A swing gate is a gate that opens by swinging. It is commonly used on driveways and decks to give access to a yard or outside deck. This project will show you how to build a swing gate for your deck using some basic carpentry skills. Swing gates are a nice way to establish a division between different areas of your deck and ensure that no one strays into the wrong spot.
When you’re building a swing gate for your deck or porch, it’s important that the gate fits according to the measurements of your opening. After all, if you build a perfectly good gate but it doesn’t fit over the opening, then what did you really build? If you don’t have an existing wooden frame in place to attach hinges to, follow these steps:
Cut the 2×4 boards to length.
- To cut the boards to length, use a miter saw to make 45-degree cuts on each end.
- Measure the length of the 2×4 board with a tape measure and mark it with a pencil.
- Clamp one end of the board in place and use your miter saw to make your first cut at an angle that is equal to half of its length (for example, if your board measures 3 inches long, you would set your miter saw for 1¼ inch).
- After making this cut, clamp down onto this end again and adjust your blade so that it cuts at an angle that’s double its length (for instance, if your board measured 3 inches long last time around, set up for 6½ inches). Then make another cut as before this time through both layers of wood to get yourself back down to exactly half-length again.
Stain the wood and let dry.
Stain the wood. This step is optional, but it will help protect the wood and give it a nice color. Choose a good quality stain that is appropriate for your type of decking. A brush will work best for applying the stain so make sure you have one on hand before starting this process.
Stain can be tricky because there’s no real way to tell how much you need until after you’ve put it on your decking material. You’ll want to apply enough that all surfaces are covered but not too much or else you’ll end up wasting some of your supplies. The goal here is simple: cover all surfaces evenly with just enough product so there aren’t any visible gaps between grains/splinters left behind after wiping off excess material (don’t forget about corners). Use a clean rag or paper towel dipped in water if necessary when removing any excess paint/stain from where there isn’t supposed to be any present (like where two pieces touch).
Drill pilot holes through the boards, then attach them together with screws.
- Drill pilot holes through the boards, then attach them together with screws. If your swing gate is made of two-by-fours, you will want to drill a pilot hole at each end of each board and in the middle, as well. Once all your pilot holes are drilled and you have assembled your gate frame with the threaded rods and nuts, use an electric screwdriver (or cordless drill) to secure the boards together by driving screws into each hole from both sides of the gate.
Attach the bolts.
Using the drill and a 5/16-inch drill bit, drill two holes in each end of the H-shaped aluminum channel. Make sure that you don’t drill too close to where the bolt will go through so that it does not become stripped when tightening it down onto the wood later on.
Attach one bolt for each side of your gate using an Allen wrench (or screwdriver) by putting it into one hole at a time and then turning it until tight. Do this for both sides first before moving on to attaching them together at their center point.
When you have stained wood and all of your tools, it’s time to start building.
Now that you have your tools and materials, it’s time to start building. First, take one of your 4×4 posts and drill a hole in each end of it using the 3/8″ bit. This will be your pivoting point for the gate door. Now you can go ahead and mount this piece on both sides so that it lines up with the other two pieces of wood. Make sure that this piece is notched out for where the hinges will be attached later on in this process.
Final words
I hope this guide helps you build your own swing gate for deck. Remember, building a swing gate is not a hard task but can take some time to complete.
