Fences and Gates - double gate next to garage
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rchristmann
09-19-09, 02:59 PM
Hi, I have a garage with enough space space between it and my neighbor's fence to park a car or RV (about 8 ft), so I want to build a double gate across this span. The fence would be 6 ft tall wooden dog-eared picket fence with 8 ft 4x4 posts. I have bought Adjust-a-Gate kits to make the gates, but having read the forum now I'm wondering how I should brace my fence posts to support the gates. Also I want the gates to open out so I wont be using the gate hinges that come with the kit.
How should I construct the post next to the garage? I was originally planning on cementing a 4x4 to make a stand-alone post but I wonder if that is good enough. I was planning the same on the neighbor's fence side, maybe attaching my post to his (but his fence is kind of shoddy).
Thanks for your advice!
How should I construct the post next to the garage? I was originally planning on cementing a 4x4 to make a stand-alone post but I wonder if that is good enough. I was planning the same on the neighbor's fence side, maybe attaching my post to his (but his fence is kind of shoddy).
Thanks for your advice!
lefty
09-19-09, 04:27 PM
rchristmann,
Welcome to the forums.
I don't want to rain on your parade, but .... I think there are probably some issues involved that either you're not aware of or haven't though about.
The width -- at 8' -- is probably wide enough for a car, but most RV's are either 8' or 8-1/2' wide. If the distance between the garage and the fence is 8', you are going to lose almost a foot of that to the gate posts and the gate panels when they are open.
What about the overhang of the garage roof? Could you get an RV under it?? A car, yes.
The foundation for the garage is like an upside down "T". About 3" or 4" below the dirt, it's going to be wider (by about 3" or 4") than the stem wall of the foundation that you can see. And, more than likely, there is rebar inside the concrete in the base of the foundation. You DO NOT want to cut that rebar!!
Outswinging wood paneled gates is doable -- you just have to hinge them accordingly. But wood panel gates are heavy, even with metal frames. Without some way to secure the posts to compensate for that weight, a 4X4 wood post probably isn't large enough. (And I hate sticking wood in the ground anyway -- it rots!)
Given all of that, I would probably think more along the lines of using chain link gate panels and either 1-7/8" or 2-3/8" posts, and weaving the vinyl pickets into the chain link fabric if privacy is an issue. The post on the garage side can be ancored to the garage wall. You just have to add a little bit of bracing inside the wqll to support it. And you'll lose a lot less of the width with chain link fence panels than you will with wood.
Welcome to the forums.
I don't want to rain on your parade, but .... I think there are probably some issues involved that either you're not aware of or haven't though about.
The width -- at 8' -- is probably wide enough for a car, but most RV's are either 8' or 8-1/2' wide. If the distance between the garage and the fence is 8', you are going to lose almost a foot of that to the gate posts and the gate panels when they are open.
What about the overhang of the garage roof? Could you get an RV under it?? A car, yes.
The foundation for the garage is like an upside down "T". About 3" or 4" below the dirt, it's going to be wider (by about 3" or 4") than the stem wall of the foundation that you can see. And, more than likely, there is rebar inside the concrete in the base of the foundation. You DO NOT want to cut that rebar!!
Outswinging wood paneled gates is doable -- you just have to hinge them accordingly. But wood panel gates are heavy, even with metal frames. Without some way to secure the posts to compensate for that weight, a 4X4 wood post probably isn't large enough. (And I hate sticking wood in the ground anyway -- it rots!)
Given all of that, I would probably think more along the lines of using chain link gate panels and either 1-7/8" or 2-3/8" posts, and weaving the vinyl pickets into the chain link fabric if privacy is an issue. The post on the garage side can be ancored to the garage wall. You just have to add a little bit of bracing inside the wqll to support it. And you'll lose a lot less of the width with chain link fence panels than you will with wood.
rchristmann
09-19-09, 05:32 PM
Thanks for your insight especially about the garage foundation. I will go back and check the width again. Unfortunately regarding the gate or fence, I have a home owners association to contend with - and I don't think they will approve a chain link fence. There is not another one anywhere in the neighborhood.
Is it possible to anchor something to the garage itself?
Is it possible to anchor something to the garage itself?
lefty
09-20-09, 04:54 AM
Check with the HOA about the chain link, but you're right -- there's a good chance that they will say no.
Another option would be vinyl. That weighs about 1/4 of what wood does.
Anchoring the post to the garage wall is certainly an option. You just need to be sure that there is something solid in the wall to attach to. You may have to add some blocking for that.
Another option would be vinyl. That weighs about 1/4 of what wood does.
Anchoring the post to the garage wall is certainly an option. You just need to be sure that there is something solid in the wall to attach to. You may have to add some blocking for that.