How to Build a Double Driveway Gate Out of a Metal Frame and Wood

A metal frame increases the strength of a wood gate.

While wooden gates are a common sight in gardens and along pathways, a wooden driveway gate can set you apart from the neighbors' wrought-iron conformity and add a rustic touch to the premises. Wooden gates of such dimensions have a tendency to warp or sag, however. This drawback can be compensated for with the addition of a metal frame to buttress the gate and help it retain its shape.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Concrete mix
• Wheelbarrow
• Gateposts
• String
• Trowel
• 2-by-4 lumber
• Metal gate frames
• 1-by-4 lumber
• Nuts and bolts
• Drill and screws
• Latch

Instructions

1. Dig a hole 36 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter on either side of your driveway in the desired location for your gate. Mix concrete in a wheelbarrow, according to the directions on the packaging, and fill the holes to a depth of 6 inches. Wait a few hours for the concrete to harden.

2. Place a wooden gatepost in each hole and secure them in place with string then use a carpenter's level to ensure they are perfectly vertical. Fill the holes with more concrete up to within 4 inches of the surface, use a trowel to smooth out the surface then wait 48 hours for the concrete to cure.

3. Assemble the frames for the gate pieces by following the directions provided with the metal gate frame system. The Artistic Ironworks' two-piece frames simply require you to bolt a horizontal 2-by-4 to the top and bottom of the pair of metal pieces, as does Hoover's Adjust-A-Gate. The Artistic four-brace system requires an additional vertical 2-by-4 on either end to create a rectangular wooden frame with metal reinforcement screwed on at the corners. Remember to make the frames 2 inches narrower than the space between the gateposts.

4. Complete the gate pieces by cutting 1-by-4 boards to the desired height of the gate and screwing them side-by-side to the wooden portion of the gate frame, two screws per board. Taper the corners of these boards or cut them to different lengths to create a curved top if desired. Screw the hinges of the metal frames to the gateposts and attach a latch to the gate to finish.