Attaching alley timber posts to walls in alley

[macadonald]

Hi Guys,

Just curious what the professionals would advise to use to attach gate posts to walls for an alley gate. About to start building a decent spec timber gate. Intention is to build the frame from 2x4 and 2x2 and clad the front with something like gravel boards or a smooth planned equivalent. Was going to attach a 2x4 piece of timber on either side to the existing houses as posts. Timber is more than likely sufficient in terms of engineering, but curious how best to attach the posts to the walls.

I built a similar gate, albeit smaller scale a while back and used concrete screws to attach the 2x4 to the wall. Plenty strong enough, but I can definitely notice a slight bit of movement. Was thinking more along the lines of some heavier fixings this time. Possibly 3 per post to fasten secure enough for the heavy gates. Washers?

The other slight concern is that the houses are pebble dashed on one side and good old school ash rendered on the other. I know it’s not called that, but the old school version of pebble dash – i.e. rough.

This means the walls are not perfect level, albeit damn close. I wondered whether it was worth putting a mortar fix behind the timber and loosely fastening to get it level and then tightening after. Sounds like a mare. Any ideas other than packing it?

Many thanks

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Was going to attach a 2x4 piece of timber on either side to the existing houses as posts. Timber is more than likely sufficient in terms of engineering

4x4 feels more right - dunno why.

Any ideas other than packing it?

Remove the render etc back to bare brick?

 

[macadonald]

Maybe 4x4 or even compromise on a 3x4....

fixings are still the main question please...

 

[saladdays]

This will work with a 75mm thick fence post: http://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-l-type-wallbolts-m10-x-145mm-pack-of-5/59623

 

[macadonald]

Thanks guys,

Bought some of these wall bolts yesterday, albeit slightly shorter for a 3x4 compromise on the timber.

Was fidling with the bolts last night while watchign tv and just wondering. If the drill hole through the timber is not bigger then the bolt (i.e. a slight gaps around it), will this affect the installation? Would it start pulling and expanding too soon that way?

Obviously the hole needs to be sufficient to take the bolt, but you know when you use a size 10 or 11 bit for a 10 bolt you sometimes thread it through rather than it slipping freely? I'm talking about the bolt rather than the anchor..

It feels like a silly question and I know I've used these before, but got a little confused when thinking about it.

 

[geraldthehamster]

Was going to attach a 2x4 piece of timber on either side to the existing houses as posts.

Assume you have the consent of the owner of the other house to attach the post to it? Unless you own both houses, of course ...

Cheers
Richard

 

[macadonald]

Richard, thanks for the concern and I wish I owned both houses, but not so lucky. Yes, this is part of a 7 month process to get approval for the alley gate.

For those who don't know, there is a national alley gate scheme/fund, where your council will pay for 45% of the cost of an alley gate.

Annoyingly, they initially asked for quotes from their preferred contractors. They were comign in at £1500 for a steel gate, which left it still too expensive for the 6 properties that use the alley. After much negotiation, they agreed to allow me to build the gate, under my company name. A substantial timber gate, with good hinges and locks, will not cost me more than £200 in material and I look forward to constructing it.