How to Make Traditional Oak Gates

A sturdy gate can add an attractive fixture to your fencing while also being functional to keep animals and guests in or out of your yard. While many stylish and complex gates can be ordered and custom made, a less expensive route is to make a traditional oak gate at home that is simple in construction and design. Once your gate is finished you can leave it as natural oak, stain it to enhance the oak coloring, or paint the gate to match your fence or home’s exterior.

Tape measure
5 oak boards, 2 by 4 inches
Table saw
Wood screws, 2 inches long
Drill
Oak fence palings, 1 by 4 inches
Gate hinges
Gate latch

Instructions

- 1
  Measure to find the distance between your fence posts at the spot where the gate is needed. Subtract 4 inches, and measure and cut three of the 2-by-4-inch boards to this length for horizontal supports. Measure the fence posts’ height. Subtract 10 inches, and measure and cut two 2-by-4-inch boards to this length for vertical supports.
- 2
  Place the horizontal support boards on their 2-inch width resting side by side. Set the vertical supports perpendicular to the three horizontal boards at each end. Space the three horizontal boards to run evenly between the vertical boards like rungs on a ladder.
- 3
  Drive two screws through the vertical boards and into the ends of the horizontal boards at each end of each horizontal board.
- 4
  Divide the distance between fence posts minus 1 inch by 4 to find the number of palings you’ll need. Measure and cut that many palings equal in length to the fence post’s height minus 2 inches.
- 5
  Lay the palings over the frame running parallel to the vertical supports. Align the palings to overhang the frame by 4 inches at the top and bottom of the frame. Space the palings evenly to cover the full width of the frame. Insert a screw through each paling where it rests over the top, middle, and bottom horizontal boards to secure.
- 6
  Hang the gate 1 to 2 inches above the ground along your fence post using evenly spaced gate hinges. Attach the hinges to the post and connect the other side of the hinge to the gate, driving the screws into the frame and not just the palings. Position and attach a gate latch along the other side of the frame at a comfortable height.

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