By the Numbers...
So, gates are what, like 10-15% of your
total revenue stream? And gate problems account for maybe 60%-70% of
your call backs?
What is the number one
failure in a gate system? There are a few things that can go wrong,
and any one or a combination of these things can destroy the profit
margin on any job. The gate sags. Is
the gate itself is the problem, or is it the hinges, or even the post
that is failing?
A well made gate will not sag. To make sure it doesn't
sag, or to make sure it doesn't twist and flop around, you just need
to remember one rule of thumb. Never lay your bracing down below 45ยบ
when measured off the bottom rail. Other articles discuss why this
works and how but for our purposes here, it just does.
The
best made hinge will not support a gate too heavy for its rating.
You need to know how much load a gate puts on the hinge system, not
just how much the gate weighs. Load takes into account the stresses
caused by the ratio of the width of the panel against the distance
between the hinges. A hinge properly sized for the job will support
the gate for the lifetime of the fence, and will allow for adjustment
to account for the natural movement of the ground.
A post must both be rigid
enough to support the load of the gate, and anchored properly in the
earth. As seasons pass, changing water content and potentially ice
will cause the earth around a post to shift. Sometimes we see the
post rise or sink due to “frost heave”. This can be mitigated
with proper post setting techniques, again, a subject for another
post.
An adjustable hinge will allow for “fine tuning” when
the unavoidable small movements occur. A bolt-on hinge will allow for simple replacement in the field if replacement is needed, without cutting, welding, and paint issues.
Now you know more about why we do what we do at Modern Fence Technologies.
