Gate Installation in Glemsford

While you are waiting for your gate to be installed

There is usually a gap between deciding you need a new gate and having one fitted. You may be waiting for a survey, a quote, materials to arrive, or a slot in the installation schedule. That gap is worth using well. There are practical things you can do to prepare, and a few things that are genuinely worth leaving alone until a professional is on site.

Haverhill Fencers covers Glemsford and nearby villages, installing timber and metal gates for driveways and gardens and setting posts correctly so the gate works as it should from day one. We also work across Haverhill, Sudbury and Braintree.

Useful things to do before the installer arrives

Preparation on your side makes the installation faster and reduces the chance of surprises on the day.

• Measure the opening accurately. The gap between existing posts or fence ends, measured at the top and the bottom, tells the installer what they are working with. Openings are not always perfectly square, and knowing the actual dimensions helps avoid ordering a gate that does not fit. Measure in millimetres for accuracy.
• Check what is in the ground. If you are having new posts set, think about what might be buried where the posts need to go. Old concrete, hardcore, large stones or tree roots all affect how the job is priced and how long it takes. If you have had previous posts removed, note where the old concrete stump is.
• Think about the direction of swing. Gates can swing inward or outward depending on the space available. A gate that opens inward onto a sloping path may bind on the ground on the far side of the hinge. Think about which way the gate needs to open before the installer arrives, so the hinge side can be set on the correct post.
• Decide on locking requirements. If you want the gate to be lockable, decide whether you need it lockable from one side only or both. Key-lockable latches, padlock eyes, and bolt-through locks are all options, but the correct one needs to be specified before hardware is ordered.
• Consider future automation. Gate automation systems are increasingly common on residential driveways. If you think you might want powered gates at any point, tell the installer before work starts. Posts for automated gates need to be set more substantially, and conduit for cabling needs to go in while the ground is open. Planning for it now costs much less than retrofitting it later.

Securing the gap while you wait

If a gate has failed completely or been removed, you may have an open gap in your boundary while you wait for the replacement. A few options for temporary security:

• A length of timber batten screwed across the opening between existing posts gives a visual deterrent and slows access without permanent fixings.
• A temporary panel hooked or tied between posts keeps animals in or out while full installation is pending.
• A padlocked chain looped around existing posts closes the gap physically without any drilling or fixing that might interfere with the new installation.

Do not fix anything into the positions where new posts are going. If new posts need to go in, the ground in those spots needs to be undisturbed and accessible.

What not to attempt yourself

It is tempting to try a quick fix while waiting, particularly if a gate is hanging loose or a post is leaning. Some things are worth doing yourself, and others will make the final job harder or more expensive.

• Do not try to re-concrete a leaning post yourself. If a post is moving in the ground, the concrete around it has failed. Pouring fresh concrete around an unstable post without first removing the old concrete and cleaning the post base is unlikely to hold, and it creates a bigger excavation job for the installer.
• Do not try to re-hang a heavy gate alone. A standard timber garden gate is manageable, but a heavy close-board gate or a metal driveway gate is awkward to hold at height while fixing hinges. Attempting this solo risks injury and is likely to result in a gate that is not hung square.
• Do not pack under a dropped gate with improvised shims. Wedging timber or stone under a dropped gate to make it latch temporarily puts strain on the hinge fixings and can cause the hinge to pull out of the post entirely. If the gate has dropped, leave it propped open or tied back until the installer visits.
• Do not cut a gate down to size. If an existing gate is slightly too wide or tall for the opening you need it for, do not cut it down yourself. Cutting a timber gate removes the weatherproofing on the cut edge and may compromise a structural rail. A gate that is the wrong size is the wrong gate, and trimming it down rarely produces a satisfactory result.

Can adding a timber side gate improve security?

Yes. An open side passage is one of the most common access points for opportunist intruders because it gives access to the rear of the property without being visible from the front. A solid close-board timber gate at the same height as the fence it sits in, fitted with a key-lockable latch on the inside and a hinge bolt at the base, addresses this directly. While you are waiting for the installation, it is worth confirming with the installer exactly what hardware is being fitted and asking specifically whether the gate will be lockable from both sides if you need it to be.

What gate installation involves and what it costs

Installing a gate properly means setting posts in concrete at the correct depth for the gate weight, hanging the gate on appropriate hinges, fitting and adjusting the latch, and checking the swing and clearance before leaving. A pedestrian gate with new posts is typically a morning's work. A pair of driveway gates takes most of a day. Concrete around new posts should be allowed to cure for at least 24 to 48 hours before the gate is used regularly.

A pair of metal driveway gates with heavy posts and quality hardware will run to £1,500 or more depending on size, ground conditions and the hardware specified. Getting an accurate figure requires a visit to assess the opening and the ground.

What to ask when the installer visits

When someone comes to measure up, a few direct questions are worth asking. Ask what depth the posts will be set to. Ask what hardware they are supplying and whether it is bolt-through or screw-fixed. Ask whether the quote covers any additional excavation if the ground is difficult. And ask them to confirm the direction of swing and the latch type before anything is ordered. A good installer will answer all of these without hesitation.

Get your gate sorted in Glemsford

Call Haverhill Fencers to arrange a visit. We will look at the opening, check the ground, discuss options for the gate and hardware, and give you a clear price before any work begins.