My "Cedar Faced" Metal Gate Project W/Pics

[toucano]

I needed to get a couple of wide gates and found that unless you want to spend a lot of money having someone weld something up, your options are pretty slim here. So I compromised and made my own "cedar faced" gates that turned out pretty fair.

I used 2 of the standard 8 foot galvinized "farm type" gates as the frame. When I was back on the mainland, I bought 11/16" x 4" x 5' rough-cut Western Red cedar and shipped it here. I applied that vertically to the galvinized gates.

I took some pictures and uploaded them if anyone wants to see. There are pictures of the gates before and after, front and back. And also one showing a side view that gives an idea of how the cedar was attached.

By far the hardest part of the whole project was getting the holes for the fence posts. Nothing like building on lava...

The pics are at (I hope the link works):

http://photos.yahoo.com/itsajokeson1

I will use this same cedar fencing for the skirting when I build the house and quite a few other projects. I also brought back 5/4 x 4" x 6' Western Red Cedar decking for my decks.

I have not calculated how much of what I brought over I will actually use, but there will probably be some of both the fencing and decking that I'll end up selling if anyone is interested. It is NOT Hi-Bor treated and I'm looking into applying that.

The fencing was also un-graded and I bought full pallets of it. So there is everything from fairly clear to open knot. But with a tablesaw I don't see that I'm going to waste a lot.

[nanasohana]

Do you know we are building down on Sandalwood around the corner from you? Turn left on brookover and then left on sandalwood. Come on over neighbor! Do you see a lady in a gold toyota pickup going by quite often..well thats me. You have a very nice neighbor, Kjell Songstad in one of the houses on your side.

[toucano]

Nancy - I'll do that. It is a good neighborhood and getting better. The neighbors watch out for each other. I know Kjell quite well. I saw you were looking for a plumber. Let me know if you find a 'reliable and affordable' one.

[David M]

Very very nice. Great job.

David

Ninole Resident

[David D]

Toucano, You say "Gate" options are limited and/or expensive on the Big Island. I had planned for a 16' tube metal gate with field fencing. We plan on shipping our "Stuff" over in a container. Do you think it would be better to buy the gate here on the mainland and ship it over?

David D

[loffelkopffl]

gates are plentiful here, tube or otherwise, and not that expensive. bought a tube gate, 12', with screen attached for under $100

[toucano]

David - I agree that tube gates are available and inexpensive here. BUT... if you see what you want at Home Depot (the only place I really shop much), I suggest that you buy it! When they stack their gates on the floor to sell, they can get 'sloppy' and many are damaged. I am also not sure that I've seen a single gate that is 16', but I wasn't looking for a 16' either. That is a long distance to cantilever.

The one things I do regret not shipping over is some TRUE ground contact rated pressure treated lumber. I'm a bit skeptical about Hi-Bor treated lumber.

[Hotzcatz]

Aloha Toucano,

That's a lovely gate! If you wander through Waimea, you might want to see what they've done to decorate flat board railings. It could be ornamented with a few cut-outs or silhouttes if you wanted to have a really fancy gate. (Just what you wanted, another project!) It is a beauty gate just the way it is, too.

It isn't the welding that has gotten expensive lately, it is the price of the metal! Basic metal prices have gone way up lately. Not too sure why.

Oh, HPM will also match Home DePot's prices, too. HPM is a local company and all the money they make stays here. Home DePot takes their profits off to the mainland. (Which is something you should consider when buying anything on this island. Cruise ships and hotels bring tourists to the island, but who gets the tourist's money and who gets the low paying jobs changing hotel sheets? Same with hardware stores.)

A hui hou,
Cathy

[David D]

What we have now - a 16' tube gate with field gauge screening operated with a gate opener (solar powered) and a side pedestrian gate – is what we want to set up again. The gate opener we have now is called Mighty Mule made by GTO. It’s about 7 years old & no problems. Easy to install too. And when the rain is coming down pressing a Clicker is a lot nicer than getting soaked!

David D

[Carey]

Toucano, we found real, exterior grade pressure treated wood at Lowes on the other side, this winter! (Hi-Bor taggies & Osmosis web state that Hi-Bor is not to be used in ground contact situations, and only in weather protected applications). Hopefully they are still carrying it\.
Aloha, Carey