Aluminum Gate: Sizes, Posts and Hardware That Prevent Sag

An aluminum gate is a gate made from extruded aluminum tubing, usually powder-coated black, bronze or white to look like wrought iron. Aluminum doesn't rust, weighs far less than steel and needs almost no upkeep, which makes it the most common choice for ornamental fences around yards and pools. The gate itself rarely fails. When an aluminum gate sags or drags, the problem is almost always the post or the hinges.

Common sizes

Gate type	Typical width	Notes
Walk gate	4 or 5 ft	4 ft fits most paths; 5 ft fits mowers and wheelbarrows
Single drive gate	8 to 12 ft	Long single gates need wheels or a heavy post
Double drive gate	10 to 16 ft total	Two leaves meeting in the middle, with a drop rod
Arched or estate gates	Varies	Usually custom or semi-custom

Heights follow the fence: 4, 5 or 6 feet are standard for residential.

Posts: the part that matters most

• Use the right gate post. Gate posts are heavier-wall than line posts. Many manufacturers specify a 2 or 2.5-inch post with thicker walls, or even steel inserts, for gates.
• Set them deep in concrete. A gate post should go deeper than line posts, typically below the frost line in cold climates, set in a concrete footing that's wider at the bottom than the top.
• Plumb and square. Set both posts with the exact opening the gate's instructions call for, including hinge and latch gaps, and let the concrete cure before hanging the gate.

Hinges and latches

• Adjustable hinges let you fine-tune the gate as posts settle.
• Self-closing hinges (spring or tension hinges) pull the gate shut. Required on pool gates.
• Gravity or magnetic latches catch the gate automatically when it closes.
• Drop rods hold one leaf of a double gate in place; give them a sleeve or hole in the pavement.

Pool gate rules

Pool barrier gates have specific safety requirements in most U.S. codes, based on the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and the IRC's pool provisions:

• The gate opens outward, away from the pool.
• It's self-closing and self-latching.
• The latch release is at least 54 inches above the ground, or, if lower, on the pool side of the gate at least 3 inches below the top, with no openings near it big enough for a child's hand to reach through.
• Openings in the gate and fence must be small enough to keep a small child from squeezing through.

Your local code and HOA may add more. Check with the building department before installing a pool fence.

Preventing sag

1. Heavy-duty gate posts set deep in concrete
2. A gate frame with a diagonal brace or truss, running from the bottom hinge corner up to the latch side
3. Adjustable hinges, checked once a year
4. On wide drive gates, a gate wheel or a center stop
5. Don't let kids swing on it (aluminum bends)

Upkeep

Wash with mild soap and water; avoid abrasive cleaners that scratch powder coat. Touch up chips with the maker's touch-up paint. Lubricate hinges and latches once a season. For deck and stair guards to match, see our guide to cable railing kits.