Gate Posts

Kweegly · November 2014

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the process of building new wooden drive gates and have two brick posts all ready built either side of the drive. I intend to attach two wooden posts to the bricks to fix the gates too.

My question is would you drill then screw the posts into the mortar of the brick posts or the bricks themselves?

The bricks are the modern type with 3 holes in the centre of the brick, the screws are long and would pass through 1 hole, my thinking is the brick might crack as only the first inch of the screw would be in the brick and the rest in the empty hole.

Thanks in advance

Dovefromabove · November 2014

I would always choose to drill into the mortar rather than the brick. The mortar isn't as hard so is easier to drill into, but more important, it's easier to repair if something goes wong.

Fairygirl · November 2014

If the posts you're fixing the gates to are a decent weight, you can just attach the gates to them and not through to the brick itself. Depends on the weight and size of your gates etc, but a shorter, heavier weight screw is better than a longer one for fixing hinges of any kind.

A very good joiner told me that years ago when he re hung all the doors in my first flat

Mark 499 · November 2014

I would drill into the brick every time, if the gates are heavy you made need something stronger than a plug & screw fixing.

Kweegly · November 2014

Thanks for the info, really helpful