Frame Tubing and Picket Spacing Choices

Heavier tubing looks like the safe choice. It is not, because a frame that is too heavy for its hinges sags faster than a lighter one, and the right size depends on width, height and how much of the leaf is solid. A metal gate in Georgetown, TX is sized from those facts, and metal gate contractor georgetown projectsbyjen walks through that order of choices.

How is tube size chosen?

Tube size follows the width of the opening. A single swing gate of ordinary driveway width often uses two inch square tubing for the frame, while a wide dual swing gate steps up to a larger section for the top rail. The top rail carries the most load, so it gets the extra size first.

What does wall thickness do?

Wall thickness controls how much the frame flexes and how long a weld stays sound. Thin wall tubing is light and cheap to ship, but it dents and can warp under heat from welding. Steel with a thicker wall holds a straight line over a wide span and takes a hinge bracket without crushing.

How is picket spacing set?

Picket spacing is set by the smallest thing that must not pass through. For a yard with a small dog or a toddler, the gap is kept under four inches, and the pickets are fixed with the same spacing along the whole leaf. A uniform gap also looks better, since the eye catches a single wide space immediately.

Does Central Texas wind change the design?

Wind matters most on a gate that is mostly solid or has a privacy panel. A cantilever gate or a wide solid leaf acts like a sail during a spring front, and the frame, the posts and the operator all feel it. Open picket designs let wind through, which is one reason they stay straighter in open ground near the San Gabriel River.

How do finish and weight tie in?

Finish adds a small amount of weight and sets how the steel ages. Powder coat over a clean weld lasts longer than paint, and a galvanized frame resists rust where sprinklers hit the bottom rail. Whatever the finish, the final leaf weight is what the hinges and any operator are matched to. The welder also notes the bottom rail height, because a few inches of ground clearance keeps the frame out of standing water and leaves room for leaves, mulch and a sloped driveway.