Matching an Iron Gate to an Existing Fence

By the time the first fence panel is measured, the gate's height, picket size and color have mostly been decided for it. The matching steps used by iron gates georgetown the derek bordeaux group are stricter than a quick eyeball, because a new gate beside an older iron fence in Georgetown, TX shows every difference in the light. Match the fence first, then fit the gate to the opening.

How is the height matched?

The gate top is set to the fence top at the posts, with the same rail height and the same spacing between rails. Fence lines on a slope step down, so the gate follows the grade of the nearest panel rather than a level line. A gate that is an inch high at the hinge side looks like a mistake from the street.

How are the pickets matched?

Picket size, spacing and top style are copied from the fence. Five eighths inch square, three inches clear and a flat top is common, and it reads the same once the gate is hung. Old fences often use round bar or a size no longer stocked, so a sample picket is taken to the shop and matched by hand.

How is the color matched?

Color is matched to the fence as it is now, not as it was painted. Sun fades black powder coat toward gray in a few years, so a fresh gloss black gate beside a faded fence stands out. A sample chip is compared outdoors at noon, and a satin or matte topcoat often fits better than a gloss.

What about an older steel fence on limestone soil?

Older posts set in limestone soil are often still firm and are kept. The gate posts are new and heavier, and are tied to the fence line with matching caps. Where an old fence has rust at the base, the gate is not hung until the neighboring panels are cleaned and recoated.

What if the fence is a different metal?

Aluminum fences are lighter and need a lighter gate. A steel gate on an aluminum fence will look heavy and may need its own posts. The gate and fence are tied by color and picket line, not by sharing a post. Cap style, rail height and the gap under the bottom rail are checked last, since those small details are what the eye reads first from the road.