When you plan a new fence, the gate is not an add-on. It is the moving part that gets used every day and it decides how the whole run feels. In this guide I will walk you through the choices so your gate looks right, works well, and lasts. If you want a quick overview of local options for supply and fitting, start with our page on fencing near me.
Why your gate choice matters
A good fence with a poor gate still lets you down. A poor fence with a well made gate looks odd. The right match is about the frame, the infill, the height, the fixings, and the finish. It is also about how the gate meets the post and how the latch works in your hand. I have fitted and repaired thousands of gates as a fencing contractor. What follows is the simple process I use on site.
Start with the basics: purpose, people, and space
Before style, think about how the gate will be used. Who uses it, how often, and what for. A side gate for bins needs width and easy swing. A front garden gate needs a latch you can use with one hand while holding a bag. A driveway gate needs ground clearance for rain run-off and cars with low spoilers. If you have pets or children, gaps and clearances must be tight. These points guide your choice more than the brochure shots ever will.
- Purpose: access, privacy, security, or all three
- Users: children, older relatives, delivery drivers, pets
- Space: opening width, swing room, slope, nearby walls or steps
This simple checklist avoids most headaches later. It also helps if you are weighing up quotes from fencing companies near me or a fence company near me and want to compare like for like.
Matching styles: keep lines and proportions consistent
Panels and boards
Look at the fence pattern. If you have featheredge boards, use the same on the gate to keep a continuous line. If the fence is slatted, repeat the slat depth and gap on the gate. If the fence is a framed panel, specify a framed gate with rails that line up with the panel rails. When the eye sees one rhythm, the garden looks tidy.
Rails and caps
Match the top details. If the fence has a level top with a capping rail, the gate wants a level top with the same cap size. If the fence is convex or concave, let the gate echo that sweep. Avoid a fancy arch on the gate if your fence is square and simple. Clean and consistent lines age better and make future fence repair near me easier because parts and offcuts match.
Posts and hinges
Gate posts take more load than fence posts. Use larger sections and deeper footings. If the fence uses 100 mm timber posts, step the gate posts up to 125 mm or use steel box posts. Hinge choice depends on size and weight. For small garden gates, T-hinges work. For heavy featheredge or composite infill, use cranked hook and band hinges with adjustable eyebolts. Adjustable gear lets you fine tune the hang as timber moves through the seasons.
Materials that work in the UK climate
Pressure-treated softwood
Cost-effective and familiar. It blends with most gardens and panels. Use Class 4 posts and fixings that resist corrosion. Seal cut ends with end-grain preservative. Expect natural movement. Design with that in mind.
Hardwood
Durable and strong with a tighter grain. It carries weight well and holds fixings. It costs more and needs oiling if you want a stable colour. Left to weather, it silvers. Use stainless fixings.
Steel and aluminium frames
Metal frames take the strain off the infill. Powder-coated aluminium is light and stable. Steel feels solid and suits security gates. Combine with timber or composite boards for a warm face. Metal frames make automation neat because they hold motors and brackets square.
Composite infill
Composite boards give a uniform look and low upkeep. They do not swell like timber, but they expand in heat. Use the correct gaps and fixings. Composite fencing cost depends on board profile, frame choice, and hardware. On gates, the frame is the big cost driver.
Security that does not shout
You can make a gate secure without turning it into a fortress. The main points are height, line of sight, and the latch.
- Height and climb points: Aim for 1.8 m where allowed. Avoid horizontal rails on the outside. Cap posts so water and hands do not sit on top.
- Latch and lock: For garden use, choose a latch you can use with gloves. For higher security, add a key lock or long throw lock through the stile into a keep on the post.
- Hinge protection: On outward opening gates, use cranked hinges with fixings that face inside. Add a hinge bolt or a simple coach bolt through the stile and post to keep the gate on if the hinge screws fail.
- Ground stops and drop bolts: A drop bolt into a paved recess prevents forced opening and protects motors on automated sets.
These simple details are what experienced fencing contractors near me will point out at a survey. They cost little and give peace of mind.
Privacy and airflow
Solid gates give privacy but catch wind. Slatted gates move air and reduce pressure on posts. On exposed plots, consider semi-solid layouts such as hit and miss. These let wind bleed through while still screening the view. On narrow paths, a semi-solid gate feels less oppressive and dries faster after rain.
Getting the swing right
Inward or outward opening
Inward opening is common for gardens. It keeps the public side flush and hinges out of reach. On tight paths or where steps block the swing, outward opening may be best. Check that the swing does not cross a highway or footpath.
Left hand or right hand
Stand on the side you will approach most often. Which hand will you use to lift the latch. Which side gives a clear sight line when you open it. Choose the hinge side that supports that habit. It is easier to set this now than swap later.
Ground levels and clearances
Leave 25 to 50 mm under the gate, more if the drive rises. On gravel, a small steel rut plate under the swing path stops scuffing. On patios, allow for frost heave. A little clearance and a neat drop seal looks better than a gate that scrapes after the first winter.
Hardware: what lasts and what fails
- Hinges: Choose galvanised or stainless. Go up a size if in doubt. Adjustable hook and band hinges make life easier for installers and owners.
- Latches: Ring latches suit most timber gates. Neat and robust. For side paths, a thumb latch is fine. For shared access, use a long throw lock with euro cylinder so you can change keys without changing the case.
- Bolts and keeps: A long drop bolt stops chatter in wind and shares the load on wide double gates. Fit a ground keep so the bolt locates cleanly.
- Fixings: Use exterior screws or coach bolts. Pre-drill hardwood. Wax screws for less split risk. Stainless near the sea.
The most common failures I see as a fencing contractor near me are under-sized hinges, cheap latches, and no allowance for timber movement. Good gear and a little tolerance solve all three.
Finish and upkeep
Paint looks smart on day one but needs repeat coats. Stain soaks in and is easier to refresh. Oil on hardwood keeps colour but needs top-ups. Whatever you choose, coat before fitting where possible. Pay attention to the bottom edges and cut ends. That is where water sits and where rot starts. On composite infill, clean with mild soap and water. Avoid pressure washing at close range.
Driveway gates: swing or slide
Swing gates
Simple and classic. Inward swing looks tidy on the street side. Swing needs clear space. On slopes, swing uphill can be a problem. You can rake the bottom rail, but ground may still foul. In that case, consider a split pair with unequal leaves or a sliding gate.
Sliding gates
A single leaf that runs on a track or cantilever frame. Good for short drives or slopes. Needs run-back space along the fence. Tracks collect leaves, so plan for cleaning. Cantilever gates avoid a track but need larger posts and concrete. For security and automation, sliders perform well.
Automation that earns its keep
Automated gates help when you drive in and out often, when you need secure closure every time, or when access needs to be controlled. A simple setup has a motor, control panel, safety devices, and access controls.
Motor types
- Underground motors for swing gates hide the gear and protect it from knocks. They need good drainage.
- Articulated arm motors mount on posts. They suit most retrofits and do not need digging.
- Linear ram motors are tidy on steel or aluminium frames with strong hinge points.
- Sliding gate operators drive a toothed rack. They are reliable in wind and on slopes if the run-back space exists.
Safety that is not optional
Fit photocells to stop closing on a person or car. Use obstacle detection built into the motors. On sliding gates, fit safety edges to the leading edge and any pinch points. Add a flashing light to warn when the gate moves. Keep manual release keys in a known spot for power cuts.
Access control
Keypads with changeable codes suit family use. Fobs and tags suit small offices and flats. Intercoms let you speak to visitors. GSM units open from your phone. Smart modules integrate with apps. For deliveries, set timed hold open periods. For trades, set temporary codes.
How to choose a gate that fits your fence and your life
Follow this step-by-step plan. It is the same plan I use when I survey for fence installation near me jobs.
- Measure the opening
Note post face to post face, and the height from ground to top of the fence. Check for plumb posts. If they lean, fix or replace them before you hang a new gate. - Decide the swing and hand
Stand in the most used approach and imagine the swing. Check for bins, steps, plants, and cars. Make sure the swing arc is clear. - Pick a frame
Timber for a warm look. Steel or aluminium for stiffness and clean automation. Choose the section size for the span. Wider gates need deeper rails. - Match the infill
Repeat the fence pattern. Featheredge with featheredge. Slats with slats. Composite boards for low care. Keep the lines level with the fence rails. - Select hardware
Hinges one size up from what you think you need. An easy latch that suits how you live. A drop bolt if the leaf is wide or if you have two leaves. - Think security and privacy
Height within local rules. No outside footholds. A lock where needed. A viewer panel or grille if you want to see callers. - Plan the finish
Stain or paint before fitting. Treat cut ends. Fit caps. Seal gaps where water might sit. - Consider automation
If you open and close several times a day, automation saves time and keeps the gate shut. Plan power and control cable routes before you pour posts or lay tracks.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Sagging leaves: Use proper bracing. A Z-brace in timber gates puts the load to the hinge side. On long spans, use metal frames.
- Binding on the floor: Allow for rise in winter and gravel build-up. Keep a neat ground stop to control the close point.
- Latches that stick: Align the keep after the gate settles. Use adjustable keeps. Oil the spindle once a year.
- Wind rattle: Fit a rubber stop or a gravity latch with a firm catch. Add a drop bolt where the span is wide.
- Finish fails at year one: Missed end grain or unsealed cut ends. Sand, seal, and coat before fitting.
How the gate affects the whole fence run
A heavy gate on skinny posts will pull them out of line and strain rails near the gate. Plan gate posts first and size the rest of the run to match. On longer runs, put expansion joints in slatted privacy fences to handle seasonal movement. On slopes, keep panel steps neat and plan the gate to hit one of those step levels cleanly. If a future shed or extension will change the path, place posts now to suit that future line. This is where an experienced eye helps. It is also where good fencers near me tend to stand out. They plan for next year as well as today.
Costs in plain terms
People often ask about composite fencing cost or what a new gate might cost. The frame material, span, and hardware decide most of it. Timber frames with featheredge infill cost less than metal frames with composite boards. Automation costs more up front but gives daily ease. If you plan a full garden job, price the gate with the fence so posts, rails, and finish all match. That tends to give better value than piecemeal work.
Repairs: what can be saved and what to replace
Loose hinges, worn latches, and small splits are repair jobs. Rotten posts, twisted frames, and severe sag often mean replace. If you search for fence repair near me you will see many photos of patched gates that should have been replaced. Timber that has lost section to rot will not hold a screw for long. A neat new gate on solid posts is often cheaper over five years than a cycle of fixes.
Planning, neighbours, and simple rules of thumb
Talk to neighbours early if the gate is on a shared line. Agree latch height and swing direction. Keep the style sympathetic to the street. In many gardens up to 2 m height is common for rear boundaries, and 1 m near a highway. Local rules vary, so ask before you build if you are in doubt. Keep the latch at a height that children cannot open from the public side. If you back onto a path, avoid outward swing. These are basic points, yet they stop most disputes.
Sustainability and long life
Use treated timber from certified sources. Choose galvanised or stainless hardware so you are not replacing rusty parts next year. Plan footings so water drains away from posts. Add pea gravel at the base to shed splash. Keep plants from growing into hinge knuckles and keeps. A little care gives a long service life.
When to call a professional
DIY works for light gates on square posts. Call a pro if the opening is wide, the site is sloped, or you want automation. Call a pro if you need a steel frame or if the gate forms part of a security fence near a public area. Time-served fencing contractors bring jigs, levels, and stock that make a clean job. If you are vetting fencing contractors near me, look for photos of gates that align with fences, clean latch sight lines, and neat keeps. Ask how they brace a large leaf, what hinges they use, and how they seal cut ends. Simple questions show real practice.
Real-world matches that work
- Featheredge fence + featheredge gate on steel frame: warm look outside, hidden stiffness inside, good for windy spots
- Hit and miss fence + semi-solid gate on timber frame: privacy without wind load, light to use
- Contemporary slatted fence + aluminium frame with timber slats: sharp lines, low upkeep, easy automation later
- Picket fence + picket gate with self-closing hinge: family-friendly front garden, pets kept in, easy access
Each pair keeps style and proportion in step with use and exposure.
Simple maintenance plan
- Spring: wash down, check fixings, oil the latch, trim plants away
- Summer: spot coat sun-exposed faces if needed, tighten hinge bolts
- Autumn: clear leaves from tracks, check ground stops, test any motors and batteries
- Winter: watch for freeze lift near posts, keep snow and mud off lower rails
These small tasks extend life and keep the action smooth. They also help you spot issues early so repairs stay minor.
Final checks before you order
Measure twice. Decide swing and hand. Choose a frame that suits the span. Match the infill to the fence. Pick strong hinges and a latch that fits how you live. Plan for privacy, safety, and wind. Choose a finish you will keep up. If you want help, see our service pages or book a visit. A short survey saves time, money, and effort. For gate-specific detail, see our page on gates.
Where we work and how to fit this into a bigger project
If you are planning a new run in Leeds and you want a clear view of local options, our page on Fencing Leeds gives a useful overview of styles and fit-outs that suit the area. A gate that feels right every day starts with a fence line that is square, posts that are sized for the load, and hardware that suits the span. Whether you ask three quotes from fencing contractors or call one trusted fencing contractor near me, use this checklist to set the brief. That way every quote includes the same details and you can compare with confidence.
Key terms used in context
Many readers search with phrases like fencing companies near me, fencers near me, fence installation, fencing contractor, or fence installation near me. Others look for fencing services or a fence company near me and need a fast start on price and lead time. If that is you, write down the opening size, the fence type, and the swing you want. Decide on latch type and finish. With those details, any contractor can give a clear quote that stands up on site.
The calm approach to a better gate
Good gates are simple and strong. They line up with the fence, they swing clear, they latch with a solid clunk, and they look part of the whole. If you follow the steps here you will make smart choices without fuss. If you want a hand, start with a local search or speak to a contractor who fits gates and fences every week. The right advice at the start is the cheapest part of the job. And if the gate is part of a bigger change to your garden or drive, plan it with the fence as one job so you get a neat, lasting result.