How to hang wooden gates
Our knowledgeable staff are always available to give you the information you need when choosing and installing
your gates, posts and fittings. We can also provide a list of recommended professional fencing contractors in the
local area who can fit your gate. However, if you would like to do this yourself, below is a guide on how to do the
job. We hope this helps, but if you require further information please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Before you order your gate you will need to decide the most suitable way for the gate to operate, which will usually
be determined by the location. The images below demonstrate different ways to hang a gate.
A. Single gate hung and closing on the back of the
posts.
Measure the distance between the inside faces of your
posts. Your gate size will then be distance between
posts, plus the overlap on each post. Your gate will
open one way 180°.
B. Single gate hung and closing between posts.
Measure the distance between the inside faces of your
posts, then deduct the clearances required at each post.
Your gate will open in or out 110°.
C. Pair of gates hung on the back of the posts.
Measure the distance between the inside faces of your
posts, then add clearances at each post and a gap
between the gates. With this arrangement gates will
open one way 110°.
D. Pair of gates hung between the posts.
Measure the distance between the inside faces of your
posts, then deduct the clearances required at each post
and also the gap between the gates. With this
arrangement, you gates will open in or out 110°.
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Tools required:
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Drill
10mm flat/spade bit (or any 10mm bit with a spur on the end). Alternatively it is possible to buy a hand
operated auger tool.
4mm twist drill bit (for pre-drilling screw holes)
Hammer
Screwdriver
Spanner or socket set
Level
Pencil
Timber packers/folding wedges
How to hang your wooden gates
If you’ve not yet fitted the hinges to the gates then this should be done first. Please see ‘How to fit your hinges.’
Fitting the Hinges to the Gate Posts
This section assumes you’ll be fitting the hinges to either the front or rear face of the timber gate posts and can be
followed if the hinge pins (gudgeons) are fitted to the posts within the opening; you’ll just have to take into account
the different clearances required and the different positions of the hinge pins in relation to the posts. If you are
fitting the hinge pins directly to brickwork or stonework, then again, you’ll have to adapt this to take into account
the different fixings required. We do recommend however that, if possible, you fit to some kind of wooden post as
this will give a stronger fixing for the hinges.
1) Lift the gate into your opening and decide on the clearance gap underneath. Normally 50mm (2”) is
recommended but you can narrow this down slightly if the ground the surface is flat. Use flat pieces of timber or
wedges to get the desired height. Wedges make it easier to adjust the height.
If hanging a pair of gates and the ground underneath slopes from one side of your opening to the other, start by
fitting the gate on the highest side of the opening and minimize the clearance at this point.
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Setting up a single gate within your opening
Clearance gaps
Pack wedges under the gate to raise
gate off the floor.
Check for level and adjust accordingly
Maintain
clearance
Split clearance gaps between gate and
posts so they are equal and wedge
gate into place.
Slide hinge pin into position through
bottom gate hinge.
Pre drill for screw holes then screw in
place
Wedges
Repeat for top hinge. Turn hinge pin
upside down if required to prevent
gate being lifted off.
If fitting a pair of gates then your clearances are normally 30mm; split 10mm between each gate and gate post and
10mm between the two gates in the centre. PackClearance
or wedgegaps
the gate off the gate post by 10mm. You may need
assistance in holding the gates as you fit the hinge pins.
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01453 810220
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Setting up a pair of gates within your opening, prior to hanging
10mm Clearance gap
When hanging a pair of gates
concentrate on getting one
hung first
Wedges need to be inserted to
lift the gate off the floor
Wedges between the gate and
post also need to be inserted
to allow for the correct
clearance gaps.
This is easier to do with a
willing assistant.
Wedges
3) Once the gate is wedged or packed in place, check the top of the gate for level and double-check that the gate
stile is plumb (vertical upright of the gate frame). If anything is out of level/plumb, adjust wedges/packers
accordingly and re-check .
4) Once you’re happy that the gate is positioned correctly, get the bottom hinge pin and slide it up through the
bottom hinge band until the hinge pin makes contact with the main part of the hinge band. Once in place, mark out
or simply pre drill a couple of screw holes through the hinge plate.
5) Once you’ve pre-drilled the screw holes, put a couple of screws in and tighten then up; again don’t worry about
drilling all the screw holes out at this stage, just do a minimum of two.
6) Fit the top hinge in a similar way. Placing this hinge upside down will prevent the gate from being lifted off.
7) Remove the packers and check for level and plumb. If the gate is not level or plumb, adjust accordingly by repositioning the hinge pin, NOT the hinge (it will stand out a mile!).
Swing the gate open and closed to check that it doesn’t catch on any obstacle such as rising ground that you may
have overlooked.
If hanging a pair of wooden gates, once you’re happy that the first gate is plumb and swinging correctly, move onto
the second gate and pack it off the floor to match the height of the first gate. Place packers between this gate and
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01453 810220
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the gate post and also between this gate and the one that it is already hung.
At this stage, it’s best to drive a wedge under the gate you’ve just hung to stop it swinging while you work.
Setting up the second double gate prior to hanging
Clearance gap
Once the first gate has been
hung, move onto the next
Again this needs to be wedged
off the floor.
To maintain the clearance
gaps wedges need to be
inserted between the post
and gate and also
between the first gate.
Wedges to pack clearance
between gate and post
Wedges to allow clearance
between gates
Wedges to pack gate off
floor
8) If everything is okay, then drill any remaining screw holes within both the hinge pin and hinge band and screw up
tightly.
Any questions or need help? Contact us on
01453 810220
[email protected]