How to Build Guardian Steel

Gates

• 1

  Measure the width between the gate posts or masonry pilasters at a driveway, walkway or side yard. Deduct 1 inch from the overall measurement to allow clearance for hinges and a latch.

• 2

  Cut two pieces of 1 1/2-inch square steel tubing to your corrected measurement as top and bottom rails with a miter saw and metal cutting blade or hacksaw. Cut two additional pieces of tubing 68 inches long as side rails for a standard 72-inch high gate with extending vertical pickets.

• 3

  Place the top and bottom rails 68 inches apart and parallel on a flat surface. Fit a side rail between the ends of each rail and align the corners. True the four corners with a framing square.

• 4

  Put on welding gear. Weld the corners of the gate frame with TIG or arc welding equipment. Allow the frame to remain in place.

• 5

  Start from one side of the frame and make layout marks every 4 inches across the top rail. Make corresponding marks across the bottom rail. Add up the pairs of corresponding marks to determine the number of pickets for the gate.

• 6

  Cut pieces of 1-inch solid square or twisted steel as pickets. Position the pickets at your marks with the ends of each extending 3 inches beyond the top and bottom rails. Weld the pickets where each intersects at the top and bottom rails.

• 7

  Turn the gate over. Position T-strap gate hinges atop the face of the top and bottom rails and align the hinge-pin barrels with the outer edge of the frame. Weld the straps of each hinge to the top and bottom rails respectively.

• 8

  Position the arm of a gate latch atop the opposite end of the top rail with the arm extending two inches from that side of the gate. Weld the base of the arm to the top rail.

• 9

  Prime the gate and hardware with two coats of spray metallic primer. Finish the gate with two coats of spray epoxy paint. Allow the paint to dry before mounting the gate.

Doors and Windows

• 10

  Establish the width of the door or window guard by measuring the distance between the centers of the trim at each side. Establish the height of a door guard by measuring the vertical distance from the center of the top trim to the threshold. Measure the distance from the centers of the top and bottom trim to establish the height of a window guard.

• 11

  Refer to the width dimension and cut two pieces of 1-inch-square steel tubing this length as top and bottom rails for the frame. Refer to the height dimension and cut two pieces of 1-inch tubing this length as side rails for the frame.

• 12

  Place the side rails parallel on a flat surface at the width of the frame. Position ends of the top and bottom rails against the ends of the side pieces. True the corners with the framing square. Put on welding gear. Weld the corners of the door or window frame with TIG or arc welding equipment.

• 13

  Start from one side of the frame and make layout marks every 8 inches across the top and bottom rails of the frame. Add up the pairs of corresponding marks to determine the number of vertical intermediate bars for the guard.

• 14

  Cut pieces of 1-inch-square tubing that fit between the top and bottom rails at your marks. Weld the ends of the bars at the corresponding marks at the top and bottom rails.

• 15

  Cut a sheet of 1/4-inch stamped metal screening the overall size of a door frame with an electric grinder and metal cutting blade. Weld the screening to the rails of the frame. Weld one side of 3-inch butt hinges near the top and bottom at one side of the frame. Skip this step for a window guard.

• 16

  Prime and paint the guard and screening before mounting the guard at a window or door opening.