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How to Build a Double Driveway Gate Out of a Metal Frame and Wood

While wooden gates are a common sight in gardens and along pathways, a wooden driveway gate can set you apart from the neighbors' wrought-iron conformity and add a rustic touch to the premises. Wooden gates of such dimensions have a tendency to warp or sag, however. This drawback can be compensated for with the addition of a metal frame to buttress the gate and help it retain its shape.

Things You'll Need

  • Shovel
  • Concrete mix
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Gateposts
  • String
  • Trowel
  • 2-by-4 lumber
  • Metal gate frames
  • 1-by-4 lumber
  • Nuts and bolts
  • Drill and screws
  • Latch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dig a hole 36 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter on either side of your driveway in the desired location for your gate. Mix concrete in a wheelbarrow, according to the directions on the packaging, and fill the holes to a depth of 6 inches. Wait a few hours for the concrete to harden.

    • 2

      Place a wooden gatepost in each hole and secure them in place with string then use a carpenter's level to ensure they are perfectly vertical. Fill the holes with more concrete up to within 4 inches of the surface, use a trowel to smooth out the surface then wait 48 hours for the concrete to cure.

    • 3

      Assemble the frames for the gate pieces by following the directions provided with the metal gate frame system. The Artistic Ironworks' two-piece frames simply require you to bolt a horizontal 2-by-4 to the top and bottom of the pair of metal pieces, as does Hoover's Adjust-A-Gate. The Artistic four-brace system requires an additional vertical 2-by-4 on either end to create a rectangular wooden frame with metal reinforcement screwed on at the corners. Remember to make the frames 2 inches narrower than the space between the gateposts.

    • 4

      Complete the gate pieces by cutting 1-by-4 boards to the desired height of the gate and screwing them side-by-side to the wooden portion of the gate frame, two screws per board. Taper the corners of these boards or cut them to different lengths to create a curved top if desired. Screw the hinges of the metal frames to the gateposts and attach a latch to the gate to finish.