Let’s Rebuild the Gate to the Backyard!

The gate to our backyard was replaced about 6 years ago. The original gate had several boards that were rotting so we had a neighbor build a new one. He built a nice, sturdy frame and used tongue & groove boards for the new gate. Recently, hubby noticed that the two boards to the right of the handle on the gate were warping. The damage seemed to happen overnight, but I’m sure that wasn’t the case.

Original gate

How to fix the gate?

When he saw the damage, hubby asked if I could fix the boards. Well, ya, I could replace just the two boards but when I looked closely at the other boards, I wondered if it might be better to just replace all of them? Afterall, since it was tongue & groove, I’d have to remove the board the handle was attached to as well as the next two boards. Then the new boards would have to click into the extisting ones – if that were possible. After some thought, I decided to replace all the boards. The current boards would be added to my wood stash under the deck for a future project. (see how I beautified that space here)

Step 1 – remove the boards

The next decision was: Do I remove the gate, then the boards? or Do I remove the boards, then the gate? That decision was pretty easy. Because the gate is SO heavy, I chose to see if I could remove the boards while the gate was still in place. As you can see, some of the screws were partially imbedded in the wood and all of them had been painted a few times. On top of that, I am notorious for stripping screws.

So…very carefully, using a manual screwdriver, I eased out each screw. There were 6 screws in each board, and I successfully (shocking myself) removed all but 1!!! The last screw on the board that held the handle was too deeply imbedded for the screwdriver to get a grip. After the other 10 boards were removed, I took the frame down by removing the bolts that held the hinges to the gate. Since the gate would be in the garage for a couple of days, I created a ‘Please do not come into my backyard‘ barrier with some of the boards. I attached the boards to the inside of the posts using screws.

Step 2 – paint the frame and hardware

After removing the last board, I sanded the frame and applied two coats of exterior paint. The paint will help protect the wood. I also used black spray paint on the hardware.

Step 3 – attach boards to frame

Step 4 – fix the fence

With the gate removed and before hanging the new one, it was a good time to repair the right side of the fence. Over the years, it had become disconnected from the corner post and that section of fence was leaning toward the gate by about an inch. A few years ago, since I wasn’t ready to have a new section built, my contractor attached a treated 2″ x 4″ board between the posts to keep the section from leaning any further. After I removed the gate, I noticed that the 2 x 4 had started to split from the pressure of the fence leaning. It was time we addressed this issue before it got worse.

I disconnected the treated 2 x 4 so hubby and I could straighten the fence. Well, together we couldn’t even budge it. I wondered if we would be able to straighten it if we cut a board the width of the opening at the bottom of the space and then shimmied it up toward the top? It was worth a try. After cutting the board, we placed it at the highest point between the 2 posts where it fit and be the correct width. Then, using a hammer, hubby tapped it upward while I steadied it, until it reached the top where we added a couple of shims to make it the correct width. It actually worked!!! Once the fence was straight, I re-attached the 2 x 4 to the post & cut it even with the post using a reciprocating saw. Now that the fence was no longer leaning, I was able to attach the top & middle cross bars to the corner post. Pretty proud of the two of us for being able to fix this ourselves!

Step 5 – hang gate

Hubby and I carried the new, very heavy, gate to the fence. We sat a couple of boards on the ground between the posts and set the gate on top of them. This helped to line it up with the hinges. Once it was in place, I used clamps to hold the gate frame to the post. I was then able to line up the hinges and drill holes in the new gate. After the gate was attached to the hinges, I attached the handle & lock. With the gate in place, I could really see how uneven the curve was! Even though it would have been just fine to leave it that way, I knew it would bug me. I started doing some research to see if there was something I could buy that would cover it the waviness and give the gate a nice, even curve.

Step 6 – fix curve

I contacted the sign shop to see if they could make a metal arch that I could attach to the front of the gate. They said they would try. Their concern was getting the curve and size just right. I made a cardboard template for them and took several measurements. I was confident they would be able to bring my vision to life! I dropped the template off at the shop and waited.

Step 7 – attach metal arch

Before long, I received a text that my arch was done! I was SO excited to that I went to pick it up that day! When I got it home, I held my breath as I held it up along the top of the gate. While it didn’t match the curve exactly, it was going to work!!! I attached it with bolts, and it looked beautiful! From the front that is…..

The view of the arch from the backyard was not so beautiful. Once again, I had to ask myself if it really mattered? Who would see it other than hubby and I? But that’s just the point, I would see it. After a very short discussion with myself, I contacted the sign shop and requested a 2nd arch!

Gate: Original, rebuilt, new

Before, During, After

When hubby originally asked if I could fix the gate, my initial response was ‘no’. Then, when he said he would ask our neighbor to do it (not the same neighbor who built the last gate – they have since moved), I took some time to think about what it would take to fix it and changed my mind. I mean, what made me think I couldn’t do it? Because it was something I hadn’t done before? How many times have I tried something new? SO many! Did you see the pool deck I built?! I was completely shocked that I was able to do that – all by myself even – and it’s sturdy & cute too! I’m so happy that I took on this project! We both just LOVE the contrast of the wood and metal with the white fence!

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