January 27, 2011
Driveway Gates Done Right!
Double Swinger Driveway Gates in this case!  Customer says something like " You need a wheel under each one to keep 'em from sagging / leaning right?"
I say "Huh, not if they're built right!"
Another one says "Oh, you need steel posts and frames!" 
I say "Huh, I've seen steel gate posts flex under load with the gates sagging out of alignment as a result!  I've also seen the inadequate hinges on a few of these that flex and bend under load!"

I've also seen really heavy duty steel gate posts with large heavy duty hinges and a heavy duty steel frame holding up large wood gates just perfectly.  The details of the construction make all the difference!

I love to overbuild for strength and longevity of the project!  Isn't that what you want for your project?

Look at these!




WoodFenceExpert.com "Next Generation Gate Frames" with symmetrically positioned diagonally reinforced corners are the perfect start!  But wait, there's more!  Notice the FIVE heavy duty Home Depot outdoor gate hinges per leaf?  Now we're talking strength and distribution of load (among not only the five hinges but also the large quantity of fasteners).

Now let's take a closer look.  I normally don't publish what I consider trade secrets for jealous competitors to utilize or even claim as their own.  But if you're looking for driveway gates built to last, why not find out a little bit about them?  Discover who can really build 'em right when you're trying to chose the best builder for your project.  So let's take a real close look at those posts and hinges and see what's so special.



Okay, first look at the fasteners (1/4" lag bolts) driven in at an angle on the post to bite more wood and not encourage post "split off".  "Oh they're crooked, they should be straight!"  Nope, when they're straight they only bite 1/4 of the post.  All that weight / load over time and weather and use is quite alot of work for that post.  Nice long lags driven in at an angle bite almost half the post!  And driven in at an angle which is much less encouraging for the post to split off and there falls your gate.

And yes, that's a 6"x6" wood post.  Guess how deep it's buried in concrete?  That I won't say but I will say it's plenty deep. 

Beneath the stain what's that strip with the screws that runs vertically down the center of the post?  What the molie is that? 

What you're looking at is a WoodFenceExpert.com "NeverBend Hinge Post"!  These are custom made by me on site for your project!

That strip is 1/4" thick by 2&1/2" wide steel that runs the whole length of that post, all the way to the bottom!  I take the bare wood post and the bare steel and custom make them for strength and longevity on site, so your hinge post is no longer the weak link in the gate equation. There's a matching one in front too!  Machining the wood to flushly accept the strip and its fasteners, and hand drilling all of those holes in the strip for the fasteners in that perfect symmetrical and strong pattern for the entire length of that post on both front and back sides is what constitutes WoodFenceExpert.com "NeverBend Hinge Posts"!  Nothing is too good for MY customers!

There are a couple of other smaller details about these gates which are also important for strength and longevity.  Those I will save for your project and not those jealous competitors.  I've just already given them way too much right here!

Do you want 30-year-plus gates or do you want to save a few dollars and get 2 to 5-year gates from somebody in a big hurry for your check?  Is it worth it to get an inexperienced beginner offering a very low price only to have to get your project repaired or rebuilt just a few weeks or months after they're gone?  I've seen that as well. 

I have a similar system for fence posts!  Someday soon I'll add it to this BLOG.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll do that tomorrow!

Get the best builder for your project!  And whoever builds it, may they do an excellent job!  I know I will.


Let Me Help You Build It Right!

Get My Full, Undivided Attention on Your Project With a LIVE 1-on-1 Phone Consultation with Me!  

Step 1
Sign up for a Dwolla account, like PayPal but much better!
Set up Your Dwolla account and put enough money in it to
cover the time block that you want.
Here's the link!  https://www.dwolla.com/

Step 2
Email me a couple of photos and/or drawings if possible, send them to me at Stefan@WoodFenceExpert.com

Step 3
Purchase a Time Block for your LIVE 1-on-1 Phone Consultation with me.
15 (Fifteen) Minutes: $20.00
30 (Thirty) Minutes:  $40.00
60 (Sixty) Minutes:   $80.00
After you've got your Dwolla account you can pay here:
https://www.dwolla.com/hub/woodfenceexpert

Step 4
Call me on my cell at 310-717-2000 to schedule our LIVE consultation. 
Please remember I'm in Los Angeles, so I'm in the Pacific time zone. 
I'll need up to a day maybe two, to verify your payment and
review your photos and/or drawings.

Step 5
I will call you at our scheduled time with your photos and/or drawings right in front of me.  Please have a pen and paper ready so we can go fast and not waste your money.  It also may be best to be at your laptop or computer with a high-speed connection.   

Note 1:
If we don't use all of your time block on the call, I will note and track the unused portion for you to have on account with me for a future 1-on-1 consultation with me!  
Note 2:
I'm in construction, I'm not an accountant.  Please don't ask me to transfer an unused, left-over slice of your time block to somebody else.  Pizza?  Sure I'll take a left-over slice.  But let's not pass around slices of time blocks.
Note 3:
You early birds got it for free (You know who you are!).  No problem, I love to build them right; I also love to help other people build them right too!  But now this is part of my job so I've got to charge you like everybody else.  
Note 4:
I promise to do my very best with you!

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