THE BEST WAY TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM IS TO
PURCHASE A GOOD QUALITY GATE...do not buy a
cheap poorly made gate just to save money. You will pay 10
fold in replacement costs and the hassle of replacing it every few
years. Whether issues have risen from being poorly
constructed with thin hollow metal materials or a gate that is
made from an inferior species of wood that deteriorates or
responds poorly to your climate conditions, it is ultimately the
responsibility of the consumer to do the research and make a wise
purchase . All in all....spend the extra money and you will
be glad you did later on. A properly cared for premium
quality gate should last decades instead of years.
Material is a big
consideration when determining quality and how long a gate will
last. Of course the methods of joinery and general crafting
practices are equally important. You can view our gate
material selection area of our website for a wealth of knowledge
about gate materials by selecting the "wood or metal" link to the
left. Regarding the construction of the gate, we also have a
section the goes in depth about the proper construction and
joinery methods that are best for gates. See the "gate
construction" link at the left for more details.
COMMON WOOD GATE
PROBLEMS
Why are there so many
problems with wood gates. It seems like a consumer should
avoid them altogether as you always hear about how high
maintenance they are and all of the problems associated with them.
NOT TRUE...Owning a properly crafted wood gate can be an enjoyable
and rewarding experience. Even with all of the wood look
alike materials out there, they still fall short of owning a solid
beautiful crafted wooden gate. So how do we avoid all of the
problems and maintenance? I cannot say it enough - Rule #1 -
Do not purchase a cheap gate and expect it to last!
Make sure that the gate features robust joinery methods.
Avoid gates that do not have a full outer frame like picket gates
that are unsupported or supported only by cross braces.
These picket gates are notorious for shifting and sagging but are
commonly offered by fence companies because they are cheap and
quick to make. Our recommended gate companies that you will
find on our site offer gates with a full wood support frame.
This frame is actually referred to as the term "stiles" of the
gate. Please see our "gate construction" section for more
in-depth information on the proper construction of a wood gate.
Also wood selection plays a big role on the maintenance, care and
of course longevity of a wooden gate. For example one of our
companies
www.exceptional entrances.com
offers their wood gates made in a wonderful wood far superior to
even Teak wood or Red Cedar. It is called IPE wood
pronounced "E-pay". It is durable in almost any
climate, exhibits minimal checking, is one of the hardest woods
known, and has the highest life span known to wood. This
wonderful Brazilian hard wood is farm grown on sustainable has
allowed homeowners in the most harsh climates to enjoy the beauty
of wood. For more information on wood species, durability,
maintenance and longevity see our material options section called
"Wood or Metal".
Sagging is a common
and problematic condition that is tedious to repair. It is
better to avoid as we discuss here which is prevention of this
problem. We do not get into repair as it may be many unique
issues related to construction, wood species, poor improper
installation and climate that cause this common issue.
Preventing the problem from occurring in the first place is much
easier than fixing it....boy that sounds like something our
parents used to tell us! I also remember something that went
like "own a few nice things rather than allot of stuff and you
will be much happier." OK so I'm on a tangent now but I guess
since I am the writer and you the reader I can I will take the
time to say... our current home owning generation should have
heard that one a little more often...maybe then we would all own
what we could afford and put an importance on quality products
that will last rather than disposable as fast as we can get it
cheap junk. And so the lesson from buying an inferior
product is problems to deal with so lets avoid them altogether by
making a wise decision and purchasing a quality product.
Cracking and Checking
is another common problematic issue. However small checks
and cracks should be expected of any wood as it dries and adjusts
to the climate it is in. This is often referred to as the
"breathing" of the wood. Yes in a sense wood needs to
breath...that is when it is moist it will absorb the moisture and
expand, when it is dry it will lose moisture and contract.
The amount of expansion and contraction a wood exhibits depends on
two important things. One is the species of wood. Some
woods are better than others at tolerating the changing climate
conditions...for outdoor woods you want them to exhibit minimal
"breathing", this will minimize the checking and cracking and
increase the longevity and durability of the gate. The
second issue of course is climate. If you live in on the
coast in a humid or very dry area it will be very important for
you to choose a wood that will fair well in your climate zone.
Many of our gate companies can help you with these decisions.
Also please reference our "material options - wood or metal" for
information on wood species.
Premature Deterioration
can be another issue that can be cause by a poor wood species
selection for your climate or a gate that is made from a wood that
has a very low life expectancy outdoors. See our "material
options" section under wood to see life expectancies of wood,
durability and more each evaluated by common wood species.
This will allow you to choose a gate made from a durable wood and
not fall into the trap of buying a gate that is made cheap because
of the wood used.
Improper Installation
is an often overlooked serious problem. A lack of proper
clearance between hinges and post or latch and post can cause big
issues especially with a wood gate. The gate manufacturer
has taken into account the expansion and contraction of that
specific wood and it is imperative that those tolerances be
followed when installing the gate. Be sure your
contractor or installer has read the manufacturers installation
instructions and follows them explicitly. Be sure your
installer is a reputable contractor and will not do a poor job
"just to get it done" or "just to make it work" (when it
shouldn't). We've seen some really poor jobs of even the
nicest gates. It is hard to believe that a homeowner who has
invested into the purchasing a beautiful gate would allow or
accept such a poor installation from a contractor. If you
are not happy with the job that they have done. Contact the
installer and complain. If they have compromised the product
that they have installed for you...insist on them replacing it and
the cost of having it installed properly. We have
seen homeowners that have had atrocious installations not complain
because the gate itself was nice they thought they could live with
it not quite closing properly or not quite fitting properly
because the installer had measured incorrectly and instead of
taking time to fit it properly rushed "to make it work".
However, this will cause the longevity of the gate and the
function of the gate to be compromised. BE SURE YOUR
INSTALLER DOES A GOOD JOB INSTALLING THE GATE. If you can BE
THERE during the install. That way if you see them cutting
corners you can stop them and ensure they do the job properly.
As a homeowner you should read the installation instructions your
self to ensure the job is being done properly. Our high end
gate companies all included simple instructions on care,
maintenance and installation of their garden gates, fence gates,
yard gates, courtyard gates and driveway gates, house gates,
entrance gates etc...If your installer has questions ensure they
contact the manufacturer to have them answered.
To prevent a wood gate
from sagging, sever checking or cracking and premature
deterioration:
Be sure that it has good
construction joinery (mortise and tenon)
Has a full wood frame
Has good durable hardware
and the hinges have ball bearings
Important - Uses enough
hinges, usually three or more depending on the gate height for a
garden gate and two heavy duty driveway gate hinges for large
driveway gate entrances.
Ensure it is made from
"heart wood" lumber - this is the inside of the tree. Often
the outside lumber in a tree is cheap and does not exhibit the
sought after benefits of that wood species.
A gate is often a high use
area. Let's face it's not just a fence... it is being
physically utilized daily. Not to mention that it is the
focal point and introduction to the area whether inside or outside
the home it is an important reflection of the homes stature and
appeal. It is a wonderful opportunity to create a stunning
impression of an area that is important to your home and family.
COMMON METAL GATE
PROBLEMS
Although made from strong
robust metal, metal gates also have their weaknesses which are
often similar to the wood gates and just as preventable.
Wood Garden
& Fence Gates: Exceptional Entrances has a
stunning collection of hand crafted wood garden and fence
gates. Crafted from 100% solid and durable premium
woods. All hand crafted by thier talented Amish
craftsmen... Browse thier large selection of garden and
walkway gates and you are sure to find the perfect wood or
metal entry gate for your garden or walkway area.
more
ABOUT OUR RECOMMENDED
GATE MANUFACTURERS - All of the
gate companies we feature are companies who specialize in
crafting premium durable gates from the best materials.
They are selected based on customer satisfaction and the
durability and overall quality of product they produce.
For a complete listing
of all the gate, automation and fence companies that meet our
stringent criteria, visit our
featured companies page.
Interested in being a
featured company? Does your
company have what it takes to become one of our featured gate
and fence companies? Let us review your product and
company and you may be on our featured list. You can
obtain a free link from our prominent links page by including
a reciprocal link on your companies website. Email us
for more information.
