Install gate in paling fence

[Tiger]

My sister's place backs onto a park, she has said she'd like to put a gate in the fence for easy access. I suppose I'll have to buy a post, insert into ground and then cut out a gate and install hinges etc. Are there any traps or hints from people that have done this before?

[lpg_falcon]

You got it about right.

Dig hole where Post is to go.
Clamp Post to Fence Rails.
Drill and bolt post to Fence.
Make sure the sucker is level.
Put supports on with clamps or nail to the post to keep it straight up and down.
Leave post in hole.
Bucket of water into the hole.
Fill hole halfway with Post Mix dry concrete whilst Post in the hole.
Adjust post with crowbar for straight up and down if required.
Another bucket of water.
Fill rest of the hole with Post Mix.
Keep it wet for a few hours.
Just bucket of water to it every now and again.
Don't be too stressed about stirring the concrete.
Leave it for a week or two so as to set properly.
Eventually the middle of the cement will get wet if it didn't already and therefore set.
Don't worry too much about it, it will work out over time.
Remove the pailings, if careful, you can screw them to the gate frame.
Now cut the rails off.
I suggest a Metal Gate kit from your hardware store.
It is simply a frame that you screw together, it is adjustable in size.
Comes with nice hinges.
Bummings have the gate kits if no-one else does.
Pretty straight forward really.

Oh, Post mix is premixed dry concrete, rapid set, designed for putting around a post.

lpg_falcon.

[Tiger]

Thanks, Falcon. I was hoping to get it done all on the one day and so was going to use rapid set, is that advisable?

[lpg_falcon]

Thanks, Falcon. I was hoping to get it done all on the one day and so was going to use rapid set, is that advisable?
Tiger,

You would probably get away with it.
The concrete although set, wont have much strength for a week or so.
So, if you vibrate the post by working on it, swinging a gate off etc, you may make the concrete crumble or crack structurally.
If you could do it a week apart that would be better.
Dig hole mount post, concrete one week.
Cut out panel, swap palings to gate next week.
Digging the hole will be the biggest job.
Maybe dig the hole one weekend, finish rest of job next weekend.

Maybe you could mount it all up ready for concrete, pour concrete last.
So mount post and gate first.
I expect if you are really careful about it you could get away with it.
Easier to do concreting first whilst you still have fence in place to help support post as it sets.
Maybe if you got some extra Rails to clamp to either side of the gate opening to give it all support whilst you sort out the gate you could then do concrete last whilst leaving clamps on extra rails for a week for concrete to set.
More work involved, greater risk, but you could then achieve more of it in one go.

lpg_falcon.