How to add a gate to existing Colorbond fence?

[Old-gal24]

Hi folks

Hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction?

I have an existing fence, and would ideally like to make a gate way there so I can enter the yard on both sides of my house. 

I don't have a lot of space to play with and it would have to be strong, lockable/secure as on the other side is our pool, but I am so very over having to go all the way around to turn on a tap which is further back in the pool yard along the side of the house.

I can't afford to pay anyone to do this and wondering if I could get some pointers/suggestion to possibly tackle this job myself and on a tight budget.

1) I've added a few pics. 

1a) The pic with the Yellow markings is where the gate would have to be, right up against the house/opening outwards. 

2) The bricked out area on the ground, is where I've installed the large rainwater tank left of pic.

3) I'm limited as it's only wide enough to put a small gateway, only permitted to be no bigger than a metre.

4) On the other side is a small garden shed, with enough room to walk/between house and shed.

5) Below are some of the NSW Councils rules regarding gates into a pool yard, as a guide

. 

In New South Wales (NSW), pool gates must meet the following regulations:

• Opening direction: Gates must open away from the pool
• Closing: Gates must be self-closing and self-latching, and must close automatically from any position
• Latch release: The latch release mechanism must be at least 1500 mm above the ground, or at least 150 mm below the top of the fence 
• Gate width: Gates should be kept to a minimum width, no more than 1 meter
• No climbing: There should be no footholds or handholds closer than 90 cm apart 

Appreciated any advice, as I've been searching online and can't seem to find a simple version or way around this task, I was hoping to have it look like just a panel in the fence, as I don't plan to be using it as a regular access point, but going into a pool yard may make that more difficult.  *(I may give my local council a call to check).

Thanks in advance folks, any advice would be well and truly appreciated.

This Old-gal

Area requiredNo bigger then yellow area as Rainwater tank comes to bricked areaInside view- gate will have to open outwards

[EricL]

Hello @Old-gal24 

In order to place a gate in that spot the fence will need to be taken apart and a Colorbond post placed in the middle and leaving enough space for a 900mm gate. The rails of the fence will need to be cut down to fit the space between the new post. The Colorbond sheets will need to be cut down as well with a tin snip in order to fit into the new space. The fence will then need to be reassembled. The Colorbond gate will need to be ordered from the special orders desk. 

To comply with pool fence laws, you'll need to use a MagnaLatch Pool Gate Latch Safety Kit With TruClose Hinges. This will automatically close the gate every time its opened and the latch is a self-locking magnetic latch that can only be opened from the top of the post. The hinges can be mounted inside or outside depending on how you want it to open. Since there is no material change to your fence aside from adding a post and a new gate, there should be no point along the fence where you can climb it.    

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @Old-gal24 

Gate width

To  do this  job you would need two new posts 50mm x 50mm x 2.4M on  each side of the gate  sturdy for the  gate hinges and gate  latch  on on the brick wall  the other along the fence,  The  wall post can be cut to 1.8mm and be fixed to wall no digging required.  You  will need a colorbond post the  C shaped post to encapsule the infill panels it will be possible to reuse the old one off the wall.

The  gate itself can  be  Bought at Oxworks Sydney for the best  price (I dont know if bunnings  price match and will sell you one of their suppliers gates for the same?)

a standard gate 930 x 1800mm in TRim line pattern (same as your fence.)  $229.09

You will need to cut the old fence to the  correct length I like using a nibbling tool added to my cordless drill it gives  cleaner cuts with out burning the steel and paint.

Add The hinges @EricL  meantioned and you are getting  close to finished.

How ever @Old-gal24   hold the phone A better solution

Is to use a pope 2 way tap outlet  or  4 way .  And  add a  second new hose off it and run it into your pool area under the fence and have a hand piece or tap in there and leave tap always turned on ready for use .

So you will have your water outlet ready to go any time .  Talk to us about what you doing  with the hose in side ie  sprinkler etc as you will need a  shut off valve (tap) for your use.

If you go away holidays  turn the popes  tap off just incase of a hose burst.  

This will save you  $$$ on a new gate and all the hard ware.

Hope this helps.

[Old-gal24]

@EricL 

Eric

Thank you for taking the time to reply, 

I'm hoping to keep my costs down and do some or most of the work myself.  e.g  making the gate out of the fencing material/colourbond sheet, making a frame to go around it.  I do already have a steel post, so would only need to purchase the frame work.

Cheers

Old-gal 

[Old-gal24]

@Jewelleryrescue  @EricL 

Thank you so very much for taking the time to reply in such detail.. VERY much appreciated. 

Out in the boomies so far too far from Sydney to access Oxworks as recommended.  We do have some fencing installer here, but my gosh the charge like a wounded bull. I'm on an extremely tight budget right now, so trying to keep my costs to a minimum.

I do actually have two posts on 90x90 the other more like 100 x 100, which I could use.  I would then have to source the aluminium frame work for the gate it's self, utilising the existing colourbond sheet that I cut away from the fence.  

Of course I realize I will have put all the appropriate hinges and locks to meet fencing regulations in NSW.

Your suggestion of having the plumbing extended through to the front side on the house is a good one. 

The water is actually in the pool/back yard and I would dearly like to have water in my front yard, as I've just built all new gardens.  I would have to cut a hole in the fence frame to go underneath as it's on solid concrete, and the fence goes straight to the ground. 

I would also have to have something that can take our horrid heat and cold and the pressure associated with that. 

For now I have a hose over the fence and having to run back and forwards.. which isn't a lot of fun when your aged and a bit disabled. 

Ideally it would be great being able to access the back yard from both sides of the house.  As well as have access to the water for my front yard.

I was hoping to be able to tackle this myself *(independent old gal here) and hate waste.

Once again many thanks for taking the time to reply, and with such helpful info.

Old~gal

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @Old-gal24 

I hear  you  clearly when you say  your on a  budget.  Great your avoiding rip offs I want the best cheapest easiest  solution  for your needs so  lets  keep  exploring this  project.  

So  another possibility  is have a plumber put a  tap in the front yard on your house this might be cheaper adjacent a shower bathroom toilet or kitchen area.  As I suspect your vunerable to some frosts and hose freezing issues The  ground hose wants insulation or turned of at winter time. Explore that  cost hurdle mean while  work on  current ideas. A tap directly   from the house will have a little more freezing  protection.  Wont a  standard hose go under the fence  gap  where the paves are maybe if you took hose connector off  first so its just the hose diameter your theading.  If  Concrete  is under the fence blocking you it is easier to  chip the concrete  with a cold chisel and hammer with a bit of persistance rather then cut the fence.

Re  gate option

LOL  @Old-gal24   You have 90mm  posts and 100mm  post your are like  me and dont  skimpy  on strength I bet the side walls are 4mm thick  or  better too. maybe 6mm .  They will withstand any thing. It also  sounds you are highly practicable to your credit I also hate  waste too  but  can you cut and drill thick steel posts at  need are you able to  dig a 600mm fence hole?  

Oxworks gate  saves a lot of work is it worth asking there delivery price to you home it might be expense? But the saving on the gate is  worth the possible  cost as it is a pool gate not a hen  house door in case of inspection,  Is  some one you know visiting sydney for  a  pickup.

Its a selfish thing  I dont  like the thoughts of  you  facing  building a  gate your self as  it is not easy to get a good working one and custom building one is harder again. I am  not saying you cant do it .   Possible a welder in town can build then make your gate and swing it?

But if your super keen  what hardware places  do you have local to you so I can look up materials  we might need local for you. Private  message me you  nearest  town  I can look at possibilies if you  wish..

I ran my own hose to the other side of the house.

I ran a   my  own   hose (connected to a outside  tap outlet)  up into the roof and down again on the other side  of the house  to a  regular tap fitting  using a proper household poly pipe type water hose to a  tap fitting mounted on the wall.  This  will be alot easier than gate  building  but  with its  own issues.  

Your  the  boss @Old-gal24  if you can manage the gate your self we go  for it .

Black hose through roof

Black hose fittings and new wall tap

[Old-gal24]

@Jewelleryrescue 

You get me.  Trying to think outside the box. BEING on a disability pension makes things super tight, more so right now as my adult daughter (whom I am full time carer for) and I have just purchased this house and having loads of out of pocket expenses associated with it.  I maybe better off waiting till I can save for a plumber.

We have a Bunnings here in Dubbo, which has just undergone a huge extension which should be up and running very soon.  And of course, the other hardware store much smaller. BUT like everything, since Covid prices have skyrocketed.  Making it harder to get things done.

I truly can't thank you enough for your amazing advice, you have certainly given me food for thought.  RE: cutting my work load down.  Installing a tap in the front yard outside the fence will certainly be my best very long term option.  Safety wise more than anything, having a gateway into the pool yard is not the best way about going through things.. Moreso as we are already having issues with ?? KIDs pulling out my newly planted trees and plants playing havoc in the new front gardens I'm trying to establish.. which is crushing me.. doing all that work only to come out and find everything I planted the days prior on the ground getting baked in the heat or things flipped over and up the paddock.  There will be many that don't make it thanks to who ever is causing such heartache as I am loose plants on almost a daily basis with 32 temps this week alone...  I'm sure they think it's a huge joke.. BUT to me it certainly isn't.

Next thing will have to be saving for a front fence, and police advised me to install security cameras..  Yep more cost, that I certainly don't need, or have right now.

Many thanks again for taking your time to help this old gal out..

Cheers 

Old~gal

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @Old-gal24 

Fantatic you  have a  new   home .    Lets   protect it is the first order of  business before fixing it  up.

If you feel  house is in danger from dangerous vandals ie fire bombing it  insure your house for double its value is the ultimate guide.  But insurance is through the roof pardon the  pun insure as the last ditch  effort just in case.  I cant afford it.

You  right every  cent you  spend needs to count and is the main reason I suggest gate change idea because  a hidden cost is if you dont have the right tools( with out knowing you tool list.) thats a bunch of  extra money for a one off job. 

I am sorry about  your plants I know  how much  I spend on  plants and it hurts not to mention  all your hard work.

  I also  had weird things vandalism in our front yard and now  street  most  of use cameras and security lights and the problems diminished from our area, hope this may work for you.

Well Bunning prices are reasonable and they do  honour refunds and support customers so I am  glad you have one in town.

They won the  first round  killing your  plants.

Before you do any more  work in your  yard spend  wasted  $ because of the  vandals

I will try to cut to the heart of  the mater those kids like doing there fun in the dark undisturbed usually.  They will keep coming back until they are board or discouraged, yet some might be drug effected the worst  kind might take more.  Sercurity lights helps send them scuttling like cockroaches

Your  best bang for buck potential solution is to  first put up  security cameras  with spot lights built in (built in spotlights save you money on security lights.)  

The main thing  with security cameras is  (vandal  proof if possible. 

You are less vunerable and feel a  little safer. It makes the vandals uncomfortable even if the are braison.

You dont have to open the door if there is noise outside in the middle of the night.

They record 24/7 so you a can see whos doing this 

The police have a visual record of the kids doing it.

The  cameras  (some of them) have spot lights too destroy there fun.

You  can now  redo you yard in stages and see if any thing happens,

I own and have super looked into this the best camera with out hidden fees is REOLINK online   the  prices are affordable cameras powerfull even at  night. These  cameras are extra smart  and know different triggers eg car vs person  vs  cat  this identification is a  key against infinite false triggering,

I would  consider buying aReolink  system and then pay someone to install it so they dont sell you a substandard system. 

This  is a reolink 180 degree  camera of my front yard  Cost of  camera $289 and it covers whole yard and street  I just  viewed the camera on my screen and took  photo  easy to use.

Reolink 180 degree 4K cctv with night vision

This  will cost you under $1000 if you  want to know   more i can help ie  a best solution  for you.

While you are saving up  for  possible security  systems consider bunnings  has some fake  cameras for $16.67  i would  buy 3 to keep them  guessing it may slow the vandals  down. And you can buy one at a  time as your budget stretches too,

Swann Dome Imitation Camera With Flashing Light in 4220343  DIY $16.67

https://www.bunnings.com.au/swann-dome-imitation-camera-with-flashing-light_p4220343

You can leave the fake  cameras up when you get the real  deal.

I highly recommend security spot lights to send the cockroaches sculling. I use  this one very good  so far  attach to roof  guttering if  possible.

Arlec 5W Integrated Solar Powered Sensor LED Floodlight $37 DIY

https://www.bunnings.com.au/arlec-5w-integrated-solar-powered-sensor-led-floodlight_p0056859

[Old-gal24]

@Jewelleryrescue 

I truly can not thank you enough.

Security is so important to me, more so having a special needs adult daughter. *(who is like a young child).  

I just checked out your Reolink system, I love the fact that they are flood lights as well as cameras.  The ones you gave me the link to are actually on special at the moment.  $ 237.99. And free shipping.

The police advised we get a doorbell security camera, which I have done, but I was planning on putting up some sensor flood lights.  So may as well do the lot.  Do you have a recording device set with your system?  I will look into having something installed asap.  As it's stressing me out, not knowing what will happen next..

Cheers Old~gal

[Old-gal24]

@Jewelleryrescue 

Thank you for taking the time to reply, very much appreciated..

I will take everything you have shared on board and when I can save up the dollar, after we sell our current home, things should improve.

Old~gal