Deck Gate

[ctuser1]

Yay! I'm back with another question.

Background:
My deck was rotting apart when I first purchased the house. It is a large deck - 500+ sq ft. and is very frequently used by the kids and DW.

I've got all the deck boards replaced since then. The railings are still the old, almost rotted away ones. I have made sure that the structural elements of the railings are properly secured - but beyond that the top wood board on the railings, including that of the deck gate - are almost completely rotted.

I will need to tackle the railing someday. However, that is not my immediate question.

Immediate Question:
The deck gate finally gave way, with some help from the roofers who was here day before. I need to either repair the wood gate, or replace it with some other variety of gate with a locking mechanism.

I would prefer some lighter material for gate. The cross framed wood gate was super-heavy (built with 4X4 lumber - same as the deck posts it attached to), difficult to maneuver, and was basically doing a number on the hinges because of it's weight.

Can you please recommend some deck gate that would attach to wood posts, will not look awful against wood railings, and would be cheap and easy to do?

[lthenderson]

Can you please recommend some deck gate that would attach to wood posts, will not look awful against wood railings, and would be cheap and easy to do?

One that you build yourself out of treated lumber that matches the style of your deck.

[Rural]

Ours is a chain link walk gate. We have another homemade from treated lumber at a less used exit, but the chain link is lighter and easier to handle on a regular basis.

[J Boogie]

I'd consider a lower gauge material for the gate hardware. Beef that up and make sure its fastened beefily as well.

For the gate 4x4 lumber makes no sense. 2x material for the battens offers the strength you need without extra weight offering minor if any benefit like 4x material.

Personally I'd use cedar because I like cedar but PT is fine if you're not a cedarphile like me.

And then just build a vertical 1x panel gate with top, bottom, and middle cross battens. Then add two diagonal battens, one above the middle batten and one below. These will transfer the load from the latch side of the gate back to the hinge side of the gate to reduce saggage.

Two fasteners on each batten-to-panel connection so that the gate keeps its shape. Using only one fastener will allow it to articulate and get out of square.

I'd go with 2x6 or 2x8 for the diagonal supports and 2x4 or 2x6 for the cross battens.

[lthenderson]

Personally I'd use cedar because I like cedar but PT is fine if you're not a cedarphile like me.

I guess I'm a cedarphile too. It always surprises me when someone asks where I get the nice cedar. Turns out, they are always looking for it in the shrink wrapped section of their home improvement store which is high priced and only 3/4" thick, if it is carried at all. I always go to the deck planking area in the outside storage areas and grab their 5/4 planks which are finished at 1" thick and a fraction of the price. The only caution is that they usually have significant amounts of moisture in them so if it is something critical, I buy the cedar in advance and let it air dry for awhile before building with it.

[ctuser1]

Follow up question: What kind of tools do I need for this DIY project?

I'm thinking of plopping down a few hundred bucks on these two:
1. https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-Dual-Bevel-Sliding-Compound-Miter-Saw-with-LED-Laser-Guide-64686.html
2. https://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-mobile-miter-saw-stand-62750.html

And of course the hardware:
1. Heavy duty hinges (so that they don't sag, like the last time)
2. lock hardware.

I already have a bunch of 3" and 2.5" screws left over from the deck board project. I don't have a "great" impact driver, but my old trusted drill would likely get me through this gate project.

Comments? Any further guidance?

[ctuser1]

I'd consider a lower gauge material for the gate hardware. Beef that up and make sure its fastened beefily as well.

For the gate 4x4 lumber makes no sense. 2x material for the battens offers the strength you need without extra weight offering minor if any benefit like 4x material.

Personally I'd use cedar because I like cedar but PT is fine if you're not a cedarphile like me.

And then just build a vertical 1x panel gate with top, bottom, and middle cross battens. Then add two diagonal battens, one above the middle batten and one below. These will transfer the load from the latch side of the gate back to the hinge side of the gate to reduce saggage.

Two fasteners on each batten-to-panel connection so that the gate keeps its shape. Using only one fastener will allow it to articulate and get out of square.

I'd go with 2x6 or 2x8 for the diagonal supports and 2x4 or 2x6 for the cross battens.

Thanks.

Would you happen to have any pinterest picture link or something that will help me visualize this? I am a total novice in woodworking - so having difficulty in mentally picturing this.

[SunnyDays]

Home Depot has aluminum gates for decks.  They're light but sturdy (I've had a fence gate of the same material, I think Veranda brand, for years and it's still in perfect condition).  They connect to wood posts and are relatively inexpensive.

[ctuser1]

Home Depot has aluminum gates for decks.  They're light but sturdy (I've had a fence gate of the same material, I think Veranda brand, for years and it's still in perfect condition).  They connect to wood posts and are relatively inexpensive.

DW shot down the aluminum gate idea for aesthetics.

I had a gate shipped from home depot. When she saw how it will look against the deck (it's a large deck where DW and kids spend a lot of time), she shot it down. The issue is not just the color. The aluminum will not sit flush with the rest of the railing, and look odd. So I just returned the aluminum gate.

I'm back to the wood gate after that.

[SunnyDays]

To each his own, I guess.  I quite like the look of my gate set against the wood fence.
You could also do a wood frame with a lattice panel inset (wood or vinyl) to make it lighter.