Garden gates may come in a wide diversity of options, but it's not hard to narrow down your choices if your goal is to have backyard look that's in line with mainstream taste.
If you stick with the most popular options for materials and styles, you'll be able to install one in no time.
A garden gate will typically be made from some type of wood or metal.
Cedar or pine lumber is used most often for wooden garden gates.
A stockade or picket fence will naturally suggest using a gate in the same vein.
Stockade fencing uses slats that have no gaps between them, most often connected with tongue and groove paneling.
This is the first choice for privacy fences, so if you would prefer not to see the garden on the other side of the gate, consider this solution.
The most popular type of wooden garden gate is the classic white picket gate.
Unlike stockade styles, picket gates have pronounced gaps between the slats, providing a partial view of what lies beyond.
The slats are usually connected with a Z-frame, where a parallel pair of horizontal cross members are joined by a diagonally mounted cross member between them.
Wrought iron gates are the most desired type of gating for backyards, but they're often out a homeowner's budget.
The most common way to achieve the look and feel of wrought iron is to substitute an aluminum or steel gate, then have a black powder coat finish applied to it, which will also protect the metal against rain.
For homeowners with chain link or mesh fences, wire gates are perhaps the best choice.
Since hinge placement and alignment are difficult to determine in advance with any serious precision, it's customary to have hinge tabs or L-shaped brackets welded onto the frame during of after purchase.
Once these are attached, it's easy for most homeowners to install garden gates on their own.