What type of wood to make a garden gate?

Question

I want to replace my garden gate with a gate of the same design. The gate is a single sheet of wood in a timber frame. It's about 90cm wide by 110cm high.

What type of wood is best for this (plywood, chipboard, or what)? It should be about 2cm thick to be sturdy enough, and to take the screws for the hinges and fittings.

Answer 1

You actually have several options but if you want the similar look - you'll need to special order marine plywood.  Hang on to your wallet - because they don't give it away.  This is the same material they used for billboards.  Last time I purchased a sheet ( I made a couple of basketball backboards) was $115 a sheet and this was back in 1983!  

There is nothing wrong aesthetically with the door being different then the rest of the fence.  You can make it from simple pine - put you will paint it (completely) every year!

You could make it from Trex, pressure treated wood, redwood, cedar and even PVC.  

Try walking into Home Depot, Lowes or full service lumber yard.  Believe me, they will love to guide you in the right direction!  

Good Luck!

Tom A

Sr. Construction Project Manager

Albion, Michigan

Answer 2

You need pressure treated timber so that it doesnt rot any local timber merchant will be able to sell you this

Answer 3

its best to go to a fencing contractor ...they will have them in stock and it will be tanilised

Answer 4

pressure treated plywood