How
to Build Wooden Gates - Instructions
Wooden
gates are not rocket science, however how to build wooden gates so that
they work for a long time requires some basic elements.
The
headpiece will prevent the post carrying the hinge side of the
gate, (carrying the weight), from leaning.
Leave
a 1” space for clearance on the swing side of the gate. If you
look at an interior door you’ll find that it has a bevel to allow the
door to
swing past the frame. Building this bevel is impractical for a
gate—thus we
leave clearance.
The
gate brace is required to prevent the wooden gates from sagging out of
square.
However the brace will only work under compression. Place the brace
supporting
upwards from the hinge to the swing side of the gate. If you install it
backwards you’ll just be pulling the wood off the nails.
Always
leave a couple of inches clearances under your wooden gates so that it
won’t drag on the ground.
You can use screws or nails to fasten the parts
together, however they should be secure connections so use the right
screws or nails for the job. Nails have higher shear strength, and
screws have more holding power.