How to Install Wooden Gates
1 Answer
How to Install Wooden Gates
A wooden gate can add a great deal of character to your home and yard. Wooden gates look better than metal gates and are often more secure. Here is a quick guide on how to install wooden gates for your home.
Required Materials
2 x 4s
1 x 6s
Wood glue
Gate hinges
Gate latch
Required Tools
Two and a half inch hex-headed screws
Brad nails
Chop or Table saw
Pocket hole jig
Clamp
Drill
Screwdriver that has a hex-headed attachment
Brad Nail Gun
Instructions:
Measure the dimensions of the opening for the gate and cut your wood to the correct size. The two by fours will be used for the stiles, the rails and the cross braces. You want to make sure to leave about a one inch gap so that there will be enough room for the latch and the hinges to be attached to the fence and the gate itself.
After you have cut your wood to size, set up the two wooden pieces which will be used as the gate’s stiles. For these stile pieces, use a clamp to attach the pocket jig and then make three or four pocket holes in both ends of the stile pieces.
Use the screws and wood glue to connect the first three frame pieces.
Put a diagonal cross brace in the middle of the gate to give it extra support. Make sure that you cut the ends off this brace so that it will make a mitered edge that fits securely where the stiles and the rails meet.
Make two pocket holes into both ends of the cross brace where the bigger angle is formed. Use the screws and wood glue to fix it to the center.
Once you have your cross brace installed, secure the remaining side of the frame.
Since you now have a complete gate frame, cover one side of the frame with vertical wood boards. Obviously this will look the best if the wood you are using for your gate matches the wood of the fence. You might need to cut down the last board to make its edges fit with the edges of the gate’s frame. Each board should be attached to the frame with brad nails. These nails should be about one fourth of an inch apart.
When your gate is finished, it is time to attach it to the gate frame. First screw the hinges to the gate posts and then line-up the gate between the gate posts and attach the hinges to the gate with the screws. This should be an inch or so off of the ground to keep it from being damaged by moisture.
Screw the gate latch to the gate.
A cap can be attached to the top of the gate as a way to preserve the wood. This is easily installed, as all you have to do is cut one of your long planks down to match the gate’s top and then nail it to the top of the gate’s rail.
A wooden gate can add a great deal of character to your home and yard. Wooden gates look better than metal gates and are often more secure. Here is a quick guide on how to install wooden gates for your home.
Required Materials
2 x 4s
1 x 6s
Wood glue
Gate hinges
Gate latch
Required Tools
Two and a half inch hex-headed screws
Brad nails
Chop or Table saw
Pocket hole jig
Clamp
Drill
Screwdriver that has a hex-headed attachment
Brad Nail Gun
Instructions:
Measure the dimensions of the opening for the gate and cut your wood to the correct size. The two by fours will be used for the stiles, the rails and the cross braces. You want to make sure to leave about a one inch gap so that there will be enough room for the latch and the hinges to be attached to the fence and the gate itself.
After you have cut your wood to size, set up the two wooden pieces which will be used as the gate’s stiles. For these stile pieces, use a clamp to attach the pocket jig and then make three or four pocket holes in both ends of the stile pieces.
Use the screws and wood glue to connect the first three frame pieces.
Put a diagonal cross brace in the middle of the gate to give it extra support. Make sure that you cut the ends off this brace so that it will make a mitered edge that fits securely where the stiles and the rails meet.
Make two pocket holes into both ends of the cross brace where the bigger angle is formed. Use the screws and wood glue to fix it to the center.
Once you have your cross brace installed, secure the remaining side of the frame.
Since you now have a complete gate frame, cover one side of the frame with vertical wood boards. Obviously this will look the best if the wood you are using for your gate matches the wood of the fence. You might need to cut down the last board to make its edges fit with the edges of the gate’s frame. Each board should be attached to the frame with brad nails. These nails should be about one fourth of an inch apart.
When your gate is finished, it is time to attach it to the gate frame. First screw the hinges to the gate posts and then line-up the gate between the gate posts and attach the hinges to the gate with the screws. This should be an inch or so off of the ground to keep it from being damaged by moisture.
Screw the gate latch to the gate.
A cap can be attached to the top of the gate as a way to preserve the wood. This is easily installed, as all you have to do is cut one of your long planks down to match the gate’s top and then nail it to the top of the gate’s rail.