Fence Styles · Gates
Gates & Gate Openers
Walk gates, drive gates, and automatic openers built for daily use, from side yards to ranch entrances.
- Free written estimatesItemized, no obligation
- Fully insuredLiability & workers’ comp
- 18-month warrantyOn our workmanship
- FinancingThrough Hearth
- As seen on HGTVThe 76 Fence family
Why gates fail first
The only part of the fence that moves
A gate gets opened, slammed, leaned on, and blown around every day. Instead of tying into a continuous line, it hangs from one post. That is why a weak frame or a post that has shifted in wet clay shows up at the gate long before the rest of the fence.
We size each gate for what has to go through it, from a trash can or riding mower to a truck and trailer, then set the gate posts deeper and in more concrete than the line posts.
Gate types
Walk gates, drive gates, and ranch gates
Walk gates
Single gates for people, pets, and yard equipment. Four feet wide fits most mowers; wider for a riding mower.
Drive gates
Single or double swing gates, or slide gates where there’s no room to swing, sized for vehicles and trailers.
Ranch & pipe gates
Tube or pipe gates for pasture and acreage entrances, hung high enough to clear grass and ruts.
Farm & ranchBy material
How each gate is built
Wood & vinyl
Wood gates get a diagonal brace or a welded steel frame inside so they stay square. Vinyl gates are built over a hidden metal frame, because vinyl on its own flexes too much to stay square.
Watch: wood gates need the same sealing as the fence; heavy wood drive gates need heavy hinges.
Steel & aluminum
Steel is the choice for driveways and security. Aluminum matches pool and yard fencing and won’t rust.
Watch: steel needs touch-up paint at scratches; ornate custom gates are fabricated ahead and hung once the posts cure.
Hardware matters as much as the gate: hinges rated for the weight, a latch that lines up after the posts settle, a drop rod for double gates, and a lockable latch where you want one.
Automatic openers
Stop getting out of the truck
On a long drive or a ranch entrance, an opener saves two stops every trip. We install swing and slide operators.
A strong gate
The gate and posts have to carry a motor and repeated starts and stops.
Power
A solar panel and battery, or a wired electrical run when power is close.
Access
Remotes, a keypad, or a phone app, plus a way to open it if the power is out.
Safety
Sensors that stop or reverse the gate if a person, pet, or car is in the way.
Local conditions
Keeping a gate swinging true
- Wind. A solid drive gate catches wind like a sail and puts that load on its hinges. We size hinges, posts, and bracing for wind as well as weight.
- Wet clay. Gate posts are set deeper than line posts so they don’t lean after a rainy season. Texas 811 locates come before digging.
- Humidity. Hinges and latches rust or stiffen; a little lubricant twice a year helps.
- Heat. Solar opener panels should face open sky, and batteries are replaced every few years.
- After storms. Clear limbs from the gate path and check that the latch still catches.
Good fit for
Common gate jobs
- Replacing a sagging side gate
- Boat or trailer access to the backyard
- Double drive gates
- Acreage entrances with openers
- Pool gates that close on their own
- Pasture and cross-fence gates
Around Conroe
Where gates get the most use
Seven Coves
Lake lots near Willis where side gates often double as boat or trailer access.
Seven CovesRed Oak Ranch
Wooded lots of about five acres south of Conroe, some set up for horses.
Red Oak RanchTexas Grand Ranch
Two- to five-acre lots near Huntsville with room for a workshop and horses.
Texas Grand RanchIn HOA communities, drive gates, keypads, and opener hardware may need their own approval. See HOA fencing.
Questions
Gate questions
Why do gates sag?
A gate hangs its whole weight on one post through two or three hinges. If the frame isn’t braced, the hinges are too light, or the post moves in wet soil, the gate drops at the latch side. A rigid frame and a deeper gate post prevent most of it.
Can you add an opener to the gate I already have?
Often, if the gate and its posts are strong enough to carry the motor and the extra stress. We check both first and tell you if the gate should be rebuilt.
Solar or wired opener?
Solar works well where running power to the gate would be expensive, as on long acreage drives, as long as the panel gets sun. A wired opener makes sense when power is close and the gate gets heavy daily use.
Does a new gate need HOA approval?
It is usually reviewed with the fence, but some associations look separately at drive gates, keypads, or opener hardware. We include gate details in the submittal.
My new gate needs a small adjustment. Is that normal?
Yes. New posts settle a little in the first months. Call us and we’ll come back and adjust it.
Need a gate that stays square?
Call or text (713) 331-9419, or book a free estimate online.