How to Make a Garden Gate

by AverageJoesJoinery

9.8K6612

Intro: How to Make a Garden Gate

My neighbour asked me to make him a large garden gate. I thought this was a great opportunity to document the process to show you all just how easy it is to make.

I have a video showing the process here:

Materials Used:

Tools Used:

STEP 1: Cut the Timber to Size

I'll start by cutting the horizontal pieces. I'm using CLS which is 89mm x 38mm so cutting it half gives me the desired size. To skip this step, you can get timber that is already around 45mm square size. I wouldn't use any less than 38mm thick though.

I moved the table saw fence to 19mm and started cutting the vertical pieces. Again I'm using CLS but you can get appropriately sized timber to skip this step.

Now its time to cut everything to length. To save time I'm using a mitre saw. A handsaw is all you need though really.

The gate I'm making is 197cm wide. So the 2 horizontal pieces get cut to that length.

The gate is going to be roughly 110cm high so I cut the vertical pieces to 105cm to allow for a gap at the bottom.

STEP 2: Gate Construction

I spaced the horizontal pieces 15cm from the top and bottom of the vertical pieces.

The first vertical piece can then be secured in place with a couple of nails. A nail gun makes it nice and quick but an old fashioned hammer and nails works too.

Adding the piece at the other end helps keep the spacing the same. now its just a case of adding all the pieces until the gate is full. A 38mm gap for mine worked out really well. I used a piece as a spacer to make the process go quicker.

STEP 3: Cut the Curve

To get the curve on the top of the gate I added a screw at either end 10cm away from the top and 2 screws at the top in the centre of the gate. Then something flexible can be bent between them to give a curve to follow. I used a thin piece of wood.

Following a pencil line with the jigsaw gives a nice curve. Again a handsaw can be used for this too because the curve is basically a series of straight cuts.

STEP 4: Finishing Touches

For some added strength I added a diagonal piece and secured it with a couple of screws at both ends.

It then gets nails from the other side too.

To make the fence look more aesthetically pleasing I used a chamfer bit in the router to ease the edges.

STEP 5: Add Hardware & Finish

Because the gate is quite large I added a sprung wheel to the end. This will help support the weight. On smaller gates this isnt needed.

Last thing to add is the hinges. I used 45cm tee hinges. Then gate just needs to be hung in place and its done.

The gate is for my neighbour so the last image was all I was able to get. I hope you give this a go for yourselves.
It's very simple and you can really have a play around with the sizes and shapes up top.

11 Comments

dk31rc 5 years ago

Nice gate. Nice video too - I like how you explain things on your video with colors & dimension labels.

Oberrw 5 years ago

For the non-U.K. folks amoung us, what is "CLS"?

And a suggestion for all Instructible presenters, could you please define any abbreviations you use?

RudyD1 5 years ago

This sites explains that (but yes I had too google it) : http://www.woodbridge.co.uk/cls

CLS (Canadian Lumber Standard)CLS is used primarily in timber frame home construction and for internal and partition walls. The product originated for the Canadian market – hence its name.


The CLS we stock is:

Taken from Spruce (Whitewood).
Graded in accordance with British Standards to either C16 or C24 grade.
Kiln-dried, planed and finished with eased edges.
Imported from a range of countries.


Available Stock Sizes

The following sizes are held in “C16 & Better” grade, with an option on 50 x 100/150 being brought in as “C24” only.

50 x 75 (fin. 38 x 63mm)
50 x 85 (fin. 38 x 75mm)
50 x 100 (fin. 38 x 95mm)
50 x 150 (fin. 38 x 140mm)

The following sizes are held in “C24” grade.

50 x 100 (fin. 38 x 89mm)
50 x 150 (fin. 38 x 140mm)
50 x 200 (fin. 38 x 184mm)
50 x 250 (fin. 38 x 235mm)
47 x 200 (fin. 44 x 194mm)
47 x 225 (fin. 44 x 219mm)

Main lengths for ‘standard’ CLS are 2.4m and 4.8m, though lengths ranging from 2.4m to 6.0m are available.

AverageJoesJoinery 5 years ago

Wow! Thank you so much for the very clear answer! I really appreciate it :)

2419 5 years ago

Danzo you're right on! I've always been amazed at the # of gates whose diagonals were reversed, pushing the loose side down instead of up!

danzo321 5 years ago

Not sure you talked about the direction of the diagonal member but it must run from the lower hinge area up toward the upper outer corner. It is transferring the weight down to the lower hinge.

AverageJoesJoinery 5 years ago

I did forget to mention the reason for the direction of the angled piece unfortunately. I will make an update covering it soon.

Kink Jarfold 5 years ago

What an elegant gate. Your neighbor must've been thrilled! KJ

Penolopy Bulnick 5 years ago

Great looking gate and I love that you colored in some of the images to show what parts you were working on :)