Metal Framed Wooden Gates Derby

Metal Framed Wooden Gates

Whilst popularity in metal framed composite gates is on a steep rise, there is still a large number of people and properties which want a solid gate using traditional materials. Combining a metal frame with a wooden infill ticks that box.

Generally speaking, when choosing a metal framed wooden gate over just a pure wooden gate, you are seeking quality and longevity, as you are investing in your gate and property as opposed to just having a gate because you prefer to have a gate rather than an open space.

A metal frame provides strength to your gate, as well as protection and much more secure locking than a standard wooden gate. In addition, the metal frame provides much more creative scope, allowing decorative features such as toppers like spikes or fleur de lis, or additional metal bars or decorative features across the bulk of the gate, to provide a vast range of styles and genres.

Real Timber or Wood-Effect Composite?

Most people who ask us for a wooden gate want the look of timber: the grain, the warmth, and the way it sits with fencing, planting and brick. Inside a steel frame there are two ways to get it, and at survey we bring samples of both.

Real timber

Boards of hardwood or a durable softwood fitted within the frame. It is the genuine article, it can be sanded and re-oiled to bring it back to colour, and it ages in a way many people like. But it is a natural material: it moves with the seasons, it will weather to grey unless it is maintained, and the better species cost noticeably more.

Wood-effect composite

Boards with a moulded grain in a range of browns and oaks. They don't need oiling or staining, don't rot or split, and hold their colour, and many customers who start out asking for real wood choose them once they have seen them side by side. The trade-off is that composite is a close likeness of timber, not the thing itself.

Either infill goes into the same welded steel frame, with the same choice of shapes, toppers and locks.

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Metal Framed Timber Gates

There are a variety of woods that can be used for metal-framed timber gates, depending on personal preference and the desired aesthetic. Whilst timber can of course be painted, the reason natural timber is chosen for metal framed gates is to show off the natural grain and shade of the wood, so most protective finishes are clear rather than coloured. With the more durable woods, natural rot resistance means a protective coating isn't needed for the first few years, although it will help with longer-term longevity. Some common woods used for this purpose include:

Hardwoods

Oak: Oak is a solid and dense wood known for its strength and durability. It has a light to medium brown colour, and if left untreated it develops an attractive silver-grey patina over time.

Mahogany: Mahogany is a hardwood with excellent natural resistance to decay and insects. It has a rich, dark brown colour and can be finished with varnish or oil for added protection.

Durable softwoods

Cedar, redwood and Douglas fir are botanically softwoods, but they are far more durable outdoors than the pine used for most fence panels and off-the-shelf gates.

Cedar: Cedar is a popular choice due to its natural resistance to rot and insects. It also has a beautiful grain and a reddish-brown colour that can enhance the gate's appearance.

Redwood: Redwood is another durable and aesthetically pleasing wood, known for its resistance to decay and pests. It also has a rich, reddish-brown colour that can be enhanced with a clear finish.

Douglas fir: Douglas fir is a strong and durable wood often used for outdoor applications. It has a lighter reddish-brown shade and can be lightly stained to a desired look.

The availability of certain timbers will fluctuate, as will their prices, so please be aware of this when looking at this as an option for your gates.

Metal Framed Wooden Driveway Gates

Metal framed wooden driveway gates do provide quite a statement entrance to your property. Whilst natural hardwood is the traditional option for wooden gates, wood effect composites are also very popular. The quality and visual appeal of wood effect composite metal driveway gates, as well as the price compared to real wood, has made this a very popular alternative. With no treatment required, it is a cost effective alternative to hardwood, with more colour or shade options.

With driveway gates we can install either hinged or sliding gates, and we can automate either. For all driveway gates it is very important to carry out a survey to establish whether suitable fixings are available or whether we would need to install suitable ones, such as metal posts. As steel metal framed driveway gates will be a significant weight, the fixings are vitally important. Establishing the slope of the driveway and also the opening space will affect fixing positions. The direction of the opening for hinged gates, and the hinging itself, will be influenced by the slope of your drive, and in some cases a sliding gate, or possibly bi-folding ones, will be the only practical solution.

To fit a sliding metal framed timber driveway gate requires a guide rail to be fitted across the drive and along the wall in the direction the gate will slide open. The wall should hide a number of additional bracing posts that will support the gate as it is slid open.

Whatever style of metal framed driveway gate you are after, Metal Gates & Railings Derby are well placed to measure, make and fit the perfect gate for your property.

Looking After a Metal Framed Wooden Gate

The steel frame needs very little: a wash down with soapy water now and then, and a quick look for any chips in the paint or powder coat, which are best touched in before rust can get a hold. Hinges, latches and locks work best with a drop of oil once or twice a year.

Real timber needs a little more. A clear oil or preservative every year or two keeps the colour and slows the silvering; if you would rather let it weather naturally to grey, it only needs checking for loose or split boards. Wood-effect composite needs nothing beyond a wash. On a sliding gate, keep the guide rail clear of leaves, gravel and soil so the wheels run freely.

Frequently asked Questions about Metal Framed Wooden Gates in Derby

How do you finish your metal frames for your wooden gates?

The steel frame is welded, deburred and primed, then hand painted or powder coated, usually in black, anthracite or grey to set off the wood. The timber itself is normally left natural or given a clear finish, so the grain shows.

Why choose Metal Gates & Railings Derby to supply & fit my metal framed timber gates?

Because we survey the opening, make the frame to its exact measurements and hang the gate ourselves. You don't have to get the measurements right, account for any slope, or work out whether your existing posts or wall are strong enough for a heavier framed gate: we check all of that before anything is made, and fit steel posts where they are needed.

What are the most popular metal framed wooden gates you install in Derby?

Solid timber infill is more popular than slatted. Most of our gates are kept a simple rectangular shape, with a few arched and topped with fleur de lis or spikes.

What colour variations are there for your metal framed timber gates?

For natural timber this will be determined by the wood type itself. Mostly this will be a reddish brown, or a lighter beige for oak. A great range of browns is available in wood effect composites, so they are worth considering too.

How do you fit your metal framed gates?

A framed gate is only as good as what it hangs on. Where your brickwork, concrete post or wall is sound enough to take the weight, we fix to it; where it isn't, we set steel posts into the ground in concrete. Sliding driveway gates also need a guide rail across the drive, which we lay in a trench so it has a strong, level base.