my neighbor and i are building a gate across the shared driveway between our houses.
it is approx 10′, so minus the posts, it will be two operable 4.5′ gates that meet in the middle. made of PT wood.
is there any hardware that will allow us to lock and unlock the gate from either side?
i’ve looked and can’t find anything and hoped you guys might have some ideas. i am hoping to avoid using a chain and padlock.
i’m in ottawa and it’s snowing as i type (we haven’t had snow in november in a few years!) so i guess this will limit the choices.
thanks for any help.
Replies
I just put in a fence that needed some hardware that was better then the choices you get at the hardware store. I needed a latch that locked every time the gate swung shut. My family is going to use it and they don't lock things like I ask them to.
When you design something for other people to use it gets complicated.
Here's the link to the hardware. http://www.hardwaresource.com/
You'll need some kind of 'Cane bolt'
It mounts on the vertical rail of the gateand drop's down into a strike plate cemented into the pavement. Normally, it must be locked or unlocked by hand. A padlock that secures the bolt, can secure the bolt from tampering. The bolt is found in Ace Hdwre. Since you must drill a hole in the bolt, try to buy a sturdy ( one at least 5/8" thick.
The 'strike' can be made of a short pipe nipple.
Google up locking cane bolt
Edited 11/27/2007 1:20 pm ET by Steinmetz
is there any hardware that will allow us to lock and unlock the gate from either side?
I would consider leaving a gap between the gates, and mount a cane bolt on the edge of each gate. This way, the gates can be latched in the open position as well as closed, and the cane bolts can be accessed from inside or outside the gates.
For the padlock, a heavy eye screw or eye bolt (depending upon the construction of the gate) could be mounted about half-way up on the edge of each gate, offset slightly so that they mate up when the gates are closed.
Of course, I'm assuming that this gate is more for utilitarian purposes, to provide security, and not simply decorative, where the gap might be unsightly.
Bob
This isn't elegant, but i'll bet you could make one that was.
http://bigwhitebox.com/search/?terms=5515
What you picture is similar to what I had in mind that I have seen someplace.It was like aknife switch lelctrical switch where the blade rotated over from one gate to lay into a seat in the other and a spring loaded snap caught on a divot in the knife. It could be locked by using a padlock.But the photo of yours points out one very important thing needed for this set of gates to work and be lockable with anythijng other than a chain foir long. That is how they are mis-aligned. A double gate must aalways be mounted on posts or columns that are strong and set deep enough to not move from frost action etc. This other link has some gate latcches tha are lockable, but I see them as more for on a porch or something rther than out at the end of driveway or out on the ranchhttp://www.hardwaresource.com/Store_ViewCatLevel3.asp?Cat=616&OrderID=
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thanks for all the replies!
from other gates i've built out of PT, i know that the hardware comes out of alignment as the wood dries, so this is a problem with any hardware that is too finickey (sp?).
the hardware from the link piffin posted is exactly what i'm after, but there is no way it would stand up to winter around here.
splintergroupie, your idea would work, but the top of the gate is out of reach. also, 2 pounds 70 is a bit steep for a picture!
bob, great idea, if i can keep the gap from being too big.
it stopped snowing, so we got the gate done. it turned out great, now i just have to figure out how to lock it.
for anyone who's interested, we used a kit called InstaGate (sorry, no link) that we got at the depot. it's 4 metal brackets with built -in hinges that you attach to 2X material to make the frame, any height and up to 72" wide, and then detail the boards however you want. great product that i've used before, it comes with SS screws and only costs 20 bucks [$20.18 US---:)]
again, thanks all.
I can appreciate your lack of enthusiasm for chains and padlocks. I spend a lot of time up in the mountain country east of here and every gate has quite an assortment of locks. The property owner has at least one, adjoining property owners may account for several, PG&E usually has one of their locks, and it's common to see a couple of padlocks that have been abandoned. Sorting through a key ring can sometimes become almost a career. - lol
You can get hardware that will let you lock a gate and - if you get along well with the neighbor - one lock with duplicate keys should work well. You might still have some issues with delivery people, the fire department, police, etc. The only thing I've seen that can be reached from either side, however, is a fairly slack chain.
Edited 11/27/2007 7:54 pm by Dave45
Read all the posts, and don't know if this'll work in the frozen north but here it is.
Got two pair of 10' metal gates (makes a 20' openings) that I share with neighbors. We just put some eyebolts on the gate stiles with the 4' galvanized drop bars that fit into a couple of buried deck foundation blocks. The bars drop into the slots to stabilize the gates from windl. Just use a combo lock with about 6' of chain so a person can lift the bar and push it open and get through, but not enough to drive in.