The instinct of self-preservation inherent in each of us is manifested in the desire to protect our home from dangers. Fences, gates and gates are an essential element of protection. But a person is also not alien to the desire to surround himself with beautiful objects. Therefore, it is not surprising that modern elements of the fence, in addition to their direct purpose, also act as the decorative design of the site. Do-it-yourself wicket door made of corrugated board is one of the most acceptable options for creating a reliable and aesthetically attractive design that can decorate the front area of the site.
Decking as a building material
Before making a gate, we suggest figuring out what are the advantages of a profiled sheet over other equally popular building materials for the manufacture of building envelopes.
Some of the main advantages of corrugated board include:
- Excellent quality characteristics. The manufacturing material is profile sheets that are covered with several layers of protection: anticorrosive, and then on the outside with polymer, and on the inside with varnish.
- Simplicity and ease of installation. This material is ideal for arranging fences and gates. Structures from light and at the same time strong metal plates can be erected in just two to three days, which in turn speeds up and reduces the cost of construction. The erected gates and fences from corrugated board look solid and solid.
- Aesthetic appeal. Wave-curved metal plates can have completely different shades. The use of a colored polymer coating when painting corrugated sheets makes it possible to choose a product of the desired color in order to make a wicket that, complementing the ensemble, will be harmoniously combined with other building structures on the site.
- Long service life. The service life of structures equipped with corrugated board can reach over 50 years.
The main stages of manufacturing and installation
Step # 1 - choosing the optimal size
When planning to make a gate in the fence, it is important first of all to determine the dimensions of the structure. The optimal width of the gate is no more than 1 meter, height - no more than 2 meters.
In order to create a more overall design, one should take into account the moment that an increase in the mass of the leaf can lead to accelerated wear of locks and hinges of the canvas.
In the manufacture of gates with a height of more than two meters, it is desirable to supplement the frame of the structure with an upper insert with a crossbar. This will make it possible to obtain a solid web that will not only close the space above the gate, but also reduce the load on the support pillar.
Step # 2 - erecting support columns
In order to make a solid wicket from a profiled sheet, which will function properly for the next several decades, it is necessary to properly equip the racks for it. Metal pipes or pillars made of stone or brick can act as support pillars. When installing the racks, it is important to monitor deviations from the vertical position, which can lead to skew and impairment of the finished product.
In a dug hole under the foundation, racks are installed strictly vertically in level and poured with a solution of fine gravel of sand and cement. Over the next 7-10 days, the concrete "settles" and solidifies.
Step # 3 - making the frame
The easiest way to make the frame is from a profiled metal pipe with a section of 60x30. In order to cut the workpieces and weld the gate, you will need a welding machine and a grinder. Before cutting the pipe into workpieces, it is important to clean it of rust and scale using a metal brush mounted on the grinder. After that, the pipe surface must be degreased with a solvent, primed with an anti-corrosion compound.
Note! A working gap is necessary for the normal functioning of the structure even when ice accumulates in the winter.
Having decided on the dimensions of the gate, you can begin to manufacture its frame. To do this, on the profile pipe, it is necessary to note the dimensions of the workpieces and cut them with a grinder at an angle of 45 degrees. Creating such a chamfer will improve the quality of the weld, making it virtually invisible.
To equip the gate, two longitudinal parts of 1.75-1.9 m and 2-3 transverse parts of 0.9-1 m will be required. The parts are welded together with 2-3 cm tacks around the entire perimeter every 20-30 cm. and transverse pipes, including the central transverse pipe, must be located strictly perpendicular to each other. The distance between all horizontal elements should also be the same. This will not only give additional rigidity to the structure, but also make its appearance more attractive.
To increase the strength of the gate, it is also possible to make a smaller frame of the same pipes with dimensions of 20x40 mm inside the frame. It is possible to prevent distortion of the frame during welding from overheating by performing tacks in a checkerboard pattern. After the frame for the gate is welded, we proceed to install additional elements - awnings, plates for fastening the lock and the outer handle.
A visual video tutorial for beginners on how to properly weld a gate:
Step # 4 - installing the gate
After completing the welding work, it is necessary to clean the welds, priming the damaged areas and painting the frame.
Decking is easily attached to the frame using self-tapping screws or rivets. The distance between the fasteners depends on the preferences of the owner: you can attach each wave of the sheet, or you can through one. It is only necessary to fix the profiled sheet to the middle jumper of the frame.
To install the gate, you can use both traditional metal hinges and newfangled polymer curtains. If metal poles are used as racks, then the curtains are welded directly to them. Loops are attached to brick or stone racks by welding to a profile pipe fixed with anchors or dowels on a pole. The finished gate can be hung on a support and check the operation of the lock.
In order to prevent the gate from opening on both sides, a stop from the corner is welded to the opposite support. Fake slats will also allow you to cover the gaps between the racks of the gate and the canvas.