A privacy fence is a good way to protect your property. A fence keeps the dogs in the yard and provides a safe place for the kids to play. A fence needs a gate to access the yard. A double gate provides room for large items to be able to be brought in and out of the yard. The do-it-yourself handyman can build a set of gates for uneven ground using a few woodworking tools.

  • A privacy fence is a good way to protect your property.
  • The do-it-yourself handyman can build a set of gates for uneven ground using a few woodworking tools.

Decide on the location of the pair of gates to access the yard. Measure the width of the space that the pair of gates will fit within. Use a tape measure to find the width of the gates. Divide the space for the gates by 5 1/2 inches. This is the width of a 2 x 6 piece of lumber. This will tell you the total number of boards you will need to make the two gates. Use a calculator for this part.

Place one door on a flat surface with the bevelled side of the board facing down. Measure the width of the door. Cut two 2 x 4's to the width of the door. Use a mitre saw to cut them to length. Measure 9 inches from the top and the bottom of the gate and make a mark on both sides of the gate with a pencil. Place a straight edge between the two marks and mark a straight line across the gate with the pencil.

  • Place one door on a flat surface with the bevelled side of the board facing down.
  • Cut two 2 x 4's to the width of the door.

Run a bead of construction adhesive across the 2 x 4's. Place the 2 x 4's along the pencil lines from the last step. Screw the 2 x 4's down to the 2 x 6's using two 2 1/2-inch exterior deck screws in the middle of each 2 x 6 board. Use a caulking gun to apply the construction adhesive.

Place a 2 x 4 board diagonally across the two horizontal boards so that it is touching the outside edge of the horizontal boards. Mark the diagonal board so that when you cut it, it will fit between the two horizontal boards. The diagonal board acts like a brace to keep the gate square. Glue this to the gate with the construction adhesive as in the last step.

Place the gate in position at the fence. Have the gate setting plumb and even with the fence. Scribe the bottom of the gate to mirror the uneven ground. Leave a 1-inch gap between the ground and the gate. Cut the bottom of the gate using a jigsaw along the scribed line.

  • Place a 2 x 4 board diagonally across the two horizontal boards so that it is touching the outside edge of the horizontal boards.
  • Scribe the bottom of the gate to mirror the uneven ground.

Repeat steps 2 through step 5 for the other side of the gate.

TIP

Use heavy-duty gate hardware to carry the weigh of the gate. Attach it to the gate with carriage bolts.

WARNING

Wear safety glasses when using power tools.