How to Build a Garden Gate
Building a gate for your back lawn is a lot easier than you may think and it can save you money if you decide to do it yourself. If it needs to match your current fencing then you need to just match the materials to do so. However it is still a simple process.
Items you will require:
- Tape measure
- Drill
- Three gate hinges with screws
- Gate latch with screws
- Gate boards (one-inch by six-inch)
- Table saw
- Rust proof screws
- 2-inch by 4-inch boards – six
- If you plan to paint or stain the gate you should do that prior to assembling it and putting the hinges on.
- Use the tape and measure your opening. Using two-by-fours cut the two sides of the gate making them 10-inches shorter than the fence posts. Now cut three frame boards 4-inches shorter than the width of the frame. Cut all of the gate boards two-inches shorter than the height of the posts on the fence.
- Lay the two sides of the gate on their 2-inch sides and the top and bottom boards on their 2-inch sides. They should form a box. The two horizontal boards should be between the vertical boards. Where they all come together put two screws into the boards.
- Locate the center of the two side pieces and put a board across the middle (this board is inside the box!) and screw it into position just as you did the two on each end. Measure from corner to corner and if the measurements are the same it is square. If not, pressure it a little until it is.
- Take the last two-by-four and make a brace for the frame. Cut a diagonal 45-degree angle on each end. Place it in each corner of the frame and screw it in position.
- Attach your 1-inch by 6-inch face boards now. They do not extend beyond the width of the frame. However they should overlap top and bottom by four inches. You should put a screw through each face board into the top, bottom and brace board on the frame.
- Using your three gate hinges and screws mount them to the gate at this time. You can put them on to be the inside or outside of the gate. These should be screwed onto the three horizontal boards.
- Leave a 2-inch gap from the face boards to the ground and mount the gate to the fence post. Place your gate latch where you want and you have your new gate.