Single or double leaf
A single gate is the usual choice at a side entrance, and it is simple to hang and keep square. A double gate suits a wider opening such as a drive, where you may sometimes want the full width for a trailer or a skip bag but only a single leaf for daily use. Two leaves also share the load, so each stays lighter and less likely to sag. Mark the opening on the ground first and test how it feels with a bin or barrow.
Newer estate plots sometimes have limited space beside the house, so check how far each leaf can open before you commit. A leaf that hits a wall, a drainpipe or a bin store is frustrating. Where room is tight, narrower leaves or a gate that opens inwards onto your own land can sort the problem neatly.
Widths for bins, barrows and mowers
Measure the real items you will move. A wheelie bin, a barrow, a pushchair and a mower each need a different gap, and the widest decides the opening. Add a little extra so you are not squeezing past with your hands on the posts. A modest increase in width is cheap compared with years of awkward use. Ask whoever takes the bins out what they would change about the current gate.
People on foot need much less than machinery, so a narrow gate can look neat but fail in practice. If the gate is for walking only, a slimmer opening is fine. If it serves as the bin route as well, make it wide enough for a full bin and your hands. When in doubt, go slightly wider and build it strong.
Frame, ironwork and a good match
A framed leaf with a diagonal brace, rising from the hinge side towards the latch, stays square far better than a plain board gate. Set a heavy post at the hanging end, bedded in concrete, and choose hinges and bolts that suit the weight. A latch with a firm keeper that works from both sides is worth having. Small details like these make the difference between a gate that works and one that annoys.
Match the gate to the fence either side in height, board style and finish, so it blends in from the road. Treat cut ends before fitting, since they absorb water fastest, and leave a gap underneath for the ground. Check the clearance again after the first wet spell, as timber can swell a little.
Quick tips
- Check how far each leaf can open before choosing between a single and a double gate.
- Use a double gate on a wider opening, with one leaf for daily use and both open for bulky loads.
- Measure the actual bin, barrow or mower, then add a little room so hands and handles are not scraped.
- Treat cut ends before fitting and leave a gap under the leaf, then check it again after wet weather.
If you are in Droitwich, WR9, and want a garden gate fitted or replaced, call us or send a photo and the fence location. We also work in Bromsgrove and Hartlebury. We will talk it through plainly, with no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
How wide should a gate be for bins, barrows and mowers?
Measure the real items, since each needs a different gap and the widest decides the opening. Add a little extra so hands and handles are not scraped. In Droitwich, a gate that also serves as the bin route should be wide enough for a full bin.
Why check how far each leaf can open?
Newer plots sometimes have limited space beside the house, and a leaf that hits a wall, drainpipe or bin store is frustrating. Where room is tight, narrower leaves or a gate that opens inwards onto your own land can sort it out.
Garden fencing installers in Droitwich · All advice guides