How to Build a 4' Wide 6' High Cedar Gate

Cut a 1-by-1 inch notch down one side of the four pieces of cedar measuring 2 by 4 inches. These four pieces will form the frame of your gate, and the planks that form the face of the gate will be fitted inside the notches. You can cut this notch using a table saw. If you have a dado blade for the table saw, it will make the job easier and faster.

Lay the seven pieces of 6-by-66-inch cedar on flat ground so they form a rectangle measuring 42 by 66 inches.

Fit the ends of the seven pieces of cedar into the notches on the two pieces of 40-inch-long cedar. Center these two pieces so that the outside inch of the two end boards protrudes from the notch on each end.

Fit the sides of the two end boards into the notches of the two 72-inch pieces of cedar. You now have a rectangle that measures 48 by 72 inches, made of a 2-by-4-inch frame with 1-inch thick boards forming a panel in the middle.

Measure the diameter of your screw heads. Put a drill bit that is 1/64 of an inch larger than this into your drill. Drill two 1-inch deep holes into each corner of your assembly, on the outside faces of the 72-inch-long pieces, 1 inch and 3 inches from each end. These holes allow the 4-inch screws to go in far enough to connect with the 40-inch pieces in the middle.

Drive a 4-inch screw into each hole that you drilled. Cedar is soft wood, so there is no need for drilling pilot holes through the wood.

Lay one of the 1/2-by-4-by-78-inch pieces of cedar over the panel, extending from one corner to the opposite corner to form a diagonal. Mark where this board overlaps the 2-inch-thick frame using a pencil. Cut this board so that it fits inside the frame, forming a diagonal brace that is pressed up against the face of the 1-inch boards.

Cut the other 1/2-by-4-by-78-inch board so that it fits on the opposite side of the panel, like a mirror image of the first.

Stand the panel up vertically, fit the two diagonals into their places, then drive 1 3/4-inch screws into the face of one of the diagonals, through the panel and into the opposite diagonal brace. Put several screws through each of the vertical boards to create maximum strength.

Attach the hinges and latch by screwing them to the 2-inch-thick frame, and mount the gate on your fencepost by attaching the other sides of the hinges to it.