Very large sliding gate - Needs a steel frame?

[Fecn]

Hi everyone.

OK.. this just about counts as general woodworking since it will ultimately end up being covered in wood and will sort-of allow me to extend my workshop. (Maybe I'm stretching the topic a little)

As soon as I get the planning permission through the council, I'm going to be installing a massive 5.5Mx1.85M sliding gate to seal off my garden and give me a bit of privacy when I'm working outside.

Because everyone loves a picture, here's a photoshop mock-up of what I'm planning.

I've had a couple of different compaies quote on the work of putting the gate in, and since both quotes prohibitively expensive, I'm planning on doing the the majority of the work myself.

Both of the quotes I've had have been for a steel-framed gate with decorative non-structural woodwork to hide away the steel frame, and it's the steelworking aspect of the project that I'm not confident with.

So... onto my questions...

1. I've been assuming that the steel frame is going to be necessary since the gate has such a huge gap to span. Would everyone agree with that?

2. Does anyone know a reasonably priced company located in Surrey (I'm just a few miles from SL Hardwoods who could make the steel frame for me and ship it to my place so that I could add the decorative woodwork for myself.

As an alternative to question 2, here's another one...

3. If I'm going to have to make the framework myself, I'll buy some weding gear and learn to weld. Does anyone know a good place to get the raw steelwork from which will deliver to my house.

 

[dedee]

Just a few miles from SL Hardwoods are:-

Weldcast
66 Ravenscroft Road , Beckenham , Kent BR3 4TR, 02087767096

It has been a long time since I was last there but they were certainly capable of welding just about anything.


Andy

 

[Hitch]

I wouldnt waste time, by the time youve bought the gear, metal, headshield etc, you may as well just get it made!
Id opt to go the extra and have it galvanized aswell.
If i were a bit closer i would happily help! (somewhere around 130 miles away at a guess)
You could have the frames made elsewhere, but install them yourself, and supply the rolling gear yourself.

Heres a link for the rollers etc.
http://www.brindley-steel-forging.co.uk ... ts3474.htm

 

[Wanlock Dod]

1. I've been assuming that the steel frame is going to be necessary since the gate has such a huge gap to span. Would everyone agree with that?

Some quite big things have been made from wood though....

..although I expect a steel frame might be stiffer or lighter.

Dod

 

[engineer one]

i do agree that the expense of buying equipment you may only use once,
the time taken etc would probably not be much less than having
someone make up gates, then deliver to you for you to fit track and
wheels etc.

the other thing is that you seem to have some kind of entry
equipment, how will you use that and what weight restrictions does
that impose.

paul :wink:

 

[Fecn]

dedee, Thanks for that address and phone number.. I'll give them a try and see what it's going to cost me.

Hitch, Having the frames made elsewhere and installing for myself is exactly what I'm planning.. now that dedee has given somewhere to contact I'd love to have you come over and help, but as you say, you're a bit far away. I'm still pondering whether to go for cantilever gates (easier install, but larger gate), or down the route of getting a girder & track embedded in the concrete. Today, I'm veering towards cantilever design. Galvanised is definitely on the cards... I don't want to have to do this again in 10 years time.

engineer one, Most of my equipment is usually bought for a single job because it's cheaper than paying someone else to come and do it with their tools.... and then I end up finding out what I can do with it and get interested. My first table saw and mitre saw were bought just for making decking at my parents holiday place (anyone want me to post pics of my first project.. the one that got me hooked).... Once I owned the tools I started playing around and finding other uses. However... I really don't see myself finding many uses for welding gear later on.. I'm not really a metalwork kind of guy (well.. not at the moment at least)

There's no entry equpment there at the moment, so no weight limit... Just a big concrete driveway area and a big gap to the road... Anything gate-esque on that photo is just my imagination and photoshop skills.

Thanks to all for the replies... You've really helped me decide what route I'm going to follow getting this gate sorted out.

 

[Paul Barrett]

I lived on a farm where we had large gates like this with oak posts and wooden franes gates. It worked, to a point. The biggest problem we had was wind damage. That's a sizeable sail you are creating there and with no gaps between the boards wind resistance will be big and ultimately may buffet the gate to an extent where it starts to deteriorate.

I realise you want privacy but can you build it with a double skin? Each skin has gaps to allow air to pass, but the two skins are offset to creare privacy?

Just a thought.......