The Amazing Gate

Brent is the most talented person I know. He can build and fix anything. Last fall he created a design for the gate on our side yard. He researched several different styles of gates and determined how he wanted our gate to look and operate. Then he located a business that sold steel. He purchased various pieces of steel and began cutting, bending, and welding the pieces together to create the gate.
This is the gate as of November 2008. The basic frame is started. Finding time to work on the gate is a challenge. There are so many other things to do and projects around the house that need his attention.

After all of the metal work was done, Brent had to find redwood for the front of the gate. You can find some standard length slats of redwood at Home Depot. However, our gate has some taller sections in it because of the arch. Brent had to find longer pieces. The longer pieces were thicker than the standard pieces so he had to split them vertically, plane them so they were all the same thickness, cut them to the correct length, tongue and grove the edges so they would fit perfectly together and the route the other edges for a custom look. This part of the project took a significant amount of time.By June the wood slats were done. Before Brent could start installing them I had to weather proof them. This is the only part of the project I could do. I do happen to have painting skills and I was happy to do something to help get the gate done.

On July 6th, Brent finished installing the wood slats on the last section of the gate.

We now have an amazing custom gate. The only thing left to do is put in the lock and handle. It looks pretty awesome! (Too bad he street light shadow spoil my picture!)