The hardest-working part of a fence
Gates move every day, carry their own weight, and fail first. Planning the opening before the fence goes up costs less than moving it later.
Types of gates
- Walk gates for side yards and yard access.
- Double drive gates for trailers, mowers and vehicles.
- Custom or matching gates that mirror the fence style.
What makes a gate last
A solid gate post is the key. A post that is too shallow, or set in poor soil, lets the gate sag and drag. In rocky Hill Country ground, ask how the gate posts will be anchored. Heavy-duty hinges and diagonal bracing in the frame also help. A wide gate in a wood frame is heavy, so ask whether the crew uses a steel frame or an adjustable hinge set.
Plan the opening
Measure what needs to pass through, such as a mower, trailer or wheelchair, then add clearance for hinges and latch hardware. Decide which way it swings and whether it will open onto a slope, driveway or flower bed.
Pool gates
If the fence surrounds a pool, the gate is part of the pool barrier. The City of New Braunfels lists the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code among its adopted codes (City building safety page), and that code is where barrier and gate requirements for pools sit. Tell the installer up front that the fence is a pool barrier, and ask what the City requires for gate swing and latch hardware before you buy.
Drive gates, HOAs and easements
For driveway gates, Texas Property Code § 202.023 lets many HOAs require a driveway gate to be set back at least 10 feet from the right-of-way where the driveway meets a laned roadway (statute). Separately, the City’s October 2023 draft Land Development Ordinance would require a gate or removable panel on a fence in a public easement so the easement can be reached for maintenance, and would bar fences in drainage easements altogether (draft section 4.4.2). It is still a draft (LDO project page), but it shows what to check: look at your plat for easements before you place a gate.
Gate questions for your installer
- How deep and wide is the gate post footing?
- Is there a drop rod or stop to protect double gates from wind?
- What latch is used, and can it be locked?
- Is the gate covered by the same warranty as the fence?
See also fence repair if an existing gate sags, and installation for the wider job.
Hardware that holds up
Hardware is where small savings turn into big headaches. Look for hinges rated for the weight of the gate, a latch you can operate from both sides if you need that, and fasteners that will not stain or corrode in a wet spring. On a double gate, one leaf is usually the working leaf and the other is pinned shut with a drop rod into the ground; set that rod in solid footing, not loose soil, or the pinned leaf moves with every gust.
Sagging and dragging
A sagging gate is almost always one of three things: a leaning post, too little bracing, or hinges that are too light. A diagonal brace running from the bottom hinge side up to the top latch side keeps the frame square. Anti-sag kits and adjustable hinge sets can extend the life of an older gate, but if the gate post itself has moved, the post must be reset first. See fence repair for how to tell.
Access for contractors and utilities
Think about who else needs to get in: a landscaper with a mower, a pool service, a delivery crew, a meter reader. Gate width, the ground just outside it and the direction of swing all affect how often the gate gets used and abused. If your plat shows an easement along the back or side of your lot, put the access question to your installer before you place the gate.
Gate size: how wide is wide enough?
Walk gates are usually sized for a person and a wheelbarrow, while drive gates are sized for a vehicle or trailer. Measure the widest thing you will ever move through, then add room on each side. Many homeowners wish they had gone a few inches wider after the first time a mower catches the post. Tell the installer about any equipment, and have them confirm the clear opening, not just the gate width, since hinges and latch hardware take space.
Matching the gate to the fence
A gate that matches the fence blends in, but a gate needs more framing than a section of pickets because it must support itself. Ask whether the gate will be framed with a heavier material than the fence and whether it will be stained with the fence so it does not stand out. On a cedar fence, ask how the gate is framed to resist twisting. On a pine fence, ask how it will be treated at the bottom edge, where gates take the most wear.