Questions for wrought iron style gates.
Before we can make a gate for you there are a number of questions we need to ask. So as to get a better understanding of your requirements. Sadly its long and boring list but helps us get it right. Its one of the reasons we dont have an order function on the website, where you can click and order it..
Is the gate to keep animals in?
We ask this simply to ensure the gaps between upright bars are suitable. A 3 ft wide gate with 5 upright bars, usually ends up with a bar spacing of 120mm. Whilst it would keep a large dog from squeezing out between gaps. Its not going to work for a small dog. In which case we may need to modify the design to ensure smaller gaps. The wider the gate the more bars that are needed.
Does it need to have a lock?
A few choices here the simplest being a padlock.
A hole is drilled through the latch and latch retainer. So that a padlock can be passed through both holes and this stops the latch working, effectively locking the gate. Ultimately I would be asking what size is the padlock. Pointless me drilling a 12mm hole, when a small padlock will be fitted to stop accidental opening, because its to keep children or pets in. Its the diameter of shackle that’s important. The hole drilled in latch and retainer needs to be slightly larger than the shackle diameter. To allow it to be easily passed through, but not so large that it allows the latch to move.
A proper lock designed to be fitted to gates.
We can supply a lock designed for gate use, its not that different from a standard house door lock. It has a handle that allows the gate to be opened and closed. But when the key is turned to locked position, this throws out and extra “pin” which locks the gate in position. These provide better security and lock nicer than a padlock, but obviously come at extra expense.
What is it going to hang on?
Assuming that you don’t need steel posts to hang the gate, we can supply these if you need them.
If its hang on a brick pier or on a brick wall, the wall plates supplied are usually 100mm square. With 4 holes drill close to each corner, holes are 11 or 12 mm diameter, this allows for sensible size masonry fixings.
If its hung on a wooden post, standard hinge plates wont work, as the post its self is more than likely a 100mm square post. In which case we use a smaller fixing plate, as the standard plate has holes to big and to close to the edge so likely to split the timber. Usually an 80mm plate with holes close to the corners, with holes counter sunk for ordinary wood screws or large holes for coach type wood screws.
Consideration of the weight of the gate and what it hangs on, a nice heavy weight 4ft wide 6ft tall gate isn’t going to hang on a 3 inch wooden post.
Which way is it hung.
Because we don’t use reversible hanging mechanism for the latch (they look cheap and nasty), need to know ideally from the outside, on which side the hinges should be and which way it opens in or out. This is just so the latch holder and latch are set the right way.
On low gates, driveway gates, garden gates it doesn’t make much difference but on the taller ones, how high do you want the latch. for most people its just a comfortable height but if the gate is to keep small children in, the latch can be made high enough so that it is out of reach of toddlers,
On driveway gates and estate type gates, double gates, these usually have a drop bolt, to hold one half of the gate in position, then the second half will close to that. Again would need to know which side would be the primary gate (one without drop bolt) and which would be the secondary (one with the drop bolt). Of course you could ask for drop bolts on both if required.
Of course i did say one half, but its not unusual to have an odd split pair. very common where the driveway is the only entrance. Instead of having 2 gates at 6ft wide for a 12ft opening, its possible (design dependant) to have lets say 1 at 8ft wide and 1 at 4ft wide, the smaller being the primary gate. As this would also serve as a pedestrian gate.
Opening clearance
Does the driveway slope upwards, the way the gates are opening. this can sometimes create an issue. Assuming the drive slops upwards, lets say 1 inch per foot, for a 6ft leaf when opened it would need to be hung at least 6 inches off the ground to gain clearance to open. This can be an issue if its to keep pets in as the gap under the gate is going to be 7 inches, just to clear the driveway when open. Normal clearance when hung on a pair of gates is 2- 3 inches. There are several methods around this, which we can discuss if it is an issue.
Are there obstacles in the way when opening (drain pipes common on a single gate down the side of a house) this might require a stop, so that the gate cant smash against anything.
If driveway gates, will they close or open when the car is parked? if not is the solution bi fold gates, A pair of gates that fold in half, meaning a 12ft opening only needs 3ft of clearance to open (can also be a solution to sloped driveway)
I am sure I have missed something off the list, but its why we don’t sell directly over the internet to many questions to ask, to make sure its right