The arrangement of suburban areas near private houses is not complete without the construction of reliable and beautiful fences, and such structures must necessarily have gates. Even if the owner does not yet have a personal car, the gate will allow guests’ cars to enter and various goods to be delivered to the site by truck.
There is no need to rush to make a final decision; carefully read the maximum number of different options, analyze them taking into account your own wishes, terrain features and the size of the site.
It is imperative to take into account financial possibilities, because the cost of existing options differs significantly. By the way, what is more expensive is not always the best in practice from an operational point of view.
DIY gates: drawings, photos and videos
Types of gates
Currently, there are a large number of all kinds of gates, all kinds of materials for their manufacture and special devices with which they are equipped. The most popular of them:
- Sliding gates.
- Tilt and turn gates.
- Swing gates.
- Rolling gates.
- Folding gates.
Sliding gates
Sliding gates include several varieties, including hanging and sliding structures. Each type of structure requires a large amount of free space.
Hanging gates
Suspended structures are not considered popular, since some types of cars will not be able to drive through them, since their height is limited by the upper bar. Their movement is also carried out along this bar.
Sliding gates
Sliding structures move on rails, but they are not common in northern regions with high rainfall because they will have to be constantly cleared of ice and snow.
Console gates
Cantilever gates are the most successful option among sliding structures.
Tilt and turn doors
Tilt and turn doors are a good option for garage doors. They are not suitable for the yard because they are limited by the upper beam.
Swing gates
Swing gates are well suited for owners of their own homes. The foundation of such structures lies on three pillars: two of them support the structure, and the third holds the gate.
Rolling gates
Rolling gates are a relatively new type of gate. They are folding strips that are rolled up and wound onto a base.
Among the advantages: they do not take up much space, they allow transport to come close.
Folding gates
Folding structures can be opened either upwards or sideways.
Selecting a profiled sheet
When purchasing a profiled sheet, you need to pay attention to the markings and method of surface treatment. Profile flooring can be different in thickness, have different shapes and “wave” sizes. Taking into account the height of the “wave”, the rigidity of the structure is determined.
Profiled sheet options
Marking:
- “C” – wall corrugated sheeting. It has a small thickness and “wave” height. Used to construct barriers.
- “NS” is a universal profile. Used as roofing, construction of fences and gates.
- “N” – load-bearing corrugated sheeting. Used for the construction of hangars and for roofs of large premises. It is not advisable to choose to install a fence.
DIY swing gates (step by step)
Before you start creating a gate, you need to study the diagrams and drawings for the gate with your own hands. Even novice craftsmen can handle making swing gates. There is a lot of information and photos of gates made by yourself on the Internet. They will need:
- Boer.
- Bulgarian.
- Screwdriver.
- Welding.
- Construction tape.
This design implies a large amount of free space.
Where to begin
Before choosing a specific type of structure, you need to calculate the entrance arch of the garage. This is necessary for the optimal selection of construction materials.
It is also worth considering the climate, as mentioned above, if it is too humid, sectional garage doors will do. They are lightweight, made of plastic and are not affected by moisture.
After all the calculations have been made and all aspects have been taken into account, you can begin to select a specific type of design.
Specifics of swing gates
To create them, push-button corner connectors are used. They hold the sashes and help them not to sag.
All fastening materials are carefully hidden, which makes them attractive and prevents the penetration of small parts into the fastening areas.
The gate shutters are held on three-section hinges, which helps to increase their service life.
Studying the diagrams on how to do it yourself, it remains to understand that the main thing in swing gates is the frame made of metal profiles. To fasten the sashes you will need electric welding.
The peculiarity of the profiled sheet is that it is not a heavy material, and two reliable loops are enough to secure it. A pipe 70-100 mm in diameter is suitable as a foundation support.
The gate is attached to the fence; if the fence is a brick wall, it is necessary to lay seams into it, to which the supports are subsequently welded.
The dimensions of such gates are: width – 3 meters, height – 2 meters. Metal pins are suitable as constipations. These pins are located at the bottom. To do this, you need to install metal pipes in the ground. The distance from the gate to the surface is 5-7cm.
Installation of piles
To immerse the pile to the maximum depth, which should be at least 1.3 meters, you need to dig a 1 meter hole in advance and hammer the rest. This installation method is called the “hammering method”.
This is the easiest installation method, which can be completed in one day, and the quality of work meets all strength requirements. After driving, you need to weld special hinges to the piles, onto which the gate frames will later be attached.
The next installation method is more radical. It requires preparing a hole at least one and a half meters deep and 30 centimeters in diameter.
At the bottom of this hole you need to pour a few centimeters of sand and then another 10 centimeters of crushed stone. This creates a special cushion that prevents the pile from sinking into the ground. Depending on the massiveness of the gate, the depth and diameter parameters may vary.
To improve strength, a metal mesh is installed in the dug hole. After this, the pile itself is placed, and the entire volume is filled with cement. Afterwards, you need to run a vibrator over the material in order to get rid of air bubbles and voids.
After the cement has hardened, you need to make fastenings for the gate. If you want to make brick pillars, you need to provide a gap for the gate hinges.
Gate dimensions (we make an exact calculation)
Having studied the sketches for the gates with your own hands, you can begin choosing the material. It is better to choose metal with a thickness of 1.5-2 millimeters.
If the gate weighs less than 150 kg, it is better to take a pipe with a cross-section of 80 by 80 mm and a thickness of about 4 millimeters.
If the weight of the gate varies from 150-300 kg, then the pipe is 100 by 100 and 5 millimeters.
With a weight of more than 300 kg - 140 by 140 and a thickness of 5 millimeters.
Gate hinges must support the weight of the structure. The lock can be a mechanical or electromechanical device.
For concrete or tiled surfaces, it is better to increase the distance between the fence and the tiles to 50 mm. If grass grows under the future fence, then it is better to increase this distance to 100 mm.
Recommendations
When considering the question of how to make a garage door, you need to know several basic aspects that can facilitate the process of creating and installing the structure.
Insulation:
- In cold regions, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of insulating gates, especially for casement models.
- To do this, corners are welded on the inside of the sashes, thus creating small borders on the inside.
- Several horizontal plates are welded inside these borders. This is necessary so that the insulation does not roll off inside the structure. Any type of insulation can be placed inside these compartments; the best option would be to use building types used for insulating rooms.
When considering the question of how to insulate a garage door, you need to pay attention to the following materials:
- Basalt cardboard;
- Foil insulation;
- Magnoflex;
- Liquid thermal insulation.
Equipment space:
- In case you plan to build overhead garage doors, you must first think about how to properly place the pencil case under the ceiling.
- To do this, you need to weld the frame inside which it will be located.
- And also guides on the sides of the arches, so that the canvas runs strictly along them, completely closing the room from penetration from the outside.
- If you do not install guides on the sides of the arch, the canvas attached to the bottom may bend, thus creating a free space on the side through which intruders can penetrate.
A relative disadvantage of this type is the difficulty of insulating the structure. It will be necessary to create a full-fledged canopy on the inside.
Tools and materials
Before creating any gate, be it a sliding gate with your own hands, a roller gate, a swing gate, or a garage door with your own hands, you need to think through the sketch of the future structure in great detail. It will help in the future when purchasing components and selecting tools. A typical list consists of:
- Sheathing.
- Support pipes.
- Fittings.
- Metal square.
- Primers.
- Loop.
- Espagnolette.
- Paints.
Required tools:
- Construction cord.
- Welding.
- Hammer.
- Drill.
- Bulgarian.
- Metal scissors.
Manufacturing technology for forged elements
The production of forged elements is not an easy task. First of all, a sketch of the future creation is made. You can also find photos on the Internet of those parts that you like.
Cold forging
With this processing method, the metal is impacted with a heavy object or tool, such as a hammer. Cold forged gates are considered more affordable, but not the most aesthetically pleasing.
Hot forging
Forged gates, which were made by hot melting, look beautiful. Simply put, this technology is comparable to modeling from plasticine. This simplifies the work and allows you to forge elements of any complexity. The metal lends itself well to manipulation when hot. Therefore, it can easily be used to create patterns and weaves of various shapes, lengths and thicknesses.
Step-by-step work of erecting a gate
The support pillar assembly can be made from a variety of materials. Assembly can be carried out in two ways: driving and concreting with reinforcement.
For concreting it is necessary to make a 1 meter pit. Before pouring, it is necessary to backfill 15-20 cm of sand or crushed stone. Next you need to install the supports and fill the entire structure with concrete. Allow the fill to dry for at least one week.
Learning to make gate leaves
- Prepare a drawing.
- The calculation of materials is based on the width of the structure.
- When forming the components for the frame, you need to cut off part of the pipe and grind it.
Welding work
The main rule when welding is to prevent water from getting into the joints. Otherwise, the structure will be deformed over time.
Welding of the hinges must be done to the posts and base if it is made of metal. If the pillars are brick, you need to use a channel and then electric weld the hinges.
Priming and painting gates
A primer will be needed in any case. It increases the useful life of paint. Welding seams need to be primed in the most detail. Any paint is suitable for painting gates. For a more uniform application, it is better to use a spray gun.
How to sew the sashes
To ensure that the gates are not only pleasing to the eye, but also fulfill their main protective function, they are sheathed with fabric made of opaque materials. The most successful combinations are made from forging with polycarbonate, corrugated sheet or wood.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate can be cellular or monolithic. Honeycomb material is suitable for cladding. The sheets are light in weight and easy to transport. Polycarbonate bends well and is easy to use. It has a fairly wide color palette with different levels of transparency.
Profiled sheet
Profiled sheets are very often used in cladding wickets and gates. Easy to install and also wear-resistant. Has a large selection of colors.
Tree
Perhaps forged elements look best with wood. Plus, this material is environmentally friendly. However, wood is susceptible to moisture and damage by insects, and therefore requires special care and treatment with special protective agents.
