How to Hang a Garden Gate

Although a well-made gate will last for years, eventually the ravages of wet rot and rust take their toll. When faced with replacing a gate, it pays to look for an exact replica, as you know it will fit between the posts and you can probably reuse the existing fittings. However, since manufacturers update their catalogues from time to time, trying to track down an identical gate may prove to be a fruitless task.

With luck, you may find a different style of gate that is an exact fit. Or a replacement only slightly wider than the original, so you can skim a little wood off the stiles until it fits well. A narrower gate may be accommodated by screwing a batten to each post, though that probably won't be a very elegant solution. Yet another option is to have a new gate made to measure - but that is likely to be relatively expensive, so you may be better off erecting a new pair of posts for a ready-made gate. You can hang any gate in a day, but allow the complete weekend if you also have to set posts in concrete.