Wooden gate construction

All of our wooden gates are based on an EX 3" / 75mm (once machined finishing at approx 2 3/4" / 69mm) traditional through wedged morticed and tenon jointed frame for strength and rigidity.We prefer to use square timber in the framework of the gates as this minimises any cupping that is more prevelant in rectangular timber sections, such as 4" x 2" (100mm x 50mm). Once the timber is cut and planed, the mortices and tenons are cut along with the mouldings for the rails (all horizontal rails of our wooden gates feature mouldings to allow moisture to run off, lessening the build up of any water) and heads (top rails).

Our wooden gates are often imitated, but never bettered!

The gates are then ready to be put together. Boat building glue is applied to the tenons and the tenon is then slotted into the mortice, the joints are cramped up and wedges are driven in either side of the tenon (below). The gates are then left until the glue has dried. Once dry, all wedges are cut flush to the framework of the gates and we can begin infilling the wooden gates (right is a Derwent gate prior to boarding) with either T&G boarding or infill boarding (for an open boarded gate). All boarding is glued and jointed into the stiles (vertical uprights) and heads (top rails) of the gates, not left to sit in open rebates - this give better protection to the end grain of the boards from the elements and also allows for any movement in the boarding. In the event of us manufacturing gates with solid bottom rails (normally for below ground automation), then again the boarding is glued and jointed into this rail as well. Once boarded, diagonal bracing is fitted to the rear of the gates between the rails, again this is glued and jointed into the rail to add yet more strength to the gate and to evenly distribute the weight of the wooden gates when hung. All that is left to do is finish-sand the gates and they are then ready for collection or delivery and pride of place in your driveway / pathway!

Anatomy of a wooden gate

Stiles
Head / Top rail
Transom / Solid middle rail
Rails / Bare rails
Tongue and groove board
Mullions / Infill
Joggles / Horns
Diagonal bracing

The stiles and head are the outer framework of our wooden gates and finish at approx 2 3/4" (69mm) square (the head of our Caldbeck gate is the exception to this as it features a diminised head) .

Made to measure wooden gates by timeserved craftsmen

Heads, transom (where applicable) and rails are tenoned into the stiles of our gates and feature mouldings to help remove any build ups of water that may occur. The stiles themselves are joggle cut to the top, again to act as a run off for moisture.Visible from the rear only, the rails are what the tongue and groove boarding sits upon; the boarding is also jointed into the stiles and heads of our gates. The diagonal bracing always points down towards the bottom hinge - this helps to distrubute the weight of the gates evenly; the bracing is also jointed into each rail it comes into contact with. In our Thirlmere, Caldbeck, Coniston (pictured above) and Grasmere gates, the mullions are tenoned into the transome and head of the gates.
On our range of gates manufactured to suit below ground automation, we manufacture the gates with a solid bottom rail (finishing at approx 5 3/4" / 145mm high) solid bottom rail - for more information on these, please visit our wooden gates for automation section.

Wooden gates and timber garage doors made to measure

Our wooden gates are often imitated, but never bettered!

Anatomy of a wooden gate