A common question we receive is 'how do I care for my new gate?' There are a few simple things that can help you keep your gate in tip-top shape.

1. TREATMENT
If you get a gate from The Side Gate Co., it is constructed using pressure treated timber. So it is made to be outdoors. The only caveat to this is that there are exposed edges where the timber has been cut to make your gate to size. It is worth treating these edges with wood preservative within the first year after installation. We also offer a service to treat the edges with preservative.

2. SHOULD I USE PAINT OR VARNISH?
This is a matter of personal preference. Either option will work and look just fine. It depends on how you want the gate to look.
If you plan to paint or varnish your gate, and you haven't had the edges treated with preservative, you can just make sure to give the edges a good coat of paint or varnish to protect them.

3. WHAT TYPE OF PAINT/VARNISH.
Pressure treated gates contain a preservative called tanelith-e. It is important to use a water-based  paint or varnish, as oil-base products don't react well with the preservative.


​4. WHEN CAN I PAINT/VARNISH?
We recommend you wait at least 3-4 weeks after installation before painting or varnishing your gate. This is to ensure that the moisture content in the timber has settled. Spring and Summer are the best times to do this. The gate needs to be dry and the weather also needs to be dry.

Still have questions? Ask us, we'd be happy to help!

Hopefully these three pieces of information will provide you with the knowledge you need to ask your gate manufacturer & installer the right questions.

For many homeowners, the gate manufacturer and installer will be the same company (or person). But it's important for you to ask the right questions to make sure you get the best product possible.

1. THE CORRECT TIMBER

Make sure that whoever is making your gate uses the correct materials. A great option is to use pressure treated timber. This is generally softwood spruce or pine. You can tell what it looks like because it appears green in colour. You can then paint or stain it the colour of your choice. This, if done correctly will last you a lifetime.


2. PROPER HARDWARE

​This one is simple. All hardware should be galvanised or powder coated. So this means your hinges, bolts, or handles should all have a galvanised or powder coated finish. This is to ensure longevity, to avoid rust, and to prevent failure of these crucial components.

Also ask your fitter to ensure hinges and bolts are well oiled after installation. The last thing you'll want is squeaky hinges or bolts after a short while. It's a good idea to regularly oil your hardware yourself also.

3. BEST CONSTRUCTION METHOD

For centuries, "ledged and braced" has been the go-to construction method for many gates and external doors. This is the type of "zig-zag" pattern you will see on many gates. Take a look at the image here to see what I mean.

1. TIMBER

The type of timber used in your gate is important. High quality timbers like larch and cedar are naturally weather resistant. They require no treatment and will survive the Irish climate without staining or painting. Both species will turn a lovely silver/grey colour over time. 

A more affordable option is to use a pressure treated softwood (like in the image above). This type of timber normally survives around 15 years without subsequent paint or stain protection.

2. JOINERY

Buying a gate from a DIY store and having it fitted can work out well. However, not all these gates are built to last. So if you're perusing the options in your local Woodies or B&Q, please make sure you buy a gate that has the correct joinery methods used in its construction.

At the very least you'll want diagonal bracing (it looks like the zig-zag pattern y0u see in our logo at the top left of this page). All gates should have this pattern if you don't want them to sag or fail. Make sure you are buying a well made gate that is robust and strong.

3. PRICE

For most people price point is a big issue, and so it should be. But in general you get what you pay for. Similar to point no. 2 above; make sure you are buying a well-made, quality gate. Sometimes a cheaper gate can seem like the better option, but it may not turn out to be the cheaper option if you have to replace it in a few years time.

4. HINGES

Your hinges should be made from galvanised steel, or powder coated hard steel. End of. Everything else will rust.

5. SECURITY

Obviously the point of a side gate is to provide some level of security. A quality padbolt should be fitted. After it's fitted you should invest in a quality lock for it. Extra latches and different locks can be added if you need to come and go through your side gate as you would through your front door. Talk to your fitter about your options.

6. AESTHETICS

You're going to want a side gate that looks nice. That's a given. Something as simple as a curved top or a straight top can make all the difference to the appearance of your property. Equally– a nice stain or nice paint shade will enhance your gate. And finally, premium hinges and locks will really bring the appearance to the next level. You've got options.

7. PETS

Is the main reason you need a side gate to keep your pets in? You'll want to make sure with your fitter that no gaps are left too large– especially at the bottom. Also, something to consider is an extra base board across the bottom of the gate if for example you have a dog who likes to scrape at the bottom of a gate.

8. SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is becoming increasingly more important to everyone. Ideally the timber used should be FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. This means it is eco-friendly and comes from well managed forests.

9. QUALIFIED PROS

Who is making & installing your side gate? Is it a qualified professional? Is it a trade-qualified carpenter or joiner? It's something for you to consider. It's no harm to ask.

​A trade-qualified carpenter will have spent years learning about timber and how it moves throughout the seasons. They will also have spent years learning time-honoured techniques for the best construction/joinery methods for each application. They will certainly know how to provide the best solution for your side entrance!

10. BUY LOCAL 

Is supporting local jobs important to you? If so, you may consider buying from a small independent supplier like The Side Gate Co.!

Thanks for reading. I hope you found this info useful. If I can answer any further questions for you, or you'd like to arrange an installation, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

WHAT IS PRESSURE TREATMENT?

Pressure treatment is a process for preserving timber against rot, fungus, and insects.

The process involves using a water base, mixed with chemical substances to create a wood preservative. This substance is infused into the timber at the sawmill after it has been cut.

The timber is placed in a vacuum chamber where all the moisture is sucked out of the timber. The preservative substance is then absorbed into the grain of the wood, permeating every cell to become part of the wood.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?

1. IT'S IN THE GRAIN

Pressure treatment allows the preservative to enter the internal grain of the wood and become part of the wood. Soaking, dipping, or spraying-on a preservative only creates a very thin layer of protection outside the wood. Weather elements can easily penetrate this "protection" quite quickly. Whereas with pressure treated wood, it's protected from the inside out.

2. WEATHER RESISTANT

Pressure treated timber is perfectly suited to resisting the demands of the Irish climate. The effects of rain, sun, frost, etc. are all kept at bay for much longer with pressure treated wood.

3. MAINTENANCE

If low-maintenance is what you desire for your external wood then pressure treated wood is the answer. Most pressure treated wood carries a 15 year guarantee, and will not require re-coating or preserving in that time.

4. COST SAVING

Although pressure treated timber is more expensive than untreated timber, the cost saving throughout a 15 year period on preservatives, paints, and re-coating, not to mention the possible cost of having to replace the timber is well worth it.

5. AESTHETIC

You'll notice that most pressure treated timber has a green hue to its colour tone. For many people this is right up their street! After a few years, this will turn to a beautiful golden brown and eventually to a vintage grey/silver colour. Even though the colour changes, the integrity of the wood remains in tact. If it's not your desired look, then you always have the option of staining or painting in the colour of your choice.

NOT ALL GATES ARE CREATED EQUAL

Lots of side gates are not pressure treated. Not all gate companies supply pressure treated timber in their products... We do!

All our side gates are made from pressure treated timber and are built to last.

If you want a company that is meticulous about the quality of materials used in its side gates, then don't hesitate to get in touch!