Is it possible to build a gate on site and then saw it out?

[Ulf Lidsman]

Hi,
I wonder if you can build the gate in place and then saw it out. What I mean by that is that you (in my case) attach the horizontal slats of the fence and then screw on the frame of the gate, the crossbar, and possibly also the hinges. Then you take the saw and cut out the gate itself. Does that work?

Borrowed a picture from the forum. Imagine that the horizontal slats are whole and I have put in the frame and so on.

 

[Hep]

I don't know if it's right or wrong according to how one "should" do it, but I've tested it and it worked. Admittedly a fence gate that is lower than the one in your picture, but it shouldn't matter.

 

[nimhed]

Hello,
I'm wondering if you can build the gate on site and then cut it out. What I mean by that is (in my case) attaching the horizontal slats of the fence and then screwing on the gate's frame, crossbar, and possibly also the hinges. Then you take the saw and cut out the gate itself. Does this method work?

I borrowed a picture from the forum. Imagine the horizontal slats are whole and I have added the frame etc.


[image]

Should work, but make sure the diagonal brace is under tension before you cut out the gate. If not, I believe it will sag a little.

 

[fribygg]

It should work excellently, I have made simpler doors on site at the caravan garage and they work fine a couple of decades later.

 

[Ulf Lidsman]

Should work, but make sure the diagonal brace is under tension before you cut the gate loose. If not, I think it will settle a bit

How do I ensure it's under tension in the best way?

 

[nimhed]

How do I ensure that it is in tension in the best way?

You start with the rectangle, attach the brace and mark where you should saw it. Then saw it a few millimeters too long, so it has to be forced in.

 

[Ulf Lidsman]

You start with the rectangle, attach the brace and mark where you need to saw it. Then saw it a few millimeters too long, so it has to be forced in.

Great! Thanks.

 

[pacman42]

You don't have to "force it in" if you just saw off one side of the gate (furthest from the hinges) first, then it doesn't take much force at all to get it in since everything can move a little. Or you can insert the diagonal brace after the whole gate is loosened, but then it's a bit harder to get it right, but it's possible (you might as well have manufactured the gate on the side).