Mahogany Driveway Entry Gate Installation

Finishing Mahogany

• Before finishing installation on a mahogany driveway gate, it's best to perform any finishing that you plan to undertake for the wood. This will be easier before the hardware is attached and while your doors are still in the controlled environment of a basement or garage. Mahogany is prized for its natural texture and wood grain, which painting will obscure. Instead, red and warm brown stains will bring out the wood's natural character and give it the look of aged mahogany. A clear sealant will protect the expensive mahogany and help it maintain its look after years of exposure to rain and sun.

Hardware

• Mahogany has an average weight for wood, just slightly heavier than pine and cedar but lighter than oak. This means that while large mahogany driveway gates will require heavy-duty metal hardware, most metal hinges and screws designed for wood will provide enough strength to keep the door secure. If you use a driveway gate kit, make sure the hardware is rated for the weight of your wood gate. If you buy your own hardware, make sure the screws are not longer than the depth of the door at the point where they'll attach the hinges, opening mechanism and latch.

Posts

• A mahogany driveway's gate also means that you can use wooden posts in most cases. A steel frame or an especially large mahogany gate, such as a one-piece sliding gate, may require metal posts. In other cases, regular 4-by-4s will be strong enough to serve as a support for the gate, provided you bury them deep enough in the ground. You can stain the posts to match your gate or paint them to match the metal hardware, depending on your gate's look and your own preference.

Considerations

• A mahogany driveway gate's appearance and strength don't guarantee security, even if the installation goes perfectly. A driveway gate's security is only as strong as the latch, lock and opening mechanism that keep someone from forcing it open. If safety is your primary concern, then a metal gate or a gate that includes a metal frame and mahogany panels may meet your needs best.