fence line tie ins for new gates
The new leaf starts pulling sideways on the fence post beside it, as the notes at gate installation round rock freesizer describe. A gate installation in Round Rock, TX has to tie into the fence beside it without letting the old line carry the weight of the new leaf.
How does a gate join a wood fence?
A gate on a wood fence gets its own steel posts, set apart from the wood posts. The wood panels are then cut back to meet the steel post and fastened with bolts through the rail ends. Wood posts around Williamson County often show rot at the base, so the crew probes them with a screwdriver before trusting any of them.
What changes with a masonry or brick column?
A masonry column can carry a gate only if it contains steel and a footing sized for the load. Many older brick columns around Round Rock are hollow veneer and cannot hold a hinge. The usual fix is a steel tube set inside or beside the column, with the brick used as trim. A dry run with a drill shows whether the core is solid.
How is a gate tied to a metal fence?
A metal fence line takes a gate most easily, since the posts, rails and pickets are all steel or aluminum. The new post is welded or bolted to the adjacent rail so the two move together. Mixed metals call for isolation, and a galvanized frame next to an aluminum fence gets a coating break so corrosion does not start where they touch.
Which post carries the load?
The hinge post carries nearly all of the weight, and the latch post only has to hold the catch. Corner posts and end posts in the old fence handle side pull, so a corner near the gate may be reinforced with a diagonal brace or a deeper footing. Expansive clay soil adds seasonal movement, which is why the footing is made wider near Pflugerville and Forest Creek.
Does the fence height have to match?
The gate top should line up with the fence top, or step in a clear way. A gate that rides an inch above the fence looks like a mistake, and one that dips at the latch shows a settling post. The crew checks the fence rails and sets the gate height against the highest rail, then adjusts the picket spacing to match.
What about the first weeks after the tie in?
Fence panels beside a new gate settle as they take new load. Near Brushy Creek and Old Settlers Park, wet seasons shift old posts, and a rail that was tight in spring may loosen by summer. A check of the bolts and the post lean after a few weeks catches small movement before it spreads along the line.