Monday, September 24, 2012

Build A Box Frame Gate

Building a garden gate is a wonderful project that can add interest to your garden. One of the classic, and more sturdy designs is the box frame gate. It is also a design that is at once simple, but also allows for some creativity. Read this elearn more. Does this Spark an idea?


Instructions


1. Measure the opening carefully for your box frame gate.


2. Choose your material. For the post to which you'll attach the gate, select a 4 inch by 4 inch timber with a blunt or decorative top, five 2 inch by 4 inch, boards for the rails (horizontal pieces) stiles (vertical pieces) and brace, and whatever material you chose for the cladding, or exterior of the gate. The cladding may be evenly spaced or, for privacy, solid. In either case, the cladding may extend beyond the stiles of the gate, and the top of the cladding may be straight or curved.


3. Cut the boards for the stiles and rails at the desired length. For a box frame gate that's 36 inches by 48 inches, cut two 36 inch rails and two 45 inch stiles.


4. Drill holes in the top of the rails, and into the tops of the stiles. Use 3 inch screws to fasten the four pieces together, making certain every corner is square. The boards should stand on their edges rather than lie flat on your work surface.


5. Create the brace by lying a 6 foot, 2 inch by 4 inch diagonally across the squared frame, and mark where you should cut with a pencil.


6. Use a handsaw to make the angled cuts, and fit the brace into place. The brace should extend from the bottom of the hinge side of the gate to the top of the gate's latch side.


7. Drill holes through the brace at both ends into the stiles. Remove the brace and apply some wood adhesive or glue to the angles ends, then slip the brace back into place and secure it with 3 inch screws.


8. Cover the frame with the cladding you have chosen, and nail it to the outside, "show side" of the gate. If you plan to have the top of the cladding curved or in some patter, you may wish to make a template with a piece of plywood so that you can cut the cladding tops in the desired pattern.


9. Select your hardware. Because of the added weight of a box frame gate, you may wish to hang the gate with three hinges. There is a wide selection of hinges at any hardware store of building supply store. Make certain the middle hinge is not visible from the show side as you will not be able to hide it from view with the rails at the top and bottom.


10. Snap a chalk line to ensure the proper placement of your hinges. Make certain the gate will swing freely before fixing these in place. Choose your latch style and location carefully, as you should be able to open the gate from either side-especially if the box frame gate is too tall to reach over.

Tags: frame gate, inch inch, Choose your, Drill holes, gate cladding