I am building a double-sided fence, 175cm high, with horizontal slats (45x45) on posts that are 70x70. I want a gate leading out from the property. The opening is 101cm and I want the gate to be as high as the fence. I have bought posts that are 70x45 to build a frame.
1. Should I make an N (i.e., without top and bottom braces) or a Z (i.e., with top and bottom braces)? I am afraid the whole gate will be too heavy when I then have 17 slats on each side.
2. How much smaller should I make the frame than the opening for the gate to be able to open when there are 45x45 slats on the inside? The gate should open outward towards the street.
3. Which hinges should I choose? Electro-galvanized or galvanized? How many and how long? I’m thinking at least 3.
I am including a picture of how it looks so far. There will be an overlying diagonal plank across the fence. I have not decided the thickness. Are there any thoughts on that? I have made the fence in the same model as I have against the neighbor below.
1. Should I make an N (i.e., without top and bottom braces) or a Z (i.e., with top and bottom braces)? I am afraid the whole gate will be too heavy when I then have 17 slats on each side.
2. How much smaller should I make the frame than the opening for the gate to be able to open when there are 45x45 slats on the inside? The gate should open outward towards the street.
3. Which hinges should I choose? Electro-galvanized or galvanized? How many and how long? I’m thinking at least 3.
I am including a picture of how it looks so far. There will be an overlying diagonal plank across the fence. I have not decided the thickness. Are there any thoughts on that? I have made the fence in the same model as I have against the neighbor below.
I actually just made an almost identical gate for a fence. Regarding the width, I first put together the gate with just 2-3 cross beams to test the width (after measuring approximately). Then I finished building it once I confirmed that it opened well. It was about a cm on each side.
My fence had 95x95 posts, but I used narrower (95xsomething) for the frame of the gate to keep the weight down.
I only used a diagonal board in the middle of the gate that I adjusted to make it straight when it was hung. You could certainly have had more for better stability.
I used two hinges.
My fence had 95x95 posts, but I used narrower (95xsomething) for the frame of the gate to keep the weight down.
I only used a diagonal board in the middle of the gate that I adjusted to make it straight when it was hung. You could certainly have had more for better stability.
I used two hinges.
Hello.
For question 1, you should make an N because you want to attach 45x45 in the same way as to the fence. You can't do it on a Z without also filling in the sides. The crucial point is that the brace is positioned correctly. The lower part should be closest to the post where the gate is attached.
For question 2, it depends on which direction you place your 45x70 beam, meaning how wide you want your gate to be. Since you have a 45x45 on each side, it builds 9cm. Then it becomes either 7 cm or 4.5 cm more depending on which direction you set it. It matters because it's the diagonal measurement where the gate is longest that needs to fit in the gate opening. You calculate the diagonal using Pythagoras' theorem. So either the square root of (101x101+13.5x13.5) or the square root of (101x101+16x16). It becomes 101.89 or alternatively 102.259 cm. An alternative is to miter all edges 1 cm shorter on the inside of the gate, so the longest distance is instead the diagonal of the slat outside and the gate's middle beam. So 4.5 + 4.5 or 4.5 + 7 cm, depending on how you place the middle beam. Then it will be the square root of (101x101+9x9) or (101x101+11.5x11.5), which becomes 101.4 or 101.65 cm. I realized that I showed the calculation for how large the hole must be. Just replace 101 with something smaller and see what falls under 101 with a bit of margin. Example: the square root of 99x99+16x16= 100.28, which should be quite suitable if you have 70x45 beam on the widest side. Then the gate should be 99cm wide.
Question 3, unfortunately, I'm not familiar with treatment, I would simply choose the more expensive one to ensure it doesn't rust.
Two brackets should be enough; I have a solid door that is almost as tall and wide, likely much heavier than yours. It has worked well for many years.
Edit: I would probably subtract about 5 mm on each side of the gate since wood is a living material.
+corrected a careless mistake due to typing on mobile.
+added calculations for the width of the gate and not just the hole.
For question 1, you should make an N because you want to attach 45x45 in the same way as to the fence. You can't do it on a Z without also filling in the sides. The crucial point is that the brace is positioned correctly. The lower part should be closest to the post where the gate is attached.
For question 2, it depends on which direction you place your 45x70 beam, meaning how wide you want your gate to be. Since you have a 45x45 on each side, it builds 9cm. Then it becomes either 7 cm or 4.5 cm more depending on which direction you set it. It matters because it's the diagonal measurement where the gate is longest that needs to fit in the gate opening. You calculate the diagonal using Pythagoras' theorem. So either the square root of (101x101+13.5x13.5) or the square root of (101x101+16x16). It becomes 101.89 or alternatively 102.259 cm. An alternative is to miter all edges 1 cm shorter on the inside of the gate, so the longest distance is instead the diagonal of the slat outside and the gate's middle beam. So 4.5 + 4.5 or 4.5 + 7 cm, depending on how you place the middle beam. Then it will be the square root of (101x101+9x9) or (101x101+11.5x11.5), which becomes 101.4 or 101.65 cm. I realized that I showed the calculation for how large the hole must be. Just replace 101 with something smaller and see what falls under 101 with a bit of margin. Example: the square root of 99x99+16x16= 100.28, which should be quite suitable if you have 70x45 beam on the widest side. Then the gate should be 99cm wide.
Question 3, unfortunately, I'm not familiar with treatment, I would simply choose the more expensive one to ensure it doesn't rust.
Two brackets should be enough; I have a solid door that is almost as tall and wide, likely much heavier than yours. It has worked well for many years.
Edit: I would probably subtract about 5 mm on each side of the gate since wood is a living material.
+corrected a careless mistake due to typing on mobile.
+added calculations for the width of the gate and not just the hole.
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