Most property owners do not think about a gate until the rest of the fence is already standing. That is usually when mistakes happen. Guardian Fencing has rolled out to properties all over Sevierville, from down near the French Broad River up to the ridges off Forks of the River Road, and our team sees the same gate blunders over and over. If you want a gate that actually swings shut five years from now without dragging in the dirt, you have to plan it right from the beginning.
Skimping on the Gate Posts
The single biggest headache Guardian Fencing runs into during Gate Installation in Sevierville is undersized gate posts. People figure a four-by-four wooden post holds up the fence panels, so the post will do fine for a gate. Your gate is a moving, swinging weight that puts massive leverage and torque on those hinge posts. If you have clay-heavy soil like we do in parts of Sevier County, that ground gets saturated after a heavy spring downpour. Combine wet soil with a heavy cedar or iron gate on weak posts, and you will be dealing with a sagging mess by summer. At Guardian Fencing, we always over-engineer our gate openings. Go bigger on your posts, and sink them deep into solid concrete.
Ignoring the Slope
Sevierville is not known for flat yards. We live in the foothills, which means your property probably slopes in at least two directions. Trying to hang a standard square gate on a sloping driveway or hillside is a recipe for disaster. The gate will either slam into the ground halfway through its swing or leave a massive gap at the bottom that lets your dog slip right out. You have to measure your grade, account for the swing arc, and often custom-build or rack the gate to match the terrain.
Choosing Cheap Hardware
Do not buy your hinges and latches at a clearance shelf. Our mountain humidity and changing seasons will rust cheap metal down to orange dust in no time. Plus, flimsy latches will not hold up against a strong wind gust blowing down off the Smoky Mountains. Spend the extra money on heavy-duty galvanized or powder-coated hardware. It saves you from having to prop your gate open with a cinder block six months down the road.
Getting a gate right takes a little patience and an honest look at your property layout. Take your time, measure twice, and do not cut corners on the heavy lifting parts. Guardian Fencing provides Gate Installation services for homes and businesses in Sevierville.