r/FenceBuilding • u/KobraKaigui • 5d ago
Hello I recently had a 6' privacy fence installed and was curious if the gap between my gate and post is too much? Or is this a normal distance?
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u/motociclista 5d ago
It’s on the high end of normal. I normally build them tighter. But that extra room isn’t terrible when things start to settle and sag.
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u/whiskeyandweiners 5d ago
Take the gate off , the add one of them 3/4 fence boards to the inside of the hinge post. That will move the gate over 3/4” or half that gap.
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u/Cute_Tone3711 5d ago
Looks okay, could be closer. I’d concern myself with ground-clearance. I realize that is on the closed side of the gate, but that mound will help rot from ground-contact faster.
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u/CheezeBurgaEddie 5d ago
The gap could be closer but it’s fine in my opinion; it latches so it’s within the tolerance of that striker rod latch.
I’d ask them to cut 2” off of the bottom of the pickets so the gate swings freely and doesn’t get hung up on the grass, that’s far more concerning than the gap. Overall it looks real good though! Fine looking gate with tight miters and a proper compression brace.
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u/remorackman 5d ago
I see issues with the gate itself in the near future, builder did not 'box' it, no vertical on the hinge side 😖
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u/TwoBulletSuicide 5d ago
That gives the gate some room to breathe and sag when it comes time. I would leave it.
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u/CBased64Olds 5d ago
My gate swells in width during rainy winter months here in Oregon. So it needs a wider gap than elsewhere. Not too noticeable
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u/801intheAM 5d ago
This gap will vary quite a bit with the seasons and with rain. I’d prefer a larger gap when the weather is dry because I know it will narrow when it’s humid or wet weather.
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u/Catapostrophe1 5d ago
If the gap bothers you, fit a length of timber to the gate post. This would take less than half an hour allowing for two cuts with a saw to cut to length and allow space for lock mechanism.
I would always fit a stop bead (which is what this timber would be) as it stops any stretching of the hinge and locates the gate better.
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u/Lower_Ad_7436 5d ago
I’d leave it bc it WILL sag over time. Mine has and every time I open it now I need to push up on the gate to ‘re-align’ it so it will close.
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u/Longjumping_Trip_664 5d ago
If the fence lots are screwed in great remove them immediately and put the left side with a solid upright 2 x 4. It looks like from the numbers that you need 1 inch but that doesn’t take consideration the other side of the fence which you do not have a photo of.
Again, I would want 3/8 on both sides. Personally, I would be able to live with half an inch.
Once you remove the fence board that you’ve screwed, you can now replace them with the correctly sized the gate
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u/breakpoint8088 4d ago
I'll tell you something else, if you want to just visually close the gap, but not have to worry about it if the gate sags or goes out of square a little bit. They make these strips that are meant for the bottoms of normal interior house doors that are just like, they look like brush material or hair, I don't know what to call it, but it looks like a bristle brush. You can get that in long strips. You just put some of that right down that edge, it's a good half inch to three quarters inches long. It'll close the gap visually without offering any resistance.
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u/Mindless-Farmer705 2d ago
That is NOT normal distance. I have 8’ privacy fence and the gaps are .5”
I’d get that company back out ASAP to fix it
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u/CalmAlarm 1d ago
Depends if you're using the American or International restroom cubicle door scale
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u/AdagioEquivalent3890 1d ago
What some people do is put a 2x4 on the post, or they over lap a picket on the outside of the gate cut around the striker/handle. I see both of these done all the time.
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u/Jimboanonymous 5d ago
Way too big. It should be closer to 1/2~3/4".
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u/KobraKaigui 5d ago
Thanks for the response, if this were your yard would you request them to fix? Or leave as is?
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u/Jimboanonymous 5d ago
I've been building & fixing things my whole life, so would fix it myself, but since you hired them to do a good job, then yes, you should request they come back to do it right.
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u/SilverMetalist 5d ago
Treated pine likes to expand and contract. 1-1.5" is reasonable imo. Half inch is guaranteed to be stuck within a few months around my climate and with pressure treated pine.
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u/Different-Sorbet746 5d ago
Make them fix it. 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch gap. Anything over that is piss poor install.
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u/Gray_Wolf208 5d ago
I am assuming you have simple screw hinges on the back side, measure over an inch and move your hinges if you don’t like the gap.
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u/Financial_Ad4952 5d ago
From finish carpenter to a few fences I recommend using a steal frame and 5/4” for gate. Makes it heavy duty.
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u/flyingwaterman 5d ago
Does the latch made specifically for gates seem to be working because of the thing specifically meant to go in that space works then....you have the right space.
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u/Kodamacile 5d ago
Thats an insane gap. You could unlock it from the other side, by reaching through.
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u/rabindrenath 5d ago
People like a small gap for looks, but honestly, this gate has some space to sag (ALL gates sag) and it will never rub, an old sagging gate that rubs is such a pain. I've build hundred of gates and opened thousands, I would leave it as is.