How to Make a Lattice Gate

Lattice gates allow the sunlight to shine through and present an open and attractive pathway to your home. Build the lattice gate from maintenance-free vinyl or beautiful natural cedar. Paint or stain other types of lattice wood gates to match the color of your fence. The height of the gate typically matches the height of the fence, although you may build it to any height to achieve the effect you desire. Construction of a gate generally requires an afternoon of your time, a reasonable amount of effort and little experience with tools.

Measuring tape
Hinge assembly
Gate latch assembly
Two boards, 2-by-2-inch
Two boards, 2-by-4-inch
Electric drill
1/8-inch bit
4-inch wood screws
Carpenter’s chalk line
1/2-inch cedar or vinyl lattice board
Circular saw
2-inch galvanized wood nails
Tap hammer
Nail punch

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the opening between the standing gate posts with a measuring tape. Subtract 2 inches from the measurement to leave room for the hinges on one side of the gate and the latch on the other.
- 2
  Determine the height of the gate you desire. Make certain your measurement takes into account 1 inch of space under the gate for it to sweep above the ground.
- 3
  Cut two 2-by-2-inch boards to the height you desire to form the sides of the gate.
- 4
  Saw two 2-by-4-inch boards to the length of the measurement you took for the width of the gate, minus 8 inches. One of these boards fits at the top and the other at the bottom of the gate.
- 5
  Place the two longer 2-by-2-inch boards alongside each other on a level surface. Position one of the shorter 2-by-4-inch boards flat on the ground between them and line it up with the top of the two sideboards. Place the remaining 2-by-4-inch board flat on the ground between the two longer boards at the bottom; line its edge up with the bottoms of the two longer boards.
- 6
  Drill three 1/16-inch pilot holes evenly spaced through the sideboard into the ends of the 2-by-4-inch boards. Install 4 inch wood screws through the pilot holes into the 2-by-4-inch boards.
- 7
  Measure the size of the lattice board necessary to fit the gate frame from outside edge to outside edge. Use a carpenter’s chalk line to mark the dimensions of the gate on a sheet of 1/2-inch cedar or vinyl lattice board and use a circular saw to cut it out.
- 8
  Fit the lattice board to the gate frame and use 2-inch-long galvanized wood nails to attach it to the gate frame. Place a nail approximately every 6 inches along the outside frame of the lattice board. Use a nail punch to lightly seat the nail heads.
- 9
  Follow the package directions to install the hinges on one side of the gate and the latch on the other side.
- 10
  Install the hinges on one gatepost and the latch assembly on the other, according to manufacturer’s directions.

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