Sliding gates with a wicket: making tips

04-05-2018

Fence

From ancient times, the gate was considered the face of the host. They were located on the coat of arms of the family, and the strength of the material could withstand even the siege of battering machines.

At the present time in the manufacture of doors with their own hands, special emphasis is placed on practicality and the ability to automate the entire work process.

Fabrication and installation

The most popular type of gate are considered sliding. They are quite easy to use, practical and do not take up much space when opened. Moreover, if they install an additional metal wicket, then the result will be a very convenient design.

Gate retractable with a gate made of a metal profile

The principle of operation and requirements for the installation site

First of all, it is worth noting that the gate with a retractable principle of opening need a perfectly flat surface on which the guides will be installed. It is also necessary to have enough space on either side of the opening, so that there is where to place the sash in the open position.

That is why, in small rooms or with a small perimeter, garage sectional doors with a wicket are used, which are not so demanding of space.

Most often, sliding gates are installed on ready-made runners, which can be purchased separately in hardware stores or ordered. At the same time, an engine is added to them, capable of providing smooth opening, and sometimes a gearbox, to reduce the number of revolutions.

Some people prefer to install special power activation systems using remote controls or hidden control elements.

Schematic design showing all additional elements and automatic opening systems

Manufacturing frame

One of the most serious problems in the operation of this type of gate is a high probability of distortion, since a large area must be kept with a minimum number of metal frames in order not to weigh down the weight of the whole structure.

Based on calculations of rigidity and practical experience, with a span of 4 m, it is best to use a 50x50 shaped tube.
To begin with, it is necessary to weld a frame that will have the parameters of the gate. At the same time, for the sake of greater reliability, some craftsmen prefer to make them in the form of a half equi-trapezoid. The corners of this design will in the closed state serve as an additional reinforcement, being behind a reliable wall.
Next, you need to place inside the frame stiffeners. In this case, the installation manual assumes that the doorway should first be positioned.

Ready frame with installed wicket door and rollers for opening

The gate should not be located in the center, but you should not move too close to the edges. That is why, at first, they are welded to the pipe frame, which turns it from a trapezoid into two triangles and a rectangle. In this case, they will be the edges of the gate itself.
The gate is located in a meter from one of these pipes. Its width is made from 800 to 1000 mm, using all the same material as for the frame itself. Moreover, its dimensions are isolated separately, welding the metal to the perimeter of the structure.
Thus, it turns out that it remains to reinforce only 2 meters of the gate, which is done with the help of shaped pipes, welding them in the form of a cross or lattice.

Variant of drawing with some dimensions and tolerances

After this, it is necessary to install hinges on the gate. Usually the price of these devices is not very high, so you should choose reliable and high-quality parts without saving on material. They should be positioned so that the door opens inwards without interfering with the normal functioning of the gate.
Then the whole structure is treated with a rust neutralizer and primed.

Tip! Before proceeding to manufacture, you need to make a drawing. It will be easier to work on it and will save the master from the possibility of making a mistake in the installation.

Layout of all elements with indication of basic dimensions

Installation of mobile and fasteners

This process is basic and the reliability of the whole structure and the functionality of the opening elements depend on it.

First of all, it is worth noting that for greater strength and increase the operational life, factory moving elements should be used, which should be installed on the finished structure.
Usually there is an instruction inside each package with them describing in detail how a particular model functions. However, a special framework for it will have to do anyway.

Typical installation of movable elements on the gate

First you need to weld the frame along the length of the gate. With the help of special fastening material in the form of anchor bolts or reinforced impact dowels, it is fixed on the inside of the fence, on the side where the gates will be when opened.
As a stiffening rib inside the frame, an additional crossbar can be welded diagonally, but so that it does not interfere with the opening device.
It is on this framework that it is necessary to mount movable elements of factory production in accordance with the operating manual. They need to mount the backbone of the gate and insert the door frame into it.
Then install the engine and controls, hiding the wires in the fire-resistant corrugated hoses.

Tip! When you open the gate, the whole structure turns into a rather shaky device. At the same time, the gate opened in them can significantly weaken an already unstable position, weakening all moving parts, shortening their service life. Therefore, it is recommended to install a special controller on the door, which does not allow the automatic to be activated when it is open.

Placement of all elements of the electrical opening system

Profiled sheet

Further manufacturing of sliding gates consists in installation of metal profiles on the frame. It is usually used material in 3 mm thick, which allows you to make a fairly durable and reliable frame.

Typical metal profile for fences

Separately, it is worth noting the fact that there are a large number of varieties of this profile. In the shops of building materials you can even find special sheets designed specifically for gates and fences. They differ in a special type of profiling and anti-corrosion coating.

There are also such types of this material on which various images and even photos are applied. At the same time, the quality of such a pattern is so great that it practically does not fade in the sun and tolerates various atmospheric influences well.

Fix such a sheet on the frame with special screws with anti-twist protection or bolts. Hats of such fixing material are usually chosen to match the color of the surface of the metal profile, and sometimes they are simply painted.

Tip! It is best to choose a metal profile with a printed image. It will not only look beautiful on the gate, but also provide additional protection. At the same time, the price of such material is not much more expensive than the type metal for the manufacture of the fence.

Metal profile with printed image

Conclusion

After reviewing the video in this article, you can confidently summarize that the manufacture of sliding gates is a fairly simple process. However, it requires strict compliance with the installation rules and instructions for opening elements. It should also be borne in mind that to perform the work will require special skills and tools to work with the metal.