Summer Project Part 2 ... Engineering the Gate by auntietk
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Description
We needed a return panel at the end of the fence in order to block the view from the street. We couldn't just put a panel in with a post, because we need to move the motorhome in and out. A gate seemed to be the best option.
Our design called for the gate to be free swinging, but it's the same size as one of the fence panels ... five feet high and six feet wide ... which means it had the potential to sag in a really big way, and perhaps even pull down the fence after a few years.
I did a bunch of research (that means I got on line and looked at pictures) and decided a wheel was just the ticket! Of course the wheel needed a little "road" to run on so the gate moves as smoothly as possible. (If you ever want something over-engineered, just give us a call!)
There's about an eight-inch length of PVC pipe buried in the ground at each end of the swing, into which a cane bolt drops. The theory is that the gate won't swing in the wind, and we can secure it in its L position, blocking the view from the street, or in its fully open position, making it look like one more fence panel.
The gate sits on drop hinges on the end post, so if we need to, we can remove the entire thing without disassembling the hardware. At the free end of the gate we put a little section of 4x4 at the top with a post cap so it would match the fence and look like there really was a post there.
Bill did a great job designing the actual gate, and you can't see the cross pieces of the frame at all. (There are three ... top, middle and bottom.) I'm impressed all over again just looking at the pictures! :)
Next summer when we get back, we'll take out that strip of grass and finish graveling the driveway.
So there you go! That's what we did this summer!
:)
Zoom! It's so much more fun, and you can see everything better.
Comments (18)
wysiwig
Ok, so paint the fence, build the gate, when do we get to the 'wax on, wax off' part? This looks really nice in zoom mode and the wheel is an inspired addition. Keep at it and you'll have a whole house in no time.
jayfar
A first class job Tara and I hope the drop hinges are lockable !!
durleybeachbum
That is extremely impressive! The pretend post is a master stroke, how very clever!
Faemike55
Very cool looking gate you two did a great job
Juliette.Gribnau
superb composition/collage
Adobe_One_Kenobi
Nifty work you two :)
FredNunes
Very well done! :)
kgb224
Amazing work Tara. God bless.
Wolfenshire
A masterful work of handymanness. (yes, that's a word, I say so)
bobrgallegos
Great work on both the fence and gate as well as this collage of photo's!!
Krittermom
So, I have been thinking that I need to build another cage. I could use some of that engineering! I love people that can use logic and common sense to build something. This is impressive and beautifully built. Do you hire out? I can't pay much but the raccoon hugs and kisses are free. 😀
RodS
OK - next time I need to put in a fence with a gate across the driveway, I'm calling you and Bill! You just made Lowe's look like a bunch of rookies! See, now you've got me thinking..... We're constantly fighting the west side of the wide gate across the driveway - it does tend to sag. We've adjusted it many times, and it works for a while, then sags again. I'd thought about putting a wheel on it, but haven't yet. Now you've inspired me... LOL Seriously, I don't think a professional fencing contractor could have done a better job - and it would have cost an arm and a leg.
MrsRatbag
Ooh, I love these kind of projects. I'm REALLY good at directing them and figuring out how they should be done, and not so good at the hands-on part anymore, unfortunately. I just spent a lot of time pitchforking the soil in my little rose garden to plant tulips in, and that's as far as I got. The soil amendment is in a bag along with the mulch and the chicken wire (to keep the squirrels out of the bulbs) and the edging to contain the increased height of the bed after all the work. At this rate it will be spring before those tulips get planted, and that will be too late :{ I need a strong young man to spend 30 minutes doing it for me, I guess I'm way more old and out of shape than I thought I would be! You guys ROCK with all your home projects!
moochagoo
Love your summer project.
jocko500
look like you doing a lot of work
photosynthesis
Very clever, well thought out design & what looks like very skillful construction. If it was me, I probably would have jury-rigged a Rube Goldberg type device that would have fallen apart at the first gust of wind. Which is why I hire talented people to build things like this - it gets done right & it's also my way of stimulating the local economy...
debbielove
So this is what Bill has been building this Summer, well done you two lol Rob
kenmo
Very, very nice....