Things to Consider When Installing a Gate – A Professional’s Guide

When you’re thinking about installing a fence gate, there’s more to consider than you might expect. We install hundreds of gates each year at Thrive Fencing, and getting it right the first time saves headaches down the road.

The truth is, that a gate is only as good as its installation. As someone who’s seen plenty of gates that don’t work quite right because of installation issues, I can tell you that proper planning makes all the difference. Whether you’re adding a simple garden gate or installing a double gate for your driveway, the same basic principles apply.

Here’s what we look at before we even start digging fence post holes. From choosing the right location to ensuring your measurements are spot-on, these are the things that professional installers think about – and that you should too.

Finding the Right Location for Your Gate

 

Consider the Terrain

The first thing we look for is the flattest spot possible. Here’s a real-world example that shows why this matters: imagine your teenager trying to mow the lawn and drive a riding lawnmower through a gate on a curved or steep slope. Not ideal, right?

Sometimes, you don’t have much choice about location – like when there’s only seven feet between your house and the property line. But when you do have options, flat ground makes everything easier, from installation to everyday use.

Think About Traffic Flow and Landscaping

Most people naturally walk closer to their house, so if you’ve got space between your building and the property line, we usually recommend putting the gate nearer to the house. As Micah Taintor of Thrive Fencing explains, “If there is a lot of space between the building and the property line, generally put the gate closer to the house. Then when somebody walks around, they walk around closer, or we’ll just put it in the middle so aesthetically it looks good.”

When planning your gate location, we also look at:

·       Existing landscaping features

·       Trees and bushes that might affect access

·       Natural pathways people already use

·       Future landscaping plans

Getting Your Gate Size Right

Consider Current and Future Needs

One of the most important decisions is determining the right width for your gate. Here’s what we ask homeowners to think about:

·       What’s going through the gate right now?

·       Push mower or riding mower?

·       Planning to bring in a prefabricated shed?

·       Need space for tree maintenance equipment?

·       Got a large property that needs tractor access?

·       Any future projects that might require wider access?

Sometimes, you want to set the posts so that the opening is wide enough to get what you need through the opening.  Micah notes, “We recently got a contract for a 12-foot double gate. He has a big yard, so he will use bigger equipment back there.”

Planning for Special Equipment

If you need to maintain landscaping features or trees, you might want a double gate so equipment can get in and out easily. If you have a large acreage, you might need to accommodate bigger equipment like tractors. Relatedly, we’ve installed gates as wide as 40’.  Gates that large will typically be a slide (aka cantilever) gate, often operated with an electric operator.  These are more common in commercial applications, but we’ve installed slide gates for homeowners also when they needed a large opening and there wasn’t room to swing the gates.

The Math Matters: Getting Your Measurements Right

Why Exact Measurements Count

At Thrive Fencing, we consider all of the proper measurements prior to installation. Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize—your gate opening needs to be wider than the actual gate. “Let’s say we have a 48-inch gate,” Micah explains, “and our chain link hinges and latch each take up two inches…. we’ll have to have an opening between the gate posts that’s 52 inches.  If ornamental steel fencing, the opening will be 50”. It will be different for wood and vinyl fencing also, as each type of gate will have different hardware with different spacing requirements.”

Custom Sizing Example

We recently had a specific situation where the homeowner needed a custom gate to fit between a bush and a garage. “We might custom build a gate at 37 and a half inches. And if our hinges require three-quarters of an inch, and the latch three-quarters of an inch, that’s an inch and a half of hardware. Thus for our 37 and a half-inch gate, we’ll set our gate posts 38.5 inches apart (inside-to-inside measurement).  If we are setting 3” diameter posts, our “on center” measurement for digging the holes will be 41.5”.

Measuring for Slopes

When dealing with uneven ground, we take extra care with measurements. “If we have a steel gate or a chain link gate,” Micah shares, “we will custom build those to match the slope of the ground. We’ll use a level before to do that. Let’s say it’s a four-foot opening. We’ll take a four-foot gate, put it on the ground, level it, measure, and if it’s a three-inch slope over four feet we’ll fabricate the gate to match.”

Installation Methods and Getting It Right the First Time

Installing Posts and Post Holes in Different Surfaces

When you’re installing a gate across a driveway, you’ve got two main options:

1.     Core Drilling Method:

 

·       Use a special concrete saw to cut through concrete or asphalt

·       Dig down to set posts in concrete footings

·       Provides extremely stable foundation

2.     Surface Mounting Method:

 

·       Uses posts with welded plates on the bottom

·       Secured with concrete anchors

·       Works well when you have:

·       Smooth concrete flatwork

·       Stable base

·       Thick enough concrete

Making Sure Everything Lines Up Before we Assemble the Gate

Gate and Fence Alignment

Getting your gate to line up perfectly and plumb with your fence is important. “Often we’ll build most of the fencing first, then we’ll install the gates, and then we’ll come back and adjust the fencing next to it, just so everything lines up nicely,” Micah explains. The goal? You shouldn’t be able to tell where the gate is when closed – it should look like one seamless fence line.

Getting the Height Right

When it comes to height, several factors come into play:

·       If you’re keeping small pets in, you’ll want the gate as close to the ground as possible

·       For general use, a little clearance makes opening and closing easier

·       Sometimes, you need to adjust for slopes by custom-building gates to match the terrain

Why Post Material Matters

Here’s something we see a lot: gates sagging because they’re hung on wood posts. Even if you start with a perfectly straight wood post, as the pressure-treated chemicals dry out, the post can warp. That’s why even for wood fencing, we use steel gate posts sized according to the gate’s weight and width.

For example, we just helped a homeowner who had to lift her gate off the ground just to get into her backyard because the wood post had warped so badly. Our solution? “We’re going to pull out the wood post,” Micah explains. “She wants us to reuse the gate so then she has a similar weathered look, and we will set a square tube steel post in the ground in concrete and then we’ll screw her existing gate hinges back onto the new square steel post.”

Getting Help with Your Gate Installation

Installing a gate might seem straightforward, but getting all these elements right takes experience:

·       Precise measurements

·       Proper post selection and installation

·       Correct hardware placement

·       Perfect alignment

We’ve installed hundreds of gates across central Iowa, from simple garden gates to complex automated systems. Whether you need help planning your gate installation or want professional installation from start to finish, we’re here to help.

Contact us to talk about your gate project. We’ll make sure you get a gate that works smoothly and looks great for years to come.