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Laying out your Gate |
The basic principles of gate planning and installation include the POCKET, i.e. the gate's distance from the turn into your driveway,
SQUARENESS, i.e. the gate's angle to the drive path,
IN-SWING/OUT-SWING, and HANDING, i.e. which side of the gate has the hinges. | It is most desirable to have a small "pocket" in front of your gate. If the gate must be right up against your road, a wider opening should be considered, if possible. | | | BEST CASE:
Allows you to pull off road while you open the gate . | WORST CASE:
Prevents you from pulling off road as you open the gate. Prevents larger vehicles from making the turn in. | IMPROVED CASE:
Doesn't allow a pocket, but allows larger vehicles (a moving van, etc.) to make the turn into the drive. |
Since gates open only slightly more than 90 degrees, it is important to make the gate perpendicular to your drive path. Curved driveways demand extra care in layout. No one wants their gate hit by a vehicle. The most desirable configuration for a swinging gate is to swing inward. However, certain driveway conditions can make it necessary to swing a gate outward. In the first case below, an in-swinging gate opens into the drive space. | PROBLEM (Left): when open, in-swinging gate protrudes into drive space. SOLUTION (Right): change gate to out-swinging gate. | |
Another condition that may force you swing your gate outward is an upward sloping driveway. | PROBLEM (Left): when in-swinging gate opens, it hits the ground. You can hang gate higher on the post, but more than 6" - 8" above grade looks bad. SOLUTION (Right): install gate as out-swing. Has plenty of clearance. | |
Imagine standing outside your gate, then ask yourself, are the hinges on the right or left? See the four examples here. 
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