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How to add a gate to existing Colorbond fence?

Old-gal24
Amassing an Audience

How to add a gate to existing Colorbond fence?

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 directionGates must open away from the pool
  • ClosingGates must be self-closing and self-latching, and must close automatically from any position
  • Latch releaseThe latch release mechanism must be at least 1500 mm above the ground, or at least 150 mm below the top of the fence 
  • Gate widthGates should be kept to a minimum width, no more than 1 meter
  • No climbingThere 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 requiredArea requiredNo bigger then yellow area as Rainwater tank comes to bricked areaNo bigger then yellow area as Rainwater tank comes to bricked areaInside view- gate will have to open outwardsInside view- gate will have to open outwards

EricL
Bunnings Team Member
Bunnings Team Member

Re: How to create a Gateway in an existing colourbond fence

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

 

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Jewelleryrescue
Kind of a Big Deal

Re: How to create a Gateway in an existing colourbond fence

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.

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