How to add a gate to existing Colorbond fence?

Hi folks

Hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction?

I have an existing fence, and would ideally like to make a gate way there so I can enter the yard on both sides of my house.

I don't have a lot of space to play with and it would have to be strong, lockable/secure as on the other side is our pool, but I am so very over having to go all the way around to turn on a tap which is further back in the pool yard along the side of the house.

I can't afford to pay anyone to do this and wondering if I could get some pointers/suggestion to possibly tackle this job myself and on a tight budget.

1) I've added a few pics.

1a) The pic with the Yellow markings is where the gate would have to be, right up against the house/opening outwards.

2) The bricked out area on the ground, is where I've installed the large rainwater tank left of pic.

3) I'm limited as it's only wide enough to put a small gateway, only permitted to be no bigger than a metre.

4) On the other side is a small garden shed, with enough room to walk/between house and shed.

5) Below are some of the NSW Councils rules regarding gates into a pool yard, as a guide

In New South Wales (NSW), pool gates must meet the following regulations:

Opening direction: Gates must open away from the pool
Closing: Gates must be self-closing and self-latching, and must close automatically from any position
Latch release: The latch release mechanism must be at least 1500 mm above the ground, or at least 150 mm below the top of the fence
Gate width: Gates should be kept to a minimum width, no more than 1 meter
No climbing: There should be no footholds or handholds closer than 90 cm apart

Appreciated any advice, as I've been searching online and can't seem to find a simple version or way around this task, I was hoping to have it look like just a panel in the fence, as I don't plan to be using it as a regular access point, but going into a pool yard may make that more difficult. *(I may give my local council a call to check).

Thanks in advance folks, any advice would be well and truly appreciated.

This Old-gal

Area requiredNo bigger then yellow area as Rainwater tank comes to bricked areaInside view- gate will have to open outwards

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Comments

EricL

Hello @Old-gal24

In order to place a gate in that spot the fence will need to be taken apart and a Colorbond post placed in the middle and leaving enough space for a 900mm gate. The rails of the fence will need to be cut down to fit the space between the new post. The Colorbond sheets will need to be cut down as well with a tin snip in order to fit into the new space. The fence will then need to be reassembled. The Colorbond gate will need to be ordered from the special orders desk.

To comply with pool fence laws, you'll need to use a MagnaLatch Pool Gate Latch Safety Kit With TruClose Hinges. This will automatically close the gate every time its opened and the latch is a self-locking magnetic latch that can only be opened from the top of the post. The hinges can be mounted inside or outside depending on how you want it to open. Since there is no material change to your fence aside from adding a post and a new gate, there should be no point along the fence where you can climb it.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Jewelleryrescue

Hi @Old-gal24

Gate width

To do this job you would need two new posts 50mm x 50mm x 2.4M on each side of the gate sturdy for the gate hinges and gate latch on on the brick wall the other along the fence, The wall post can be cut to 1.8mm and be fixed to wall no digging required. You will need a colorbond post the C shaped post to encapsule the infill panels it will be possible to reuse the old one off the wall.

The gate itself can be Bought at Oxworks Sydney for the best price (I dont know if bunnings price match and will sell you one of their suppliers gates for the same?)

a standard gate 930 x 1800mm in TRim line pattern (same as your fence.) $229.09

You will need to cut the old fence to the correct length I like using a nibbling tool added to my cordless drill it gives cleaner cuts with out burning the steel and paint.

Add The hinges @EricL meantioned and you are getting close to finished.

How ever @Old-gal24 hold the phone A better solution

Is to use a pope 2 way tap outlet or 4 way . And add a second new hose off it and run it into your pool area under the fence and have a hand piece or tap in there and leave tap always turned on ready for use .

So you will have your water outlet ready to go any time . Talk to us about what you doing with the hose in side ie sprinkler etc as you will need a shut off valve (tap) for your use.

If you go away holidays turn the popes tap off just incase of a hose burst.

This will save you $$$ on a new gate and all the hard ware.

Hope this helps.

Old-gal24

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/44145#Comment_44145

@EricL

Eric

Thank you for taking the time to reply,

I'm hoping to keep my costs down and do some or most of the work myself. e.g making the gate out of the fencing material/colourbond sheet, making a frame to go around it. I do already have a steel post, so would only need to purchase the frame work.

Cheers

Old-gal

Old-gal24

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/44153#Comment_44153

@Jewelleryrescue @EricL

Thank you so very much for taking the time to reply in such detail.. VERY much appreciated.

Out in the boomies so far too far from Sydney to access Oxworks as recommended. We do have some fencing installer here, but my gosh the charge like a wounded bull. I'm on an extremely tight budget right now, so trying to keep my costs to a minimum.

I do actually have two posts on 90x90 the other more like 100 x 100, which I could use. I would then have to source the aluminium frame work for the gate it's self, utilising the existing colourbond sheet that I cut away from the fence.

Of course I realize I will have put all the appropriate hinges and locks to meet fencing regulations in NSW.

Your suggestion of having the plumbing extended through to the front side on the house is a good one.

The water is actually in the pool/back yard and I would dearly like to have water in my front yard, as I've just built all new gardens. I would have to cut a hole in the fence frame to go underneath as it's on solid concrete, and the fence goes straight to the ground.

I would also have to have something that can take our horrid heat and cold and the pressure associated with that.

For now I have a hose over the fence and having to run back and forwards.. which isn't a lot of fun when your aged and a bit disabled.

Ideally it would be great being able to access the back yard from both sides of the house. As well as have access to the water for my front yard.

I was hoping to be able to tackle this myself *(independent old gal here) and hate waste.

Once again many thanks for taking the time to reply, and with such helpful info.

Old~gal

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/84217#Comment_84217

Hi @Old-gal24

I hear you clearly when you say your on a budget. Great your avoiding rip offs I want the best cheapest easiest solution for your needs so lets keep exploring this project.

So another possibility is have a plumber put a tap in the front yard on your house this might be cheaper adjacent a shower bathroom toilet or kitchen area. As I suspect your vunerable to some frosts and hose freezing issues The ground hose wants insulation or turned of at winter time. Explore that cost hurdle mean while work on current ideas. A tap directly from the house will have a little more freezing protection. Wont a standard hose go under the fence gap where the paves are maybe if you took hose connector off first so its just the hose diameter your theading. If Concrete is under the fence blocking you it is easier to chip the concrete with a cold chisel and hammer with a bit of persistance rather then cut the fence.

Re gate option

LOL @Old-gal24 You have 90mm posts and 100mm post your are like me and dont skimpy on strength I bet the side walls are 4mm thick or better too. maybe 6mm . They will withstand any thing. It also sounds you are highly practicable to your credit I also hate waste too but can you cut and drill thick steel posts at need are you able to dig a 600mm fence hole?

Oxworks gate saves a lot of work is it worth asking there delivery price to you home it might be expense? But the saving on the gate is worth the possible cost as it is a pool gate not a hen house door in case of inspection, Is some one you know visiting sydney for a pickup.

Its a selfish thing I dont like the thoughts of you facing building a gate your self as it is not easy to get a good working one and custom building one is harder again. I am not saying you cant do it . Possible a welder in town can build then make your gate and swing it?

But if your super keen what hardware places do you have local to you so I can look up materials we might need local for you. Private message me you nearest town I can look at possibilies if you wish..

I ran my own hose to the other side of the house.

I ran a my own hose (connected to a outside tap outlet) up into the roof and down again on the other side of the house to a regular tap fitting using a proper household poly pipe type water hose to a tap fitting mounted on the wall. This will be alot easier than gate building but with its own issues.

Your the boss @Old-gal24 if you can manage the gate your self we go for it . 🙂

Black hose through roof

Black hose fittings and new wall tap

Old-gal24

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/107124#Comment_107124

@Jewelleryrescue

You get me. Trying to think outside the box. BEING on a disability pension makes things super tight, more so right now as my adult daughter (whom I am full time carer for) and I have just purchased this house and having loads of out of pocket expenses associated with it. I maybe better off waiting till I can save for a plumber.

We have a Bunnings here in Dubbo, which has just undergone a huge extension which should be up and running very soon. And of course, the other hardware store much smaller. BUT like everything, since Covid prices have skyrocketed. Making it harder to get things done.

I truly can't thank you enough for your amazing advice, you have certainly given me food for thought. RE: cutting my work load down. Installing a tap in the front yard outside the fence will certainly be my best very long term option. Safety wise more than anything, having a gateway into the pool yard is not the best way about going through things.. Moreso as we are already having issues with ?? KIDs pulling out my newly planted trees and plants playing havoc in the new front gardens I'm trying to establish.. 😉 which is crushing me.. doing all that work only to come out and find everything I planted the days prior on the ground getting baked in the heat or things flipped over and up the paddock. There will be many that don't make it thanks to who ever is causing such heartache as I am loose plants on almost a daily basis with 32 temps this week alone... I'm sure they think it's a huge joke.. BUT to me it certainly isn't.

Next thing will have to be saving for a front fence, and police advised me to install security cameras.. Yep more cost, that I certainly don't need, or have right now.

Many thanks again for taking your time to help this old gal out..

Cheers

Old~gal

Jewelleryrescue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/120779#Comment_120779

Hi @Old-gal24

Fantatic you have a new home . 🙂 Lets protect it is the first order of business before fixing it up.

If you feel house is in danger from dangerous vandals ie fire bombing it insure your house for double its value is the ultimate guide. But insurance is through the roof pardon the pun insure as the last ditch effort just in case. I cant afford it.

You right every cent you spend needs to count and is the main reason I suggest gate change idea because a hidden cost is if you dont have the right tools( with out knowing you tool list.) thats a bunch of extra money for a one off job.

I am sorry about your plants I know how much I spend on plants and it hurts not to mention all your hard work.

I also had weird things vandalism in our front yard and now street most of use cameras and security lights and the problems diminished from our area, hope this may work for you.

Well Bunning prices are reasonable and they do honour refunds and support customers so I am glad you have one in town.

They won the first round killing your plants.

Before you do any more work in your yard spend wasted $ because of the vandals

I will try to cut to the heart of the mater those kids like doing there fun in the dark undisturbed usually. They will keep coming back until they are board or discouraged, yet some might be drug effected the worst kind might take more. Sercurity lights helps send them scuttling like cockroaches

Your best bang for buck potential solution is to first put up security cameras with spot lights built in (built in spotlights save you money on security lights.)

The main thing with security cameras is (vandal proof if possible.

You are less vunerable and feel a little safer. It makes the vandals uncomfortable even if the are braison.

You dont have to open the door if there is noise outside in the middle of the night.

They record 24/7 so you a can see whos doing this

The police have a visual record of the kids doing it.

The cameras (some of them) have spot lights too destroy there fun.

You can now redo you yard in stages and see if any thing happens,

I own and have super looked into this the best camera with out hidden fees is REOLINK online the prices are affordable cameras powerfull even at night. These cameras are extra smart and know different triggers eg car vs person vs cat this identification is a key against infinite false triggering,

I would consider buying aReolink system and then pay someone to install it so they dont sell you a substandard system.

This is a reolink 180 degree camera of my front yard Cost of camera $289 and it covers whole yard and street I just viewed the camera on my screen and took photo easy to use.

Reolink 180 degree 4K cctv with night vision

This will cost you under $1000 if you want to know more i can help ie a best solution for you.

While you are saving up for possible security systems consider bunnings has some fake cameras for $16.67 i would buy 3 to keep them guessing it may slow the vandals down. And you can buy one at a time as your budget stretches too,

Swann Dome Imitation Camera With Flashing Light in 4220343 DIY $16.67

https://www.bunnings.com.au/swann-dome-imitation-camera-with-flashing-light_p4220343

You can leave the fake cameras up when you get the real deal.

I highly recommend security spot lights to send the cockroaches sculling. I use this one very good so far attach to roof guttering if possible.

Arlec 5W Integrated Solar Powered Sensor LED Floodlight $37 DIY

https://www.bunnings.com.au/arlec-5w-integrated-solar-powered-sensor-led-floodlight_p0056859

Old-gal24

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/129241#Comment_129241

@Jewelleryrescue

I truly can not thank you enough.

Security is so important to me, more so having a special needs adult daughter. *(who is like a young child).

I just checked out your Reolink system, I love the fact that they are flood lights as well as cameras. The ones you gave me the link to are actually on special at the moment. $ 237.99. And free shipping.

The police advised we get a doorbell security camera, which I have done, but I was planning on putting up some sensor flood lights. So may as well do the lot. Do you have a recording device set with your system? I will look into having something installed asap. As it's stressing me out, not knowing what will happen next..

Cheers Old~gal

Old-gal24

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/107124#Comment_107124

@Jewelleryrescue

Thank you for taking the time to reply, very much appreciated..

I will take everything you have shared on board and when I can save up the dollar, after we sell our current home, things should improve.

Old~gal

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