Pedestrian and side gates for Dublin homes
The side gate is the most used and least considered gate on a Dublin house. It is also the one that most often provides the easy way into a back garden, so it is worth getting right.
Security basics
A side gate should be full height with no climbable horizontal rails on the outside face, no gap at the top of the frame to reach through, and hinges that cannot be lifted off. A gate that can be lifted off its pins in ten seconds is decoration, not security.
The lock matters more than the steel. A decent mortice or hook bolt lock into a solid post is worth more than a heavier gate with a hasp.
Frames and posts
Side passages in Dublin terraces are narrow and the walls either side are often old and uneven. A gate with its own welded frame, fixed to the masonry, gives a square opening even where the walls are not, and stops the gate binding when the wall moves.
Where there is nothing solid to fix to, a steel post set into the ground is the better answer.
Self closing and children
Where a gate leads to a pool, a road or a shared area, a self closing hinge and a latch out of a child's reach are worth specifying. Spring hinges need a gate that is properly square, otherwise they slam rather than close.
We set the closing speed on installation rather than leaving it to be adjusted later.
Matching the front
Most customers want the side gate to match the driveway gates and front railings. Fabricating everything in one order keeps the bar spacing, top rail height and colour consistent, and usually costs less than ordering separately.
Hot dip galvanised and powder coated is the finish we recommend, since a side passage stays damp and rarely gets any sun.
Want this priced for your own job? Send us your drawings or a photo and we will come back with a fixed price, usually within one working day.
Common questions
Need this done properly? Talk to the workshop.
Send us drawings, a sketch or a site photo. We come back with a fixed price and a firm lead time, usually within one working day.