Field gate hanging in Exeter
Professional field gate hanging services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-210
Typical Duration
2-4 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Field gates hung properly with solid posts and smooth swing. Whether it's a five-bar farm gate or a bridle gate for horses, it'll open easily and stay level for years.
Why Most DIY Gate Hanging Fails
There's a reason half the farm gates in Devon are sagging at ridiculous angles or grinding along the ground. Setting gate posts is harder than it looks, and if they're even slightly out of plumb or too close together, the gate will never swing right.
💡 Pro tip: Gate posts want to be in concrete, not just rammed earth. Yes, it's more work, but a wobbling gate post makes the whole gate useless within a year.
Proper Gate Hanging vs Bodge Job
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Posts perfectly plumb and parallel | Posts wonky or not parallel - gate binds |
| Posts concreted in solid | Posts rammed in earth - work loose fast |
| Gate hangs level, swings smooth | Gate drags on ground or won't close |
| Latches at comfortable height | Latch you need a stepladder to reach |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Measure | Check gate size, plan post positions |
| Dig | Proper post holes - deep enough to be solid |
| Set | Posts positioned plumb, parallel, right spacing |
| Concrete | Posts set in concrete mix, left to cure |
| Hang | Gate fitted with heavy-duty hinges, tested |
| Latch | Gate furniture fitted, everything adjusted smooth |
📦 You're Left With
- Gate that swings open easily with one hand
- No sagging, no dragging, no binding
- Proper closing latch at working height
- Job that'll last decades not months
Pricing Guide
| Scenario | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Hang gate on existing solid posts | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Set new posts + hang gate (small) | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
| Set posts + hang large five-bar | 4-5 hrs | £210-£260 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Add materials if I'm supplying posts and concrete. Posts need 48hrs to cure before gate goes on.
Perfect For Your Devon Property If...
✅ Farm field access - proper five-bar gates for livestock or machinery
✅ Paddock gates - safe access for horses without gaps or hazards
✅ Bridle gates - light spring-closing gates for riders
✅ Replacing rotten gates - old Devon gateposts rot at ground level eventually
Why Choose Us for Field gate hanging in Exeter?
Gates hung truly level - won't sag or bind
Strong post installation - concreted if needed
Smooth swing with proper clearance
Latch positioned for easy one-handed operation
What to Expect
Step 1: Check The Setup
I'll measure your gate (or the opening if posts are already in), check what you're working with. If old posts are rotten, we'll need to dig them out. If starting fresh, I'll mark where new posts need to go.
Step 2: Set The Posts
Dig holes deep (600mm minimum), set posts perfectly plumb and parallel using string lines and levels. Mix and pour concrete, brace the posts while it cures. This bit can't be rushed.
Step 3: Hang The Gate
Once concrete's cured (48 hours), gate goes on with proper agricultural hinges. Everything gets checked level, latches positioned right, adjustments made so it swings perfectly. Test it loaded and unloaded.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to tackle it yourself? Here's the reality of hanging a field gate properly:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Post hole digger or auger
- Spirit level (long one, 4ft minimum)
- String line and pegs
- Spade and tamping bar
- Concrete mixer or wheelbarrow for mixing
- Adjustable wrench and socket set
- Helper - you can't do this solo
📐 Setting gate posts
- Measure gate width and add 25mm - that's your post spacing (inside measurement)
- Dig holes 600-750mm deep, 300mm diameter minimum
- Set hinge post first - perfectly plumb both directions
- Use string line to set latch post parallel and at exact spacing
- Brace posts solid before pouring concrete
- Check plumb again after concrete goes in - it can shift
🔨 Hanging the gate
- Wait minimum 48 hours for concrete to cure - don't rush this
- Bottom hinge takes most weight - fit it first, solid as you can
- Hang gate, check it's level before tightening top hinge fully
- Gate should have 10-15mm ground clearance when closed
- Latch should engage easily without lifting or dropping gate
⚠️ Common DIY disasters
- Posts not deep enough - gate pulls them over within months
- Posts not parallel - gate binds and won't close properly
- Not waiting for concrete - posts shift under gate weight
- Cheap hinges on heavy gates - fail within a year
- Gate hung wonky - drags on ground when it swings open
💡 Pro trick: Put a temporary brace across the top of your posts while concrete cures - keeps them at exactly the right spacing and stops them shifting. Much easier than trying to adjust after concrete's gone off.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🐄 Stock gates in Devon? Five-bar is standard for cattle and sheep. If you're keeping horses, check the bottom rail spacing - foals can get legs caught in wide gaps. Bridle gates are better for horse paddocks.
Gate posts rot - it's a fact of life in wet Devon. Treated timber posts last 15-20 years if you're lucky, concrete ones last forever but cost more. Either way, setting them in concrete is non-negotiable for a working field gate.
Sloped ground? Gate still needs to hang level (parallel to the ground), even if your field slopes. Posts might be different heights above ground, but they're the same height below ground. The gate follows level, not the slope.
Right of way issues? If your gate's on a public footpath or bridleway, there are rules about width, type, and accessibility. Check with your local council before you change anything - footpath officers take this stuff seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to supply the gate and posts?
Either way works. Most people have already bought the gate - just need it hung properly. If you need advice on what size gate or which posts to use, I can help with that. Five-bar gates are standard for most Devon fields, but it depends on what you're keeping in (or out).
Will you concrete the posts in?
Yes, if they need it - gate posts nearly always do. Posts need to be solid or the gate will sag within months. I'll dig proper holes, set the posts plumb and at the right width, then concrete them in. Takes a couple of days to cure fully before hanging the heavy gate.
My old gate's sagging badly - can it be saved?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If the gate itself is twisted or the joints are loose, it's done. If it's just badly hung or the posts have shifted, I can often rehang it properly and it'll be fine. Send me a photo and I'll tell you straight whether it's worth saving.
How long before I can use the gate after you hang it?
If the posts are already in and solid, you can use it straight away once I'm done. If I'm setting new posts, the concrete needs 48 hours minimum to cure before you hang a heavy gate on it - I don't rush that bit.
What about a bridle gate for the horse paddock?
Same principle - posts need to be solid, gate needs to be plumb and level. Bridle gates are lighter than five-bar but they still need hanging properly. Spring closure on bridle gates needs adjusting right or they either don't close or slam shut like a trap.
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