Choosing an Aluminum or Iron Gate Width for Your Yard Project

One of the most common questions we get is about gate widths. Folks aren’t always sure what gate options we offer and what width they need for their project. So I thought I would put something together going over some common gate widths and what size your project may require.

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This article is only going to focus on yard or pedestrian gates. There will be a separate article coming later dealing exclusively with driveway gate width options.

Single Gate vs Double Gate

There are two types of walk gates: single and double.

A single gate is a one-piece gate leaf. So a 4ft single gate means its one 4ft wide gate leaf. The arched gate in the image at the start of this article is a single gate.

A double gate is comprised of two smaller gate leafs to make a larger gate. So an 8ft double gate means that its made up of two single 4ft wide gate leafs to make the larger 8ft opening. Below is an image of a 4×8 double gate:

What Gate Width Options are Available?

The gate widths we offer will vary based on the style and material you are looking at. Some of our newer styles like Hoop and Picket have less gate options available than our main Classic style. Here is a quick rundown of the widths available by style and materials:

STRONGHOLD IRON

4ft Wide Single Gate – All Stronghold Iron styles and grades

4ft Arched Single Gate – Classic only

5ft Wide Single Gate – All Stronghold Iron styles and grades

6ft Wide Single Gate – Classic only

8ft Wide Double Gate – All Stronghold Iron styles and grades

10ft Wide Double Gate – All Stronghold Iron styles and grades

12ft Wide Double Gate – Classic only

INFINITY ALUMINUM

4ft Wide Single Gate – All Infinity Aluminum styles and grades

4ft Arched Single Gate – All Infinity Aluminum styles and grades

5ft Wide Single Gate – All Infinity Aluminum styles and grades

6ft Wide Single Gate – All Infinity Aluminum styles and grades

8ft Wide Double Gate – All Infinity Aluminum styles and grades

10ft Wide Double Gate – All Infinity Aluminum styles and grades

12ft Wide Double Gate – All Infinity Aluminum styles and grades

Which Gate Width Do I Need?

This is going to vary a bit by project. To determine the gate width you need, come up with the largest item that would ever need to pass through the gate into your yard. If you have a riding mower or a lawn service, you will want to see how wide those mowers are and size your gate accordingly. If you have a larger yard, do you think you may ever need to to drive your truck or SUV in the back to unload something? In that case, plan for a larger gate that will fit the vehicle.

For simple walkways and sidewalks that are only allowing people through, a 4ft walk gate is perfect. It’s wide enough to walk through with bags in your hands and can fit push lawnmowers and wheel barrows through it as well. 4ft wide is by far our most popular gate width.

5ft and 6ft wide gates are good if you have a smaller riding mower or have a wider sidewalk. It is always a good idea to size your gate larger than your paved walkway. A 5ft wide gate fits a 4ft wide sidewalk nicely. That way you do not have to dig your post holes too close to the sidewalk and the gate posts are not ‘crowding’ the sidewalk.

Moving up to an 8ft double gate will ensure any type of riding or zero turn mower used by a lawn service will fit. If you think you may need to utilize a smaller tractor like a Bobcat/ skid steer, this is a good size to consider as well. You can fit a full size truck through an 8ft gate if you are careful and can come straight at it. Most full size pickup trucks these days are 80-83 inches wide or about 6.5ft wide.

10ft and 12ft gates are typically used if you are going to be driving through the gate with full size trucks or larger vehicles like RVs or trailers. A modern full size pickup truck is a little over 6.5ft wide. So it will easily fit through a 10ft gate. A single axle dump truck like many landscaping companies will use is about 8.5ft wide and will need a 10ft gate opening minimum. RVs are typically 8 to 8.5ft wide as well. They can fit a 10ft gate, but due to their length, its easier to fit them though a wider 12ft gate that allows you to steer and position the vehicle as you back it in.

Still Have Gate Questions?

As long-standing manufacturers of steel and timber gates, the team at Penchard are very aware of material and design trends as they come and go.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website aluminium ornaments.

Recently, we have seen the popularity of aluminium gates increase in the domestic gate market. Customers frequently ask our team about the pros and cons of specific materials and whether they are a good fit for a gate. We wanted to offer our input about the advantages of traditional wooden gates and disadvantages of aluminium gates to help property owners, architects and contractors make a more informed decision.

The appeal of aluminium gates

There’s no denying that aluminium gates are attractive, versatile and functional, and there are plenty of reasons why they would be chosen for a property.

The most common attraction of aluminium gates is that they are marketed as ‘maintenance-free’. However, the validity of this claim can be disputed. While aluminium does not rust, any material exposed to the elements and outdoors will require maintenance at some point.

Therefore, it is a matter of weighing up maintenance frequency versus ease of maintenance. Aluminium gates are often powder coated, but if the coating gets damaged, it can be very difficult to restore without stripping the finish and recoating. This process can be very expensive.

Homeowners, property owners and contractors are also drawn to aluminium gates because of their weight. Aluminium has a low density which makes it lightweight and easy to move. This is a benefit if a gate is manually operated. However, automated gate systems can mechanically open/close gates weighing up to 800 kg (in most cases) so the weight has no impact on a human operator.

Another reason people select aluminium gates is that they feel they look more modern or contemporary. While aluminium seems to have become synonymous with contemporary design, timber gates are more than capable of looking striking, clean and modern.

The drawbacks of aluminium gates

Although there are good reasons to buy aluminium gates, their composition also has negatives compared to more traditional gate materials.

As mentioned above, powder-coated aluminium gates can be tricky and expensive to recoat and replace if they get damaged. While aluminium does not rust, it can still corrode. Corrosion is different from rust and refers to the chemically triggered degeneration of metal caused by environmental influences, including moisture. If the raw aluminium metal of a gate is exposed to the climate, it may corrode over time.

In reference to the lightweight properties of the metal, aluminium is also quite soft. Penchard has received calls from numerous clients asking the team to replace aluminium gates from other manufacturers with timber or steel gates. This is usually because the aluminium gates have bent/buckled very easily in the wind or have been lightly hit by vehicles.

Additionally, most aluminium gates are manufactured from extruded sections. Because of this, there is a limitation as to what gate style you can have as the manufacturers have to use the available profiles and sections. This manufacturing process creates very little opportunity for a fully bespoke gate that meets every design spec.

People also question whether aluminium is more cost-effective than traditional gate materials. This is difficult to answer as there are many variables. Like any product, you can buy poor-quality aluminium gates that are very cheap and higher-quality gates that are considerably more expensive.

In a comparison of two premium gates (one timber and one aluminium), the aluminium gate would likely be more expensive overall.

Traditional for a reason: the benefits of timber gates

It is hard to argue that aluminium gates are more robust than wood. A wooden gate is often made of very durable, reliable timber that can withstand the elements and maintain its original impressive appearance. Wooden gates are often thicker than aluminium gates, and the extra thickness makes them more sturdy, luxurious and high quality. Whether it’s wooden garden gates, farm gates, or gates for your house’s grand entrance that you’re looking for, timber gives a luxury appeal from the kerb.

Wooden gates are also very versatile, and there is really no limit to the styles and designs that can be manufactured! Penchard has in-house CNC machinery and a skilled team of joiners that can bring designs to life with high-quality timber. Many clients are left amazed at what can be done with timber! From tall entrance gates to agricultural gates, the Penchard team can do it all.

There is also a much greater choice of finishes available with timber. Timber gates can be left untreated so they will weather naturally to blend in with the surroundings, or they can be painted any colour at any point in their life. Wooden gates can also be stained or covered with bespoke coatings!

Some people also believe that timber gates are outdated. The age of the tradition should not be a deterrent; instead, it should inspire confidence. The long-established art of using wood in construction simply means that the craftsmanship has been finely honed over time, and the mastery of techniques can be adapted to the modern day.

Timber gates can be manufactured to look very modern or to have a much more traditional feel and look, dependent on supplied designs and requirements.

Do timber gates have downfalls?

Wood is a natural material, and its rich tones and quality are a big part of its allure. However, because it’s organic, it can split, twist or crack if it isn’t cared for. However, the Penchard team manufactures 600-700 timber gates each year; only (approx.) 1.5% of these gates have natural defects that result in us having to rectify them due to the defect affecting the visual appearance and longevity.

Timber will also deteriorate over time if it isn’t properly cared for and maintained. Wood shrinks when the weather is hot enough and absorbs moisture when it rains, which may affect the infrastructure when left unchecked. Wooden gates will need regular maintenance to look as good as new — especially when exposed to UK weather conditions.

Penchard offers finishes that greatly slow down the rate of weathering to help support the maintenance process.

Choose Penchard for gates you can trust

At Penchard, we are passionate about the advantages and charm of timber gates. Timber is versatile, robust and quality, and we integrate these values into every timber gate our in-house experts manufacture.

Even in a market where aluminium is becoming increasingly popular, we are seeing a steep increase in requests for timber gate products. We believe in the quality of our gates, and contractors and homeowners do too.

We also work with the top architects in England and the south. They have never (to date) requested our team to use aluminium gates. We feel this tells a story of authenticity and confident choice.

Sometimes traditions prevail. In this instance, architects agree that using traditional timber (or steel) gates on properties is the only way to get the quality and appearance for architectural projects, farm buildings, residential properties and much more.

Don’t let limitations restrict the design vision and quality of your projects. Contact Penchard today on or [ protected]