Why Gates Fail and Fences Do Not
A fence panel is supported at both ends and never moves. A gate hangs from one side, carries its full weight on two or three hinges, and swings through several thousand cycles a year. Everything that goes wrong with fences goes wrong with gates first — and faster.
That means the hinge post is doing far more work than any other post in the fence. Undersized or shallowly set, it starts to pull, the gate drops, and within a season it drags. Most sagging gates we are called out to are not gate problems at all; they are hinge post problems.
We fabricate custom gates in our own shop, which means a gate can be built to the opening rather than the opening being framed to a stock gate size. That matters most on drive gates and anywhere the ground is not flat.
Gates We Build and Install
Walk-Through Gates
Standard three to four foot pedestrian gates matched to your fence material and style. Built square, braced against sag, and hung on a properly sized hinge post with hardware rated for daily use.
Double Drive Gates
Ten to twelve foot openings for vehicles, RVs, and trailers, hung as a matched pair with drop rods and a centre stop. The most common driveway solution where there is room for the leaves to swing.
Cantilever & Slide Gates
For openings where a swing gate has nowhere to go — narrow lots, sloped driveways, or commercial yards where a swinging leaf would block traffic. Cantilever gates roll clear of the opening without a ground track to jam with debris.
Automated & Access-Controlled Gates
Motorised swing or slide operators with keypads, remotes, intercom, or card readers, plus the safety loops and photo eyes that keep the gate from closing on a vehicle. Common on commercial perimeters and larger residential parcels.
Gate Cost in Tacoma
| Item | Estimated Cost (Installed) |
|---|---|
| Walk-through gate (with hardware) | $250 – $500 each |
| Double drive gate (10–12 ft) | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| Upgraded hardware — hinges, drop rods, locks | $100 – $400 per gate |
| Wide gates for mowers or vehicles | $400 – $1,200 each |
Installed 2026 ranges for Tacoma, added to a fence project. Automation, access control, and custom fabricated gates are quoted per project — the hardware, power availability, and site layout drive the number.
What We Get Right on a Gate
Hinge post sizing and depth
The hinge post carries the entire cantilevered weight of the gate. We size and set it for that load, not for the fence line it happens to sit in. This is the difference between a gate that swings true in year ten and one that drags in year two.
Diagonal bracing
A gate frame is a rectangle, and rectangles rack. A correctly oriented diagonal brace — in compression from the bottom hinge corner — is what keeps it square. Getting the direction wrong is worse than no brace at all.
Swing direction and ground clearance
Which way a gate opens, and how much it can clear as the ground heaves or settles, needs deciding before the posts go in. On sloped sites this often decides swing versus slide.
Safety on automated gates
A powered gate is a moving machine. Photo eyes, safety loops, and correctly set obstruction sensing are not optional extras, and we will not install an operator without them.
Gate Projects
Custom fabricated metal gate
Custom gate fabrication in Tacoma
Ornamental gate and fence
Fabricated gate detail
Commercial gate installation
Custom metalwork by South Sound Fencing
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to add a gate to a fence?
A standard three-foot walk-through gate typically adds $250–$500 including hardware. A ten to twelve foot double drive gate runs $1,000–$2,500 depending on hardware and whether you want drop rods or locks.
Why does my gate sag?
Almost always the hinge post or the brace. The hinge post carries the gate's full weight cantilevered off one side, and if it was undersized or set shallow it will lean over time. A racked frame with a missing or wrongly oriented diagonal brace is the other common cause.
Can you automate an existing gate?
Sometimes. It depends on whether the gate and posts can take the loads an operator applies, and whether power is available at the gate. We assess the existing gate before quoting — retrofitting an operator to an under-built gate just breaks the gate faster.
What is a cantilever gate and when do I need one?
A cantilever slide gate rolls sideways clear of the opening, supported by rollers on a post frame rather than a ground track. You need one where a swing gate has nowhere to swing — narrow lots, sloped driveways, or busy commercial yards. No ground track means nothing to clog with gravel or leaves.
Do you build custom gates?
Yes. We fabricate in-house, so gates get built to the opening rather than forcing the opening to fit a stock size. See our custom fabrication page for ornamental and architectural metalwork.
How wide should a driveway gate be?
Twelve feet is comfortable for most vehicles; ten is workable but tight for trailers and larger trucks. On a narrow approach where a vehicle cannot straighten before the gate, wider is genuinely better. We look at the approach angle during the estimate.
Get a Gate Quote
Walk gates, drive gates, cantilever slides, and full automation.
- Custom gates fabricated in-house
- Properly sized and braced hinge posts
- Automation with keypads, remotes, and intercom
- Safety loops and photo eyes on every operator
- Free written estimate, no obligation
What Happens Next
Licensed & Insured • Local Team • Schedule-Friendly Installs
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