Fence & gate services
Gate Installation
A fence line is only as good as the gate in it. Gates carry all the load, take all the abuse, and are the first thing to sag when the framing is wrong.
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Gates & Entry in Chester & Delaware County
Gates fail more often than fences, and almost always for the same three reasons: the gate post was not set for the load, the frame was not braced diagonally, or the hardware was undersized. A 4-foot cedar gate hanging on a post set like a line post will drag inside two seasons.
We frame gates with a diagonal brace running from the bottom hinge corner up to the latch side, so the gate is held in compression rather than hanging from its fasteners. Gate posts are set deeper and, in vinyl systems, internally reinforced. Hardware is sized to the leaf weight, not to the catalogue default.
Beyond walk gates, we install driveway entries — single-swing, double-swing and slide — with automatic operators, keypads, safety loops and intercom where the site calls for it. Automatic gates involve power, gate operators and safety sensing, so those installations are scoped separately from standard fence work.
Options
Styles & Configurations
Walk gate
Single leaf, 3–4ft wide, matched to the fence style. The everyday gate.
Double drive gate
Two leaves meeting at a drop rod, for equipment and vehicle access into a yard or paddock.
Automatic driveway gate
Swing or slide with an operator, keypad or remote entry, safety loop and, where required, intercom.
Pool code gate
Self-closing hinges and self-latching hardware at code height — a barrier component, not an accessory.
What to expect
How the Installation Runs
- Assessment of opening width, leaf weight, swing direction and grade at the gate.
- Gate post specification — deeper footing, larger post or internal reinforcement as the load requires.
- For automatic gates: power availability, operator selection and safety sensing layout.
- Frame fabrication with diagonal bracing.
- Hanging, hardware installation and adjustment.
- Operation check across the full swing, including latch engagement at both ends of the seasonal range.
Common questions
Gates & Entry Questions
Why does my gate sag?
Almost always one of three things: the gate post was not set deep enough or wide enough for the load and has begun to lean; the gate frame has no diagonal brace, so it is racking under its own weight; or the hinges are undersized for the leaf. All three are correctable, but the fix depends on which it is, so we look before quoting.
How wide can a single gate be?
Practically, about four feet for a walk gate in wood or vinyl before weight and racking become the limiting factor. Wider openings are better served by a double gate with a drop rod, or by a slide gate. Aluminum can span somewhat wider in a single leaf because it is lighter and rigid.
Can you add an automatic opener to an existing gate?
Often, but it depends on the gate. The operator has to be matched to leaf weight and swing, the posts have to carry the additional load and the operator mount, power has to reach the gate, and safety sensing has to be installed. We assess the existing gate and posts before recommending an operator.
What gate hardware does a pool fence need?
Self-closing hinges and a self-latching mechanism, with the latch at the code-required height. Where the latch sits below that height it must be on the pool side with the adjacent area shielded so it cannot be reached through the barrier. This is a code requirement, not a preference.
Which way should a gate swing?
Away from the direction of travel in most yard applications, and into the pool area for a pool barrier gate so that it closes against its own stop. Grade matters too — a gate that swings downhill will bind as the ground settles. We set swing direction during the site walk.
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On-site assessment. Written quote. No obligation.