When you buy a garden gate, there are quite a few things which you have to consider in terms of fittings and accessories. The choices which you make vary dramatically depending on things such as where the gate is situated. If it is on the outside boundary of your property, then you will obviously want more security. Another factor is the use. For example, a gate which needs regular access is going to need considerably different fittings than one which needs to be securely locked for most of the time.
One thing which is a constant across all of the fittings which are available to buy for your garden gate is the colours which are available; the choices are black, galvanised and bright zinc. Another thing which is worth noting is that all of these accessories are also perfectly suited to being used for a garden shed.
The first gate accessory which we wanted to mention is a cabin Hook. The cabin hook is fitted to the gate and then the eye is usually fitted to the brick wall, to secure your gate open in a more stable way than just using a brick, and will stop it blowing in the very strong winds which we can have. This will, in turn, stop the gate from being damaged if it does get caught in the wind, as well as making it safer for anyone near the gate and more convenient if you need access through the gate. These are a particularly good option if you’re fitting a side gate which has direct access to your garden.
Functionally, a bolt does the opposite of a cabin hook. These are designed to secure the gate closed. However, on their own, they do not fully lock the gate. There are things which you can do to ensure that they securely lock your gate. Mainly, most bolts (except tower bolts) are compatible with padlocks, which would prevent them from being opened. Another option, which doesn’t guarantee full security but does improve it, is to fit a bolt lower down the gate rather than at the top. The benefit of this is that if you have a solid gate, then someone couldn’t reach over the top and unlock the gate from the other side. Some people would even go one step further and fit 2 bolts on their gate for an added level of security.
A larger gate bolt option to opt for is a drop bolt; this choice is usually found on garage doors or larger gates. The key difference between a drop bolt and a Brenton bolt or tower bolt is that the drop bolt is vertical rather than horizontal, and it fixes down into the ground rather than to a gate post, wall plate or another gate. The fact that they fix into the ground combined with the fact that they are longer than standard gate bolts gives them a greater level of security. A drop bolt is most useful when you have a pair of gates and for the most part want to keep
A garden gate latch is one of the most common accessories, after hinges of course. A side gate is lost without a latch, as it allows you to use it like a door to your property, accessible from both sides of it. The most common type of latch is a ring gate latch. This allows you to fit a handle on both sides of the gate or door, which is perfect for a side gate to your garden or a shed. There are two versions of the ring gate latch: regular and the twisted ring latch. However, the only difference is the texture and design of the ring itself and functionally, they are the same. A Suffolk latch is a mechanism which is more like that of an internal door of an older cottage but is more than suited to a garden gate. The latch is designed with a thumb press, so it has quite a different feel from a ring gate latch but they do the same job.
Next is an auto gate catch. These fall under the umbrella of latches, and I thought it was worth noting just how useful an auto catch is. As a gate swings shut, an auto catch will ensure it is securely closed. Any gate which you want to easily and properly shut behind you should have one of these on, whether it is to keep children safe, dogs out of the vegetable patch or any other reason.
Whilst bolts, catches and latches are a great way of securing your gate shut, the most secure way is to fit a lock. Keyed locks are the best way to ensure security, and it’s not even close, as they have that extra level of guarantee compared to bolts. Furthermore, you can choose between keyed alike or individual key patterns, depending on whether you want all your gate locks to be opened with the same key. You can also get a lock which has an auto catch built into the mechanism, which combines a lock with an auto catch and provides maybe the easiest gate lock on the market. We stock high-quality gate locks from Eliza Tinsley, Birkdale and Zedlock, all of whom are respected manufacturers and are committed to excellence.
Whilst all of the other accessories are optional, hinges are the one thing which you need to have for your gate to function. Furthermore, the right set of hinges is essential. At the bottom line, the hinges have to create a strong enough joint to ensure your gate remains hung correctly and can be opened easily. This means you need to have hinges which are at least a third of the width of the gate itself so they adequately support the weight of the gate. The main type of hinges which you would encounter for a garden gate is a tee hinge. They also have options; they can be light, medium or heavy. This relates to the thickness and strength of the hinges, so for example, a picket gate would only need light or medium tee hinges, whereas a heavy timber gate would need heavy tee hinges. For a driveway or heavy double gate, you would maybe consider using heavy reversible hinges, which offer greater support and help to spread the weight more effectively. However, for most gates, tee hinges will be more than capable.
The last accessory which we wanted to mention was gate springs or closers. These are less commonly fitted to garden gates. A gate closer does what it says on the tin; if fitted correctly, then the tension in the spring will close the gate after you’ve gone through and let go of it. Another thing to mention is that the springs are adjustable, and the angle at which you fix them will vary the tension so that you can control how slowly they close. While they are not essential, they can be very good when you have young children. This is two-fold as they help to shut the gate to stop a child getting out, but they also can close the gate slowly, which reduces the chance of the gate swinging too hard and hitting them.
I know that was a lot of information, and that to make a final decision on what might be best suited to you is very difficult. We are more than happy to have a chat on the phone or via email if that is more helpful to you. You can reach us by calling us on 01980 669900 or emailing us at enquiries@fencingessentials.co.uk