Fences and Gates - Vinyl Fence/Gate problem
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selim
08-17-09, 12:47 PM
Howdy,
My father just installed a vinyl fence on a portion of his yard. He ordered a 4ft gate and a man at the place from which we picked up the gate said 50 inches space between the end post and fence post which we already have set would be fine.
Well, after getting the gate, it measures to 46 inches rather than 48'. We called the location and they said they order the gate for a 48' inch space - so they won't take it back. basically, we measured wrong -
our only option seems to be to dig up the rest of the posts we have already set and shift it two inches further to make up for the inches we're short. Does anyone have suggestion or know if the brackets which we use to attach the gates can be extended or if there is another way we can compensate for roughly 2 inches extra space? I really don't want to spend a weekend digging up posts.
Thanks!
My father just installed a vinyl fence on a portion of his yard. He ordered a 4ft gate and a man at the place from which we picked up the gate said 50 inches space between the end post and fence post which we already have set would be fine.
Well, after getting the gate, it measures to 46 inches rather than 48'. We called the location and they said they order the gate for a 48' inch space - so they won't take it back. basically, we measured wrong -
our only option seems to be to dig up the rest of the posts we have already set and shift it two inches further to make up for the inches we're short. Does anyone have suggestion or know if the brackets which we use to attach the gates can be extended or if there is another way we can compensate for roughly 2 inches extra space? I really don't want to spend a weekend digging up posts.
Thanks!
Pulpo
08-17-09, 08:07 PM
Go to Home Depot. Near the moulding section they have vinyl 1x4 lengths that you can bolt to inside of each post. Mount the brackets on them.
GregsFence
09-07-09, 08:36 PM
4 inches is a lot of space between gate posts and the gate itself. Using hinges that are normally supplied in most of the larger home centers would not allow for such an opening.
If you choose, you could purchase a stainless steel hinge with a heavy duty stainless steel latch. The latch would need to have a minimum of a 3" bar. The hinges would have to be the type that have a 3" x 3/4" threaded bolt, with a lock nut to adjust the gate. Using this type of hinge and latch you would be able to use the hinge side take up about 2 inches of space, while the latch side eats up the other 2 inches of space.
This can be done, but to be honest the opening would make the gate look like poop.
And although this can be done, these materials would cost you about 1/2 the price of a new gate.
Depending on the type of pvc fencing you have purchased you may be able to do two other things. One of which is to rebuild the gate , making it larger by removing the upper and lower rails. Adding on 2 inches of picket.
This option is only an option if the rails have not been glued into the sockets. Providing you have sockets in your type of gate.
If your gate is one of HD, or Lws I would suggest just buying a section of material and building your own gate to fit the opening. Or of course , purchase the new gate.
I would not suggest taking the route of removing the posts and resetting them. Doing that you would still need to change one of the last sections of material. If they are both full sections of material, you would have no option other than to cut back, add in one post and another section of material to take up that itsy bitsy 2 inches. Way too much work and money to pay for a mistake in measuring .
Much depends on the materials you have installed. If I knew which it was , I would be able to suggest a fixed plan of attack.
Good luck.. I do hope it works out
Gregs Fence~
If you choose, you could purchase a stainless steel hinge with a heavy duty stainless steel latch. The latch would need to have a minimum of a 3" bar. The hinges would have to be the type that have a 3" x 3/4" threaded bolt, with a lock nut to adjust the gate. Using this type of hinge and latch you would be able to use the hinge side take up about 2 inches of space, while the latch side eats up the other 2 inches of space.
This can be done, but to be honest the opening would make the gate look like poop.
And although this can be done, these materials would cost you about 1/2 the price of a new gate.
Depending on the type of pvc fencing you have purchased you may be able to do two other things. One of which is to rebuild the gate , making it larger by removing the upper and lower rails. Adding on 2 inches of picket.
This option is only an option if the rails have not been glued into the sockets. Providing you have sockets in your type of gate.
If your gate is one of HD, or Lws I would suggest just buying a section of material and building your own gate to fit the opening. Or of course , purchase the new gate.
I would not suggest taking the route of removing the posts and resetting them. Doing that you would still need to change one of the last sections of material. If they are both full sections of material, you would have no option other than to cut back, add in one post and another section of material to take up that itsy bitsy 2 inches. Way too much work and money to pay for a mistake in measuring .
Much depends on the materials you have installed. If I knew which it was , I would be able to suggest a fixed plan of attack.
Good luck.. I do hope it works out
Gregs Fence~
lefty
09-08-09, 09:24 PM
selim,
Welcome to the forums, and welcome to the world of "special order" as it pertains to vinyl gates.
(Most of the vinyl gates that I order are for deck railings, as oppsoed to fence gates, but the same thing applies.) I wait until the railing (or in your case, a fence) is built, and THEN I order the gates. I don't tell them how wide to make the gates -- I tell them how wide the OPENINGS are, and they make them accordingly. That's what your Dad should have done. (20/20 hindsight!!)
If you bought all of the fencing from this company, you can probably get them to make you a new gate that is the correct size. You already have the hardware (hinges and the latch), so the cost of the new gate will be a lot less for the right sized one. They won't take back the original gate, but they know that you have it and what size and style it is. MAYBE if they get an order for a gate like that they would be willing to THEN buy yours back.
That may be a long shot too. You bought exactly one fence from these guys, and I buy enough railing for 10 or 15 decks a year from my supplier. But I know that they'll work with me on an occasional 'mistake'.
Welcome to the forums, and welcome to the world of "special order" as it pertains to vinyl gates.
(Most of the vinyl gates that I order are for deck railings, as oppsoed to fence gates, but the same thing applies.) I wait until the railing (or in your case, a fence) is built, and THEN I order the gates. I don't tell them how wide to make the gates -- I tell them how wide the OPENINGS are, and they make them accordingly. That's what your Dad should have done. (20/20 hindsight!!)
If you bought all of the fencing from this company, you can probably get them to make you a new gate that is the correct size. You already have the hardware (hinges and the latch), so the cost of the new gate will be a lot less for the right sized one. They won't take back the original gate, but they know that you have it and what size and style it is. MAYBE if they get an order for a gate like that they would be willing to THEN buy yours back.
That may be a long shot too. You bought exactly one fence from these guys, and I buy enough railing for 10 or 15 decks a year from my supplier. But I know that they'll work with me on an occasional 'mistake'.