We had a new back fence built some time ago. I had built a few too many fences myself, so we decided to get someone in who was a bit more motivated. He did a great job, but I still needed to build a gate. I needed something 4' wide, and wanted something with good visibility and decent strength. I got the inspiration* for this design from a fence I had seen a number of years ago. The wood frame is pretty simple and incorporates metal reinforcing in the corners to hopefully reduce the amount of the inevitable sag. A latch with a floating receptacle should also help reduce the number of times things need to be readjusted. The wood is just treated 1x5 pickets, edge-laminated, and then cut out in the shape shown.
2023 Update: After 17 or 18 years, the gate tends to bind in the winter (and the wood is perhaps a bit less pristine-looking than in 2005). I'd previously adjusted the hinges a couple times but the posts have both twisted which complicates things. This time I decided to spread the posts using an arch. I made the arch by cutting out and laminating two layers of 5/4" treated fence boards with treated cap and bottom. It spread the posts about 1/4" which gave about 1/8" of gate clearance.
| Material: | Treated 1x5 Spruce |
| Finish: | None |
| Size: | 48" x 48" |
| Done: | September, 2005 |
*inspired = blatant copy
