Whilst fitting a set of driveway gates may not seem like the most complicated of tasks it should be remembered that they can be very heavy and therefore will place a large amount of strain onto existing brick pillars.
For this reason, if there is any doubt as to the suitability of the pillars professional advice should be sought prior to carrying out any DIY work or alternatively you can simply add some metal posts to support the gates weight.
Preparing the Gates
Prior to carrying out any installation work it is strongly advisable to apply at least 2 coats of paint to the entire metal surface before allowing them to become exposed to the elements. Whilst this may seem a little strange, carrying out the painting at this stage is far easier, creates less mess on the driveway and will result in a more professional finish being achieved.
What Tools are Needed for Installation?
If you are looking to install the gates on a DIY basis then it is recommended that the following tools be available to make the fitting process fast and hassle free.
- Claw Hammer
- Spirit Level (for the most accurate results this should be a minimum of 900mm long)
- SDS or Hammer Drill
- Various drill bits
- Electric Screwdriver
- Small selection of spanners
Fitting Process (Fixing to Existing Brick Pillars)
Once the metal has been fully painted and left to dry you will now be ready to begin the installation.
- The first step of installation is to fit the hinges to the frame of the gate. Most modern designs hinge using an I-bolt system so take one of the threaded bolts and add a nut to it until it is about halfway down the threaded bar.
- The next step is to slide the threaded bar through the frame of the gate. Hold it in position and add the second nut to the threaded bar so that it clamps to the gate on each side.
- Repeat this process until both gates have i-bolts fitted to the outer framework.
- Take the first gate and position it in the centre of the brick pillar making sure you have made an allowance for ground clearance (it is a good idea to place a 2” block of wood under the gate as it will also act as a support whilst the hinges are located correctly).
- Take the wall mounted plate and hook this onto the I-bolt and position this against the wall so that the top and bottom plates are plumb / vertical.
- Mark the location of the fixing holes onto the brickwork, then remove the gate from the opening.
- Drill appropriate size holes for the fixings you will be using in the locations you have just marked, insert plugs and tap into place to secure.
- Re-position the gate so that the wall mounting brackets line up with the holes and screw into place.
- Once the top and bottom mountings have been fitted simply drop the I-bolts over the wall mounted brackets and the first gate should now swing freely of its own accord.
- With the gate held in the desired closed position place a spirit level on the top of the horizontal frame and make the required adjustments (using the 2 nuts each side of the gate frame) until the gate is perfectly level.
- Take the other gate and repeat the process only this time make sure that the top of the frame is perfectly level with the one already installed (failure to do this will result in the gates not sitting at the same height as each other).
- Once both leafs are in position you can now add the latch. This is usually fitted using a nut and bolt (don’t over tighten of the latch will be stiff).
- With the latch in place one of the last jobs is to drill holes into the ground to allow the drop bolts to slot into. To find the position close both gates so they line up with each other, place the drop bolt on the ground and mark the desired position.
- Open the gates and repeat the process with them in the fully open position (this will allow the gates to be held open when access is required).
- Using the appropriate size drill bit create holes in the marked locations making sure you go deep enough to allow a solid fixing to be created.
- Touch up any areas of paintwork that may have been caught during installation. Clean down the area, remove all tools and the job is complete.
This simple to understand guide to installing driveway gates has been provided by Metal Gates Direct who are a leading UK supplier of high quality driveway gates suitable for any residential application.
