractors installs gates across the Charlotte metro, either as part of a new fence or cut into one that is already standing.

• Single walk gates for side yards, pool areas and service access.
• Double gates wide enough for a riding mower, a trailer or a boat.
• Driveway swing gates in wood on steel frames, aluminum and ornamental steel.
• Sliding and cantilever gates for entrances where a swing gate will not work.
• Chain link gates for yards, kennels, commercial lots and industrial entrances.
• Self-closing, self-latching gates for pool barriers.
• Steel-framed gates for dumpster enclosures.

1. 1. Measure the opening. We confirm the clear width you need, check the ground through the swing arc or along the slide path, and decide the gate type.
2. 2. Set gate posts. Hinge and latch posts are set deeper and in more concrete than fence posts. Wide and heavy gates get larger posts.
3. 3. Let the concrete cure. A gate hung on green concrete pulls its post out of plumb. The posts are given time before the load goes on.
4. 4. Build or fit the gate. Wood gates are built to the opening with a brace or a steel frame. Metal and vinyl gates are fitted and adjusted.
5. 5. Hang and adjust. Hinges are set so the gate swings level and closes on its own weight where that is wanted. The latch is aligned and the gap checked.
6. 6. Add stops and drop rods. Double gates get a drop rod and a ground sleeve so one leaf can be pinned. Wide gates get stops so wind cannot push them past the post.

Think about the largest thing that will ever go through the gate, then add room. A gate that just clears the mower deck will be cursed every week. For a backyard, one walk gate near the driveway and a double gate where a truck or trailer can reach is a layout that works for most lots.

Swing direction matters. A gate should open into the yard, away from sidewalks and driveways, and should not open uphill. On a slope the bottom of a swing gate has to be raised or cut to clear the ground, which leaves a gap when it is closed. If a dog is the reason for the fence, that gap is a problem, and a sliding gate or a repositioned opening may solve it.

Around Charlotte, red clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, and that seasonal movement is hard on gate posts. Deep footings and adjustable hinges allow for it. So does keeping water from pooling at the base of the hinge post.

If the gate may be automated, say so now. Operators need a power feed, a frame stiff enough to be pushed, and posts that will not flex. Building for it at installation costs far less than rebuilding later. See automatic gates.