Below are a list of common terms that you will come across when choosing a gate, selecting a timber or discussing gate installation:

Automation used to automatically open gates using a sensor, keypad or remote.  

Above ground Automation otherwise know as Ram automation has a motor attached to the brick pier or post. As the name implies the gate is opened and closed by a ram from this. These will usually open to about 110 degrees and is a less expensive option than Underground Automation.

Bi Folding gates  Useful where space is restricted or for garages and cart lodges. Usually 4 leaves which fold on themselves. One or both of the central leaves can be opened independently.

Clapping plate  A loose piece of timber used with some pairs of gates. Fitted vertically to one leaf of a pair where one gate closes against the other. Instead of a central rebate.

Closing Post  Also known as a slamming post. This is the post that the gate closes onto with the latch keep fitted to it.

Closing Wall plate This is the Wall plate that the gate closes onto with the latch keep fitted to it.

Door lining frames Morticed and tenoned frames for fitting inside openings for gates or doors. These square the opening and the doors will be fitted inside them. Can be made with curved tops to suit arches. Surrounding brickwork can be made good afterwards

Feather Edge boarding Used on some boarded gates. Tapered boards which overlap each other. This also allows for expansion and contraction of the timber. Usually used for softwood gates.

Flying brace.  A diagonal brace on raised helve gates. Runs from the bottom of the hanging stile to a point near the top of the raised Helve

Framed ledged and braced With boarded gates the frame is the rectangular piece that goes round the outside of the gate. The horizontal pieces of this are called the ledges and the diagonal pieces are called the braces. The braces run upwards from the hanging stile supporting the outside of the gate.

Gate hand or hang  This determines where the braces on the gate are set and also where  the latches and hinges will go. It’s generally determined from the outside approach, not the inside. So if on going up to the gate from the outside you want it to swing to the right then that is a Right Hand hang gate and vice versa of course. The hinges anchor the gates to the posts and the strength from this is carried to the centre of the gate through the braces which run diagonally upwards much like a shelf bracket. That’s why it’s important to get the hand correct.

Gate posts  Gates  are usually hung on timber posts concreted into the ground or on pieces of timber, wall plates, fixed to brickwork. They will usually be in matching timber but there’s a limited availability of big posts in hardwood, usually restricted to Oak above 150 x 150mm, so this isn’t always possible

The size of gate posts needed will vary depending on the gate size and style. It’s best not to skimp on post size, as some gates will be heavy especially pairs that are higher at the centre. These exert a lot of leverage and posts that are too small will bend. As far as posts are concerned too large is better than too small. However good the gate is if the popsts are wrong there will be problems at some point. Softwood posts aren’t suitable for hardwood gates and even seemingly solid 200mm softwood posts can bend with a hardwood gate fitted to them. If this happens latches and bolts won’t line up and in bad cases the gate will drag on the ground.

Steel posts are an option. Concrete posts, especially fence posts aren’t really suitable but can possibly be used for small gates.

Gate Stiles  These are the vertical timbers at either edge. The one on the hinge side is called the hanging stile, the one on the latch side is called the closing stile or central stiles with pairs of gates. For manual pairs the central stiles are rebated to fit inside each other when closed. If pairs are to be automated the central stiles aren’t rebated and the gates will come with a clapping plate to fit centrally so that one gate will close against the other.

Gate stops.  Timber pieces fitted on the outside for the gate to close against. They hide the gap left for opening tolerances and prevent the gate swinging through the opening thus protecting the latch and the hinge. If the gate is outward opening the stops would go on the inside.

Ground clearance  We usually allow 50mm below the gate for ground clearance at the highest point within the opening arc of the gate. Having a pair of gates instead of a single will reduce the size of the opening arc and might help to limit the ground clearance needed if the ground rises behind the gate/ gates. If the rise is too extreme the gate or gates may have to open outwards. If trying to match the height with an adjacent wall or fence take the ground clearance needed off the actual gate size. For example if you want your gate to finish 6’0/1.83m high  then deduct 50mm from this leaving 1.78m. If the ground is very level, with smaller gates it’s safe to leave only 30mm clearance.

Hanging Post  is the post that the gate is hung on and hinged from. A pair of gates will have 2 of these.

Hanging Wall plate is the Wall plate that the gate is hung on and hinged from. A pair of gates may have 2 of these if hung between brickwork.

Hold back posts   These are small posts set to hook the gate onto when in the open position. They can be a nuisance to mow around or vulnerable when cars are reversing. Drop bolts or Gravity catches are other options.

Ledged and Braced   These gates are made with 2 or 3 (depending on height), horizontal rails, known as ledges and diagonal pieces which are the braces. The typical simple Z pattern seen on lots of gates. Boards or pales are attached to the face . No other frame.

Manors  These are the tops of the stiles. If they stand above the top rail of the gate they are called Raised Manors. Some gates don’t have these and are straight across the top.

Movement in timber This is a natural characteristic of timber and is unavoidable. It is caused by the timber reacting to the moisture in the atmosphere. High humidity makes it expand, low humidity makes it contract. Timber changes across its width rather than along its length. Softwood timbers with a larger cell structure will move much more than hardwoods which have a much tighter, denser cell structure. Because of this constant movement softwood gates will generally wear worse and give more problems than hardwood ones. For the same reason softwood gates aren’t really suitable for automation.

Opening tolerance  This is the gap left either side of the gate between the gate itself and the posts or wall plates. It allows for the swing of the gate as it opens and also for expansion and contraction of the timber. With pedestrian gates allow 20-30mm in total, with pairs allow 40-50mm in total, depending on whether hardwood or softwood. Movement is smaller with wall plates on brickwork, greater with posts, Softwood will expand and contract more than hardwood. Gaps left either side for opening tolerances will be covered by the gate stops.

Outward opening Gates   Gates usually open inwards but sometimes this isn’t suitable, maybe the ground rises sharply, which would leave a large gap below the gates, or perhaps more space is needed behind the gates for car parking etc.  The gates are hung and measured in exactly the same way as if they were inward opening. The main difference is that the hinges will have to be fitted on the outside face of the gates as will any automation rams if these are being used. Gates aren’t supposed to open over footpaths or roads.

Overlap  is the amount a gate runs past the post. 5 & 6 bar gates usually overlap the posts by about 25mm each side. For inward opening gates they overlap the back of the posts and for outward opening they overlap the front. The gate will close against a post and not swing through the opening, therefore protecting the hinges and stopping the gate swinging onto a road or pathway.

Raised Helve  Also known as raised Arm.  Extended hanging stile on 5 bar type gates rising above the top rail. Usually slightly hooked.

Ram Automation otherwise know as Above ground automation has a motor attached to the brick pier or post. As the name implies the gate is opened and closed by a ram from this. These will usually open to about 110 degrees and is a less expensive option than Underground Automation.

Shakes Cracks along the grain of the timber. Usually aesthetic

Side Panel(s) Where the opening is wider than the gate the remaining space will be filled with short section of fencing to compliment the gate, this is known as a side panel. The gate may be central with equal side panels or offset with side panels to one side.

Slamming Post  Also known as a closing post. This is the post that the gate closes onto with the latch keep fitted to it.

Solid base rail or Heavy base rail This is fitted to 5 bar stile gates and is usually required if a gate is to be automated. It’s a solid piece of timber similar to the top rail fitted flush across the bottom of the gate. It gives the gate more rigidity and automation rams are often fitted to it. Apart from the automation point it can give a gate a little extra look of distinction.

Solid Visual base rail Similar to Solid base rail but is applied to boarded gates. It serves a similar purpose and again, as it’s seen from the front gives a very solid look to the gates.

Tongued and grooved boarding Used on boarded gates. The tongue of one board slots into the groove of another. These are fitted to allow expansion and contraction of the timber in different weather conditions. Boards will be rebated into the frame of the gate

Total opening width is the total available measurement between the two furthest points when measuring for a gate. ie from the house to the fence or from the hedge to the garage etc.  It includes the posts and so therefore is not the opening between the posts.

Underground Automation is a more discrete automation system having a motor box set in the ground under the hanging stile of each gate. The gates then sit on the box and swings from that. Good drainage is needed to ensure the box doesn’t fill with water. These will usually open the gates 180 degrees. This is a more expensive option than Ram Automation.

Unequal pairs  A pair of gates can have unequal sized leaves. Often seen in 5 bar styles with a larger gate and a smaller pedestrian gate. The same thing can be done with boarded pairs to a certain degree. The smaller pedestrian gate latches onto the larger gate which will be fitted with a drop bolt. Note though that this doesn’t work with automation.

Wall plates  Wall plates are usually  95mm wide x70mm thick whatever the gate size. Wider plates, say 120mm, can be used especially if fitted near a corner or in soft bricks. The wall fixings can be staggered on these which will spread the load. It’s better not to fit wall plates too near brickwork corners if it can be avoided, come back 50-75mm if possible.

70mm thick wall plates are generally best as they allow for more room to accommodate hinge plates and bolt/latch keeps.

50mm thick wall plates are acceptable, especially on smaller gates, and will give a little more opening width.