Custom Modern Wood and Metal Fence Gate - February 2021

Overview

This project involved designing and building a custom entry gate that combined the sustainability of wood elements with the sleek design of stainless steel. The goal of this project was to maximize privacy and curb appeal, all under a reasonable budget. The gate is composed of two main components: a metal frame and a row of wood slats.

I wanted the gate's metal frame to be mostly hidden, including the opening hardware. Ideally, the wood slats would look like they’re floating. To achieve this, I mounted the slats to the gate from the rear. I started by measuring the path width and deciding on a gate height. A clearance of 2" was used at the bottom and sides of the gate for proper spacing. I mounted the slats 1.5" apart—a sweet spot between privacy and design. I then cut, prepped, and welded 1 1/4" steel tubing into a rectangle that fit these dimensions. I welded 90-degree brackets onto the upright sections, spaced 9" apart (1.5" gap + 7.5" slats). I also welded a female gate release to the inside of the frame at the appropriate height. Finally, I sanded, primed, and painted the entire frame using Rust-Oleum textured black finish paint.

I knew that I wanted wide wood slats for a modern look. With this in mind, I purchased 1x8 redwood boards. These were less than an inch thick, providing a low profile and light weight, but were wide enough to achieve the look I wanted. I spaced each board 1.5" apart. This way, the gate wouldn’t look like a solid wood wall, but instead would have sleek gaps that maintained privacy. I did not finish the wood. Since the gate would be outdoors, I used brass screws to mount the slats. These were #8 x 0.5" screws. Each slat was secured to one 90-degree bracket on each side, using a total of two screws per bracket.

Overall, I'm happy with how the gate turned out. It maintains privacy, looks sleek, and still stands strong, and I’ve gotten compliments from passing neighbors. Unfortunately, years of direct sunlight and weather have turned the wood gray, lowering its curb appeal. On my next gate build, I’ll make sure to seal any wood I use to preserve its color. While my family has moved since this build, Google Street View still shows the gate as installed. For a 5+ year-old gate, I'm pretty stoked!

What I Learned

• How to weld galvanized brackets to stainless steel safely
• Fastening techniques for sleek looks
• Designing with both aesthetics and structural integrity in mind