Gate Posts

[AndyD]

Not sure if there is a limit on how far off topic is permitted but here goes...
Looking to fit aluminium gates to the drive for security / privacy and having spoken to a few specialist companies am thinking of doing most of it myself instead - none inspired any confidence!

I've been trying to find out some at least rough ideas on what is needed for concreting posts into the ground to support the gates.

Thinking about the enormous range of careers / specialities / experience / ingenuity displayed on the forum I thought maybe someone has some knowledge they could share?
Cheers,
Andy

[Skoti]

Andy,

you need to sink your gate posts at least 70cm, so if possible dig a hole up to a metre deep. It's better to use a post hole digger which makes a tidier hole and costs you less on concrete, I bought one from Screwfix (but not the auger type).

I also used a long pinch bar and hammer to loosen the soil as I got the hole deeper, making it easier to extract with the post hole digger.

Chuck a handful of coarse gravel into the hole first for drainage, then a bed of concrete (use a very dry mix).

Position your post (with post level attached, Screwfix again) and then add concrete, a shovelful at a time. I used a length of timber to compact the dry concrete mix around the post, and kept checking the post level as I filled up the hole.

I'm not a professional but this has worked for me and stood the test of time, but maybe some one who knows better will be along shortly...

Good luck.

Skoti

[AndyD]

Thanks Skoti,
Sounds hopeful - I was getting a bit concerned that Googling turned up lots of advice for enormous foundations with reinforcement etc.
I hope that using the lighter aluminium gates would help keep weight down and reduce need for excessive digging.
Cheers,
Andy

[Skoti]

Andy,

it might also be useful to mention that I used 150mm dia galvanised steel posts into holes that were approx 30-40cm dia.

Hope this helps.

[Bryanj]

Depends on how big the gates are, large heavy ones wòuld need a deeper buried post. I sank concrete fence posts 2 ft for a 6ft fence

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Not sure if there is a limit on how far off topic is permitted but here goes...
Looking to fit aluminium gates to the drive for security / privacy and having spoken to a few specialist companies am thinking of doing most of it myself instead - none inspired any confidence!

I've been trying to find out some at least rough ideas on what is needed for concreting posts into the ground to support the gates.

Thinking about the enormous range of careers / specialities / experience / ingenuity displayed on the forum I thought maybe someone has some knowledge they could share?
Cheers,
Andy

Not sure how strong Aluminium Gates are but personally I would go for Steel with the option of galvanised for longevity & security.
Most alloy gates look very decorative  but one pry bar and you are usually in and you will need a new gate afterwards.

My first set of wrought iron gates lasted 25 years they had an enclosed 5 lever mortice lock with an interlocked lift bolt- they were only changed when I went for electric operated plus I wanted closer rail spacing to prevent our Chihuahuas from escaping.

No posts for me as the top hinge was on a wall plate between me & neighbour. Anti Climb spikes prevent the obvious route in. I locked myself out once and had to climb over the gate. Both shoe soles were punctured with small puncture wounds to my feet arches that bled slightly!

[Moorey]

  Rather than concrete use Postcrete  far easier and far quicker.  You can feel it going off as you hold the post.  These are the last pair of gates and fence I made approx 15 years ago photo taken 3 years ago. These are in Postcrete and have never moved if you look at the levels on the center of the gates and there is no means of adjusting them. Postcrete doesn't need mixing simply throw a bucket of water in the hole and tip in the postcrete. These are big heavy steel gates across a road. These are in 1mtr deep.

  That is the original green paint on top of red oxide.

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[Skoti]

Andy,

mines are certainly not in the same league as Moorey's gates.

And as Brian points out it depends on how big your gates are, so just for reference here's some photos of my galvanised steel gates being fitted. (2007)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/epY8uxnGjemBqx8e9

[AndyD]

Thanks guys,
I think the gates weigh max. around 90kgs each in aluminium so probably less than the steel ones in the photos and would hopefully get less rough treatment.
Agree steel would be more secure but these are really more for privacy and security less crucial.
All feedback sounds good - if it's like digging a bit deeper / bigger fence post hole I'm pretty happy i can do that myself - where I wouldn't tackle big pads with reinforcement etc.

Thanks again,
Andy

[Moorey]

  Looking beyond the gates you would think the road went to somewhere nice. Not really, a chemical plant I used to work at. 

[Skoti]

Andy & others,

Sorry to re-visit this topic, but I've just re-read my original post and realized I offered incorrect advice.

"Chuck a handful of coarse gravel into the hole first for drainage, then a bed of concrete (use a very dry mix)". 

That's obviously wrong, the gate post should sit directly on top of coarse gravel, which then allows water to drain away and not accumulate in the post.




It's been 13 years since I done my big fencing job, my memory must be slipping.
Apologies if I've misled anyone.

Regards


Skoti



PS
It's also handy that you can fine tune the height of the post by adding more gravel until it's just right, before the concrete or postcrete is added.

   

[AndyD]

Skoti,
No worries - still at the long hard thinking stage with the gates.
I've been carefully digging a test hole to locate drain and power which I know are in the area - found both and of course they're exactly where I wanted to put the post!
More thinking to be done but at least now I know for certain where the services are. When we had the garage built I spoke with the various service companies to try and check where things run from the road but they have no record at all so I wanted to make sure.
Hopefully will firm up post position and get cracking with the next step.

Cheers,
Andy

[Bryanj]

If you cant go deep because of sevices go bigger area and down the sides, the postcrete will set a a single lump and should stop movement

[kevski]

Just make the hole width as small as possible in relation to the post, good and deep though and postcrete is wonderful stuff sets in no time, my brother has been doing it for around 35 years.

[andy120t]

Just winding back to the original post here - off topic? Not at all. Anything goes .. and not least now when most of us are stuck at home looking for some sort of inspiration. I've learnt a lot from this post!