Doors
The leaves for a device such as swing gates are welded from a profile pipe (with a rectangular cross-section). For greater reliability, they are reinforced with jumpers, which can be:
- cruciform;
- horizontal;
- fixed at an angle.
When the sashes are large enough, they are further strengthened (strengthened) in one of two ways. The first is to weld pieces of sheet metal cut into the shape of an isosceles right triangle at the corners from the inside. The second one is similar, only instead of a plate, the same pipe from which the gate frame is made is welded at an angle of 45°.
Sometimes a narrow metal strip is welded onto the pipe to make it easier to attach the corrugated sheeting.
It is important that the angle of 90° is strictly maintained at the pipe welding site. To control when welding, it is necessary to use a construction square or a special fastener. Otherwise, it will be impossible to install the leaves evenly in the gate.
Features of different types
There are many different types of gates that can be made from metal profiles with your own hands without much difficulty at home. The most common types are sliding, swing and lifting structures.
Beginners should start with the swing varieties. The fundamental elements of such structures are one or a pair of support posts, onto which a metal frame is attached, and finally metal profile sheets are installed. The doors of the product are hung on small hinges with bearings. The opening for the gate is usually made in one of these leaves, but it can also be installed separately.
If desired, swing gates made of metal profiles can be additionally equipped with an electric drive, with which the structure can be opened and closed automatically. In this case, no specific equipment is required , since metal profile sheets are quite light.
Another fairly common type of homemade structures are sliding ones. Their main difference is that in order to open them, it is necessary to move the doors of the opposite side apart. When the gate opens, it will be hidden behind the fence. The convenience of such a system is that it does not require a large area behind or in front of it in order to conveniently make an opening.
Crossbar
The sashes have to be strengthened so that they do not sag under axial load from their own weight. There is a simpler solution for this problem. This is the crossbar that is located at the top of the gate, from post to post.
The strength of the structure with the crossbar is solid, but then equipment that is taller than the gate will not be able to enter the yard. And in this case there is a solution: the upper part of the frame can be made removable.
Preparation for construction work
Swinging types of gates are considered the easiest to manufacture, so it is best for beginners to start with this design. The entire work process includes the installation of several posts, as well as attaching sashes to them, which consist of a frame covered with metal profile sheets. In this case, you will have to decide whether the gate will be installed separately, or whether it needs to be built into one of the doors.
Installation work on a metal profile structure should begin with the preparatory stage, in particular with the assembly of the necessary materials, tools, as well as any additional fasteners and fixtures. To make such a gate yourself, you will need:
- A grinder with a grinding wheel, which is suitable for cutting metal profile sheets.
- Welding.
- Electric screwdriver.
- Electric drill.
- Tape measure to take the necessary measurements.
- Hammer.
- Riveter.
- Boer.
- A concrete mixer or some container where you can mix the required solution.
- Goniometer.
- Any paint for finishing the frame. You can also use a primer. In this case, you need to focus on your own preferences, as well as the available funds.
- Shovel.
- Self-tapping screws, which can also be replaced with rivets.
As for the type of metal profile sheets, it is recommended to select C8 corrugated sheets for the manufacture of swing gates. The thickness of this type of material is 0.6 mm, and the wave height does not exceed 8 mm. Structures made from such a profile sheet will look neat and attractive, and also have high strength. The calculation of the required amount of metal profile is carried out individually in a specific case. It is necessary to keep the reference point on the existing rectangular area for the gates that will be attached to the posts.
Simple steel pipes can serve as support pillars. As a rule, a diameter of 6 cm will be sufficient. The length of such a support should be selected based on the planned height of the future structure. However, you need to add another 30%. It is this part of the pipe that will be located in the ground.
When installing posts, they should be filled with concrete. The solution is prepared using standard technology. To do this you need to take:
- 1 part cement.
- 3 parts sand.
- 5 parts crushed stone.
It is imperative to use reinforcing wire. Its use will increase the strength and reliability of future gates.
The frame itself is made on the basis of a profile. To do this, you can take material whose width is 4 cm and thickness - 2 cm. However, these figures may be less or more (depending on the specific situation).
Preparation of gate components
Welding is the main method of fastening for a structure such as a gate made of corrugated sheets. Pipes for the sashes are cut at the ends at an angle of 45°.
This approach is considered professional, but it requires certain qualifications, as well as the availability of equipment and tools. This is a miter saw for metal, which is of no use in a home workshop. You can trim the pipes manually, but you need to work very carefully.
Elements of rotary hinges are welded to the supporting pillars and sashes. Again, the place for their fastening must be determined as accurately as possible, otherwise distortion is inevitable. It is best to temporarily fix the sash on the pipe and mark it in place. Eyelets for a padlock can be welded already when the gate is installed.
If a gate with a wicket is being manufactured, it is necessary to practically repeat all the same operations described above, from preparing the frame to installing the lock.
Fence with gates and wicket made of corrugated sheets
When developing a future project, it is worth paying attention to the aesthetic side of the issue. A fence with a gate and a wicket made of corrugated sheets would look quite logical in one consistent style. If the fence was installed earlier, then when making gates and gates you should use exactly the same corrugated sheet from which the fence is made. In some cases, when it is necessary to highlight the entrance group, you can use corrugated sheeting of a different color and configuration.
Gates, wicket and fence made from the same corrugated sheet
Tool used
How to make a gate using only the tools that a home craftsman has in his arsenal? Simple, but a welding machine will come in handy. In order not to master complex techniques, you need to use electric welding.
The screwdriver has already been mentioned, but you should not forget that its working parts (bits) must exactly fit the crosspiece on the bolt head.
To cut pipes, an angle grinder (“grinder”) with cutting, grinding and scraping wheels for metal is useful. This is a universal tool that can do most of the work in this case.
Naturally, you will need a container for mixing mortar, bayonet and scoop shovels, a bucket for water, clamps for preliminary fastening of corrugated sheets, a building level, a plumber's or construction square, a measuring tape and other devices.
A laser level will not be superfluous, which will allow you to more accurately set horizontal and vertical positions.
Materials
For pillars, they usually take a profile welded pipe 80*80 mm, with a wall thickness of 3 mm. They are dug in below the freezing depth of the soil, placed strictly vertically and filled with concrete mortar. Gate installation work begins after the concrete has gained about 50% strength. If the outside temperature is not lower than +20°C, this will take 5-6 days, if colder - up to two weeks. For the shutters, profile pipes of different sections are used: depending on the strength of the winds and the span of the gate: there is an option of 60*40 mm, there is a 40*20 mm option. Choose based on your own conditions. For jumpers they take either the same pipe or a slightly smaller cross-section, up to 20*20 mm. All these pipes can be taken with a wall thickness of 2 mm, or 3 mm. Thicker ones are more expensive (they are sold by the kilogram) - they are heavier, but 3 mm metal is easier to weld, which is important for beginners in welding.
Prepared metal
The material for the gate is the same as for the fence made of corrugated sheets, and it is attached to the same screws. Before starting work, the metal must be prepared: remove all rust (with an angle grinder and a wire brush), prime with Anti-Rust and paint. After drying, you can start working.
