Five-bar gate hanging in Exeter
Professional five-bar gate hanging services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£160-260
Typical Duration
3-5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Five-bar field gates hung professionally - posts set deep in concrete, gates fitted level with smooth swing. Built to last decades of farm use in Devon countryside.
Proper Gate Hanging Matters
A five-bar gate takes serious weight and force - livestock pushing, machinery passing through, daily opening and closing. DIY gate hanging often fails within months because posts weren't set right or gates weren't hung level. Do it properly once and it lasts 20+ years.
💡 Pro tip: Gate posts want at least 600mm in the ground, concreted solid. Posts in just rammed earth will work loose within a year under gate weight and livestock pressure. Concrete isn't optional for working field gates.
Professional vs DIY Gate Hanging
| ✅ Done Properly | ❌ Common DIY Problems |
|---|---|
| Posts perfectly plumb and parallel | Wonky posts, gate binds or won't close |
| Deep in concrete | Rammed earth - works loose fast |
| Gate hangs level, swings smooth | Drags on ground or gaps at top |
| Latch positioned right | Can't reach it, or doesn't engage |
| Job lasts 20+ years | Failing within months |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Installation
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Measure | Check gate width, plan post positions |
| Dig | Post holes 600-750mm deep, proper diameter |
| Set posts | Posts positioned plumb, parallel, exact spacing |
| Concrete | Mix and pour concrete, brace posts while curing |
| Cure | Wait minimum 48 hours for concrete to set |
| Hang gate | Fit heavy-duty hinges, hang gate level |
| Hardware | Fit latches, catches, stops |
| Test | Check swing, closing, latching all smooth |
📦 You're Left With
- Gate that swings perfectly
- Posts that won't shift or lean
- Proper closing latch
- Installation that lasts decades
Pricing Guide
| Job Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Hang gate on existing solid posts | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
| Set posts + hang standard gate | 3-4 hrs (over 2 days) | £160-£210 |
| Set posts + hang large/heavy gate | 4-5 hrs (over 2 days) | £210-£260 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Spread over 2 days minimum because concrete needs 48hrs to cure. Add materials if I'm supplying gate, posts, concrete, hinges.
Essential For Rural Devon Properties If...
✅ Field access - tractors, livestock, regular farm use
✅ Replacing rotten gates - old ones finally gave up
✅ New fencing - completing a field boundary properly
✅ Paddock division - separating grazing areas or livestock
Why Choose Us for Five-bar gate hanging in Exeter?
Posts concreted in deep and plumb
Gates hung level and true
Smooth swing, proper clearance
Latches at working height
What to Expect
Step 1: Check Setup
I'll measure your gate (or the opening if posts are there), check what you're working with. If old posts are rotten, they come out. Starting fresh, I mark where new posts go.
Step 2: Set The Posts (Day 1)
Dig deep holes, set posts dead plumb and perfectly parallel using levels and string lines. Mix concrete, pour around posts, brace them while it cures. This can't be rushed - posts are the foundation of everything.
Step 3: Hang Gate (Day 2+)
Once concrete's cured solid (48 hours minimum), gate goes on with heavy-duty agricultural hinges. Everything checked level, clearances right, adjustments made. Latches fitted, tested loaded and unloaded.
🔧 DIY Tips
Gate hanging is physically demanding but DIY-able if you're thorough:
🔧 Tools and materials needed
- Post hole digger or auger
- Long spirit level (4ft minimum)
- String line and pegs
- Spade and tamping bar
- Concrete (ballast and cement)
- Mixer or wheelbarrow
- Heavy-duty gate hinges and fixings
- Socket set and wrenches
- Helper - essential, not optional
📐 Setting gate posts properly
- Measure gate width, add 25mm - that's your post spacing (inside)
- Dig holes 600-750mm deep minimum, 300mm diameter
- Set hinge post first - perfectly vertical both directions
- String line to set latch post parallel at exact spacing
- Brace posts solid before and during concrete pour
- Keep checking plumb as concrete goes in - can shift
- Leave braced for full 48 hours before disturbing
🔨 Hanging the gate
- Fit bottom hinge first - carries most weight
- Hang gate, check level before tightening top hinge
- 10-15mm ground clearance when closed
- Gate should swing full range without binding
- Latch should engage easily without forcing
- Use big washers under nuts - stops pulling through timber
⚠️ Common DIY disasters
- Posts not deep enough - gate pulls them over
- Posts not parallel - gate binds, won't close
- Not waiting for concrete - posts shift under weight
- Cheap hinges on heavy gates - fail within year
- Gate hung wonky - drags ground or gaps at top
- Wrong clearances - hits post or ground
💡 Pro trick: Temporary brace across post tops while concrete cures keeps them at exactly right spacing and stops any shift. Remove once concrete's solid. Much easier than trying to adjust posts after concrete's set.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🚜 Machinery access: If tractors or large vehicles use the gate, fit it to open wider than you think you need. Tight clearances mean clipped gateposts and bent gates. An extra foot of width costs little now, saves damage later.
Gate posts rot: Fact of life in wet Devon. Treated timber posts last 15-20 years typically, concrete posts cost more but last forever. Either way, concrete them in - non-negotiable for field gates.
Sloped ground: Gate hangs level (parallel to ground) even on slopes. Posts are vertical, gate is level, ground slopes underneath. Posts will be different heights above ground on sloped sites - that's normal and correct.
Right of way issues: If your gate's on a public footpath or bridleway, there are regulations about width, type, accessibility. Check before changing gates on rights of way - footpath officers take this seriously and can make you change it.
Stock considerations: Five-bar spacing is standard for cattle and sheep. Horses need closer spacing or they get legs through - bridle gates are better for paddocks. Check bottom rail spacing for foals/calves.
Gate furniture: Quality hinges and latches cost more but last. Agricultural-spec hardware handles the forces involved. Domestic-grade fixings fail on working farm gates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you supply the gate and posts too?
Either way works. Most people buy gates themselves - easier to get exactly what size and type you want delivered. I'm happy to advise on what to buy or supply them myself if you prefer. Five-bar gates are standard for field access in Devon - timber or metal depending on your preference and budget.
How long do gate posts take to set?
Posts need concreting in, which takes time but can't be rushed. Dig holes, set posts plumb and at exact spacing, concrete in, brace while curing. Concrete needs minimum 48 hours before you hang a heavy gate on it. I don't rush this - posts failing means the whole gate fails.
My old gate is sagging badly - new gate or just rehang it?
Depends if the gate itself is twisted or just the posts have shifted. If the gate timber is sound and frame isn't twisted beyond saving, rehang it properly and it'll be fine for years yet. If the gate's knackered, replace it. I'll tell you honestly which makes sense when I see it.
What's the difference between timber and metal gates?
Timber five-bar gates are traditional, cheaper, but rot eventually (15-20 years typically). Metal gates cost more but last forever, don't rot, won't warp. Both work fine - comes down to budget and aesthetic preference. I fit both types regularly.
Can you fit gates on sloped ground?
Yes - gate posts are set vertical (plumb) even on slopes. The gate hangs level (parallel to ground), which means posts might be different heights above ground on sloped land. Gate always swings level, ground slopes underneath it. Common situation in hilly Devon.
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