A person who has a country dacha or a private house in which he permanently resides, upon completion of construction work, is faced with the problem of choosing a protective device in the form of a gate.
What is better to choose – strong metal gates or beautiful wooden ones? And given the huge selection of a wide variety of models that the modern market offers, it’s easy to get confused.
But if a person values good stability and has an average budget, then the best choice in this situation seems to be installing a gate with a wicket (that is, ordinary swing gates). It is these models that can satisfy absolutely any practical and aesthetic needs.
Also, do not forget that one of the most important criteria is the choice of the entire structure. After all, gates can not only provide protection for a summer cottage from thieves, but also be an entire architectural ensemble that can emphasize all the advantages and benefits of the building.
In addition, they form the initial conclusion about the owner of the house. Therefore, when solving such a sensitive issue, you should not immediately buy the first model you come across.
It is extremely important that they do not disrupt the rest of the design. Even the most beautiful swing gates will look ridiculous if they simply do not stylistically match the overall appearance of the building.
Among other things, there is an option to make swing gates with your own hands. If a man has certain skills and knowledge, then why not. The main thing is to choose high-quality material, and then it’s a matter of technique.
What materials are best to make it from?
Wooden gates
Natural wood can easily fit into any style - from traditional to modern. The texture goes well with the environment, buildings made of wood or brick. True, only sliding or swing doors are made from wood.
Pros:
- Environmental friendliness. 100% natural renewable resource.
- Economical. Construction from boards is the most budget option.
- Easy to assemble. Self-manufacturing of gates is available.
- Possibility of repair. If one board is damaged, it is easy to replace.
Minuses:
- Difficulty of preparation. To extend the life of wood, it is impregnated with protective compounds against fire, water, and pests.
- Fragility. Even despite careful preparation, wood's life expectancy and safety margin are less than those of metal.
But thanks to the large selection of paints, the decoration of wooden gates can be made original by painting it with a gradient, applying patterns or an inscription.
Advice! If you like the appearance of wood, but want something more practical, choose an artificial analogue: a polymer composite. Modern, stylish and reliable WPC doors will delight you with their beauty for many years.
Metal gates
conclusions
After carefully studying the drawings, as well as step-by-step instructions, you can do all the work yourself. It is necessary to pay attention to the selection of necessary materials and get into the flow of work.
It is best to carry out work together with a person who has experience in this area. Then the quality and duration of work will pleasantly surprise you.
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What do you need to know about gates with a wicket?
The first thing to decide for a gate with a wicket door is whether the parts will interact. That is, there will be a built-in gate or a separate one.
Integrating the entrance into the gate seems more convenient, more economical, and simpler in the end. But let's look at it from the other side:
- The presence of a threshold. For example, a door in a sliding gate will definitely have a lower threshold that you will have to step over every time.
- Possibility of breakdown. Accidentally opening the gate with the wicket open will cause damage.
- Reduced security. The intersection of the paths of a pedestrian and a driver will create constant problems for both those entering and those entering.
Professionals advise making a gate for a private house separately - to the right or left of the entrance. This will allow you to properly separate the pedestrian and roadway areas and protect the gate mechanism from damage. To make the structure look solid, it is necessary to correctly make the gate and gate leaves from the same material, in the same style.
What to consider when choosing a design?
In order for the exterior of the house to look harmonious, everything must be combined with each other: the decoration of the facade of the house and other buildings, the material of the fence and doors, the style of execution. Let's look at the main modern trends.
High tech
Choose a minimalist design, modern materials: plastic, metal, WPC. It is better to make the doors blind, and always automatic.
Loft
Rough, industrial materials are suitable: welded metal, brick or concrete supports, burnt wood.
Classic
Timeless black forging with silver or gold plated elements is just right. Perfect for brick or plastered houses.
Provence
The doors are made of wood or forged, preferably with metal elements (hinges, locks, awnings). The pillars are made of stone (sandstone, limestone); as a compromise, choose white-painted brick.
Country
Let the facades, fences and gates consist of 99% wood: choose thick, natural beams, unedged boards. An excellent option for country fencing.
Modern
The main condition is that the gates should not be blind. Preference is given to welded metal structures with abstract geometric or floral patterns.
Decor
In ancient merchant houses, carved inserts decorated not only the lintels and porches, but also the front doors and entrance doors. Today they are trying to abandon wood; this material breaks easily, is susceptible to rotting and deterioration.
- At this point, they've been trying to build road entry structures for centuries. Paint is applied to prevent rust.
- Using paint, you can change the color of the gates and gates every year - today they are white, and next year they can be, for example, blue.
Wrought iron gates and gates come in open and closed types. With the first type, the entire view of the construction site is visible at once, and in the fencing, the metal elements are attached to the steel sheet.
Using special technology, a blacksmith can create not only a family coat of arms, but also various motifs, monograms, and designs.
How can you decorate a gate?
Since decor is a purely individual matter, there are no exact instructions in this matter. Recommendations only. Suitable decorations:
Forged elements
Welded to a metal base. There is already ready-made metal decor on sale - assemble a composition from it, or order it from a specialist for an individual project.
Thread
An alternative to forging for wooden bases. The elements are cut out on gates or separate boards, attached to the doors.
The photo shows a beautiful applied carving
Drawings
3D airbrushing looks especially impressive: it is used to hide nondescript corrugated sheets and blend the gate into the surrounding landscape.
Plants
If you put shoots of creeping ivy or, for example, maiden grapes along the doors, the view will be beautiful, but the gate will not open. So as an alternative, choose small hanging planters with petunias or other flowers.
Important! Flowerpots are hung only on swing gates.
Superstructure
This is no longer about decorating the doors, but rather about the design. Install a beautiful arch on top of an ordinary gate to completely transform the appearance of the entrance group.
The photo shows a wooden superstructure
The working process
For a successful final result, you need instructions for installing the gate yourself. If the weight of the gate is normal, then the choice of metal poles made from pipes is considered optimal. Their diameter averages about 80-100 mm.
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A profiled pipe with a similar diameter is also suitable. This type of support elements copes with the task perfectly.
The following installation methods can be distinguished:
- clogging;
- concreting.
If we are talking about the first method, then the depth to which the pillars are driven is 1.2-1.3 m. This type has its advantages. Among them, reliability and speed of work are of particular importance.
You should drill the hole you need. This should be a depth of half the future depth of the pillar. Columns should be installed in the wells. You can hammer them in with a sledgehammer or impact head. At the same time, pay attention to the verticality of the stand.
The next step is to attach the posts to the fence posts. Then you need to weld the hinges. Designate a place for this in advance.
After this, you should hang the doors on the hinges. At the same time, the correct convergence of the elements to the central part is checked. The second installation method is concreting.
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This method increases rigidity as well as stability. This method will require the use of heavy and wide sashes.
Reinforcement is not carried out. You will need a reinforcing glass. The workflow steps for beautiful homemade gates look like this:
- drilling The diameter is about 200 – 250 mm, the depth is about 1.9 mm;
- prepare sand and crushed stone, they will be needed to fill the bottom of the hole. The components should be compacted carefully, each layer should be about 100 mm;
- the pillar is installed directly on a bed of sand and gravel;
- It is worth pouring the solution around its area. Until it hardens, it is important to install the post vertically. Use supports as anchors.
You can use a reinforced structure for installation. In this case, installation work is carried out in the same way as without the use of reinforcement.
Beautiful examples for inspiration
Everyone has their own criteria for beauty: some like rich decoration, others see aesthetics in minimalism. If you want to make the gate primarily a decoration, so to speak, the “face” of your home, choose complex designs: use forging or welding of metal, as well as artistic wood carving.
For example, in the first example, the gate depicts a stone bridge with lanterns and railings, as well as a fisherman in a boat. On the second there is a beautiful gate with an amazing ornament around the edge and a complex plot.
For something simpler, but no less visually attractive, imitation forging is suitable: as in the example below. Wood-look corrugated sheets, metal frames and decorative hinges give the structure a special charm.
If the gate must be primarily functional, and design is a secondary matter, choose universal modern solutions. Gate shutters should be minimalist with geometric inserts: these will not go out of style for many years.
For example, on the left are WPC doors in a stylish graphite shade. Through holes in the center serve as both decoration and allow the hosts to see the guests, and the guests to see the hosts.
The example on the right is as simple as possible, but in line with modern trends. Owners and designers are gradually abandoning 3-meter blind fences in favor of neat fences - these do not block the view or spoil the landscape. It is especially important if the house is located in a picturesque area.
When choosing a gate design, remember: you need something functional, comfortable and beautiful! See photos of gates for a private house in the gallery and choose the most suitable ones.
