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What you'll need:
TOOLS
Tape measure
Shovel
Pencil
Speed square
Handheld or compound miter saw
Drill
Level
Staple gun
Clamps
SUPPLIES
3 x 50-lb bags of ¾” crushed gravel
3 x 80-lb bags of concrete
1 x 8-ft 3x3” wood post
3 x 6-ft 1x4” wood boards
8 x galvanized wood or deck screws
1 x 3-ft roll of chicken or hog wire
2 x hinges
Gate latch
Garden gates are essential for keeping out unwanted visitors, like pets who dig up your prized begonias or bunnies that eat all your leafy greens before they’ve even finished growing. While you can hire a pro to build a barrier for you, it’s a relatively easy project to do yourself if you don’t mind getting a little dirty—and you can save quite a bit in labor expenses by going the DIY route. Follow the steps below to learn how to build a garden gate with common tools and equipment.
Prepping to Build a Garden Gate
The material you use to build your gate will most likely be determined by what your existing fence is made of. Wood is most common for this type of fence, but you may also have a less expensive wire or chain link fence.
You’ll also need to consider what size you want your gate to be, as this will determine the materials you’ll need. The following guide breaks down how to build a square gate that’s 3 feet wide and does not already have posts in place. Most of the time, you can adjust the size depending on your needs with simple calculations.
Measure and Cut Gate Posts to Proper Dimensions
Photo: seksan Mongkhonkhamsao / Moment / Getty Images
First off, measure the space where the gate will go and be sure to account for the room it needs to swing open and shut.
While the gate itself will be 3 feet tall and wide, the posts will need to be an extra foot long to account for the part that’s buried in the ground.
Use a tape measure and pencil to divide the posts into 4-foot sections. Draw a line where you’ll need to cut.
Place the post on a sturdy surface and cut along the marked line with a hand saw.
Install Posts With Gravel and Concrete
Have a shovel, gravel, and concrete at the ready. Having another person around to hold the gate post steady while you pour in the concrete may also be helpful. If you’re adjusting for size, all you need is a simple formula to determine exactly how much concrete you’ll need for each gate post.
Use a tape measure to determine where to place the posts. There will need to be a half-inch gap between the posts and the gate itself to allow for ample opening and closing space. Use spray paint or tape to mark the ground where you plan to dig.
Dig a 1-foot cubic hole on each side.
Fill each hole with 6 inches of gravel or roughly one and a half bags.
Place the posts into the holes and hold them steady with a weighted material (like a rock or another wood post).
Check that each post is upright and in line with the other with a level.
Prepare concrete according to package instructions.
Fill each post hole with concrete until it reaches the ground line. This will require approximately one and a half bags each.
Allow the concrete to cure completely. Depending on weather conditions, this could take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. Keep the weighted material on top of the posts to prevent them from shifting during curing.
Construct Miter Joints With Wood Boards
While the concrete is drying, you can start constructing the rest of the fence, starting with cutting the wood boards to fit.
Start by cutting 1-by-4-inch wood boards with a hand saw so they are each 3 feet long.
Use a speed square to mark a 45-degree angle on both sides of one board. Repeat with the remaining boards.
Working one at a time, place the wood board on a sturdy surface and use a hand or compound miter saw to cut down the marked line. Repeat until all boards are accounted for.
Lay boards down and arrange the angles to fit neatly together. Use a drill to secure with two deck screws per side. Repeat until all boards are attached.
Cut and Attach Support Board
Photo: AleksandarNakic / E+ / Getty Images
While you can get away with not including this additional board, which will run diagonally along the center of your gate, it adds an extra layer of support that prevents damage in the long run.
Cut the final wood board into 3-foot pieces.
Use a speed square to mark both ends of one of these pieces with two 45-degree angles to create a triangular shape.
Use a hand saw or compound miter saw to cut along marked lines.
Lay the wooden board diagonally across the rest of your gate. From the front, drill in three deck screws per side to secure.
Attach Chicken or Hog Wire With Staple Gun
This is another optional step that will better protect your garden from hungry pests, but you can skip it if you don’t have the time or the budget.
Roll out chicken or hog wire and place it on top of the gate. Cut to remove excess.
Use a staple gun all around the gate's frame to secure wiring.
Place the gate into the opening and lay a heavy object on top of it, like another wood post, to keep everything in place while you install the rest. Use a level to make sure it’s plumb with the posts.
Use a drill to attach the long side of the hinges to the gate post with deck screws.
Attach the remaining gate latch piece to the corresponding post with the same technique.
Test Gate
After you’ve completed the previous steps, the only thing left to do is make sure that the gate functions as it should. Open and close it several times, and engage the latch a few times as well. If everything works properly, you can move on to other DIYs!
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
The cost to hire a pro to install a garden fence with a gate can range from $275 to $2,000 for everything involved—especially if you’re springing for one of many great privacy fence ideas. While this project is a straightforward DIY, it won’t add a ton to your budget if you hire a fence company near you to do it instead, considering the cost of the materials and tools required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which way your garden gate opens mainly comes down to preference. While other types of gates, like one leading from the sidewalk to your property, should swing inward rather than outward to avoid opening into a public space, you don’t have to worry about such an issue in a backyard garden. However, a garden gate that swings inward may still be useful when carrying heavy loads into the space, like a wheelbarrow filled with mulch or heavy wood boards for building new garden beds.
This depends mainly on how well the posts were installed and what type of wood was used to build the gate in the first place. Softwoods have a life expectancy of up to 15 years but can last slightly longer with regular maintenance and waterproofing treatments. By contrast, hardwoods can last up to 30 years with little care, so you may avoid costly replacements by spending a little more upfront.
Proper care and regular maintenance are the secrets to a garden gate's longer lifespan. In general, aim to clean it every few months to remove mold, mildew, moss, or the like. Once a year, you should also treat it with wood oil, as this substance provides UV protection and disguises any warping or erosion that may have already occurred.
Having lived in California, New York, Germany, and now France, Audrey Bruno is no stranger to making a home in strange places. Whether she’s in a studio apartment in a bustling city or a house in the quiet countryside, her years of exploring the world of home improvement inform the way she approaches every space. Her writing covers a vast array of home and lifestyle subjects and has appeared in publications like Domino and SELF.
Having lived in California, New York, Germany, and now France, Audrey Bruno is no stranger to making a home in strange places. Whether she’s in a studio apartment in a bustling city or a house in the quiet countryside, her years of exploring the world of home improvement inform the way she approaches every space. Her writing covers a vast array of home and lifestyle subjects and has appeared in publications like Domino and SELF.
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