I'm looking to replace the external side swing gate of our house with something more functional. The existing crumbling gate has a bolt and padlock which, while it works, makes it a chore to unlock the gate from the outside. We use the gate all the time to get in and out with bicycles, so when replacing the gate I want to use a lock that can be easily locked/unlocked with a key from either side (without having to reach through a hole in the gate itself). Ideally, I'd like a sash lock so that the gate can be opened from the inside without a key when it is unlocked so I've been looking at dimensions of mortice locks.
My dilemma is how to fit a mortice lock into a new side gate. If I were making the gate myself then I guess I could size it to be thick enough to take a standard external mortice lock but time constraints mean that I'll end up buying a pre-made gate instead. A quick online check found a local supplier that sells side gates of the right size and for a reasonable price, but their gates are only 22mm thick while mortice locks seems to be 20mm or more thick. I wondered about routing a recess in the gate of about 10mm deep and doing likewise to another piece of wood which I could permanently attach to the inner side of the gate to sandwich the sash lock, but I'm not sure whether that is a practical option (will I struggle to make it weather proof to protect the lock for example?).
Or is there some simple solution that I'm just not seeing here? Perhaps I am starting from the wrong place by looking at a gate to function a little like a door, and maybe I should look at some other option such as recycling an external door in place of the gate but would it stand up to truly external use? Would a fire door be a better option? I'll probably paint the gate/door anyway, so it's construction is not an issue from an aesthetic point of view as such, although I'd hope that whatever I use can take a curved top which might rule out some options perhaps.
One other factor is security of course. The side of the house is accessible via neighbouring houses so while we can't keep people out we do want to make it a challenge to force the gate open even from the inside so that a thief couldn't easily make off with our bikes. So however I'd fit the mortice lock I want to make it as protected/inaccessible as possible from either side of the gate.
I've seen houses with side gates/doors before with what appeared to be a mortice lock fitted, but I've only seen them from a distance so while I believe what I'm trying to achieve is feasible I'm really scratching my head over the best option to pursue. I'd be grateful for any suggestions/advice.
My dilemma is how to fit a mortice lock into a new side gate. If I were making the gate myself then I guess I could size it to be thick enough to take a standard external mortice lock but time constraints mean that I'll end up buying a pre-made gate instead. A quick online check found a local supplier that sells side gates of the right size and for a reasonable price, but their gates are only 22mm thick while mortice locks seems to be 20mm or more thick. I wondered about routing a recess in the gate of about 10mm deep and doing likewise to another piece of wood which I could permanently attach to the inner side of the gate to sandwich the sash lock, but I'm not sure whether that is a practical option (will I struggle to make it weather proof to protect the lock for example?).
Or is there some simple solution that I'm just not seeing here? Perhaps I am starting from the wrong place by looking at a gate to function a little like a door, and maybe I should look at some other option such as recycling an external door in place of the gate but would it stand up to truly external use? Would a fire door be a better option? I'll probably paint the gate/door anyway, so it's construction is not an issue from an aesthetic point of view as such, although I'd hope that whatever I use can take a curved top which might rule out some options perhaps.
One other factor is security of course. The side of the house is accessible via neighbouring houses so while we can't keep people out we do want to make it a challenge to force the gate open even from the inside so that a thief couldn't easily make off with our bikes. So however I'd fit the mortice lock I want to make it as protected/inaccessible as possible from either side of the gate.
I've seen houses with side gates/doors before with what appeared to be a mortice lock fitted, but I've only seen them from a distance so while I believe what I'm trying to achieve is feasible I'm really scratching my head over the best option to pursue. I'd be grateful for any suggestions/advice.
