Custom Wood Gates in San Diego, Built and Hung by Our Own Crew
A wood gate is the entry you touch every day, so it has to look right and work right for years. Fred's Fencing Inc. has built custom wood gates in San Diego since 1984: side-yard walk gates, garden gates, RV gates and full wood driveway gates. Every gate is framed, hung and adjusted by our own crew, and the metal parts are fabricated in our Santee shop.
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We are one of the few wooden gate installation companies in San Diego County that builds both the wood and the steel. That matters because the most common wood gate failure is sag, and a welded steel frame inside the wood is the most reliable way to stop it.
Wooden Gates in San Diego: What We Build
Walk Gates and Side-Yard Gates
The everyday gate between the front yard and the backyard. Most walk gates are 3 to 4 feet wide, wide enough for a person, a trash bin or a wheelbarrow. We build them in the wood, style and stain that suit your home, with a lockable latch on the side you need it.
Double Walk Gates and Garden Gates
Two leaves that open together for a wider path, usually 5 to 8 feet in total. A drop rod or cane bolt holds one leaf in place, so the other works like a single gate for daily use.
RV, Boat and Trailer Gates
Wide side-yard gates of 10 to 16 feet that let you back a trailer or RV into the yard. At these widths, wood alone will sag, so we build them on welded steel frames with heavy-duty hinges and wheel supports where needed.
Wood Driveway Gates
The largest wood gates we build, usually 10 to 24 feet wide across single- or double-car openings. Our wood driveway gates in San Diego can be manual or automated, and they swing or slide depending on your driveway. See the section below for how we build them.
Arched and Decorative Gates
Arched tops, lattice tops, cutouts, speakeasy windows and wrought iron accents. Arched gates typically rise about 6 inches higher at the center than at the sides, which gives the entry a finished look.
Wood-Look and Mixed-Material Gates
Not every entry needs solid wood. We build wood-look gates on welded steel frames for homes with white or tan vinyl, so the gate matches the color and style around it while staying rigid. Homeowners who prefer metal can choose iron pedestrian gates for a decorative entry or chain link gates for practical side-yard and utility access.
Why Wood Gates Sag, and How We Build Ours So They Don't
A wood gate hangs from one side, so gravity pulls the free end down every day. Over time that pulls the frame out of square, and the latch stops lining up. These are the details we build in to stop it:
Steel Frames Inside the Wood
For any gate wider than a standard walk gate, we weld a steel frame in our Santee shop, powder coat it, and clad it in wood. You see redwood or cedar; the steel carries the load. This is the single biggest difference between a gate that lasts 5 years and one that lasts 20.
Correct Diagonal Bracing
On all-wood gates, the diagonal brace must run from the bottom corner on the hinge side up to the top corner on the latch side. That way, the brace pushes the free end up instead of letting it drop. Installed the wrong way, a brace does almost nothing. Wide gates also get an anti-sag cable and turnbuckle.
Properly Sized Hinge Posts
The hinge post carries the full weight of the gate, so it needs to be heavier and set deeper than a standard post. We use 4x6 wood or steel hinge posts in oversized concrete footings, and on heavier gates we often choose steel posts even when the gate itself is all wood.
Strong Joinery
We join stiles and rails with screws and structural fasteners, or mortise-and-tenon joints on premium gates, not just nails. Every fastener is hot-dipped galvanized or stainless, so it will not rust out in treated lumber or coastal air.
Room to Move
Wood swells in winter rain and shrinks in Santa Ana heat. We leave the right clearance at the hinge and latch sides, so the gate does not bind in January or rattle in August.
- 1
Measure and check the swing
We measure the opening, check the grade the gate has to clear, and confirm which way it should open.
- 2
Choose the design
You pick the wood, style, height, stain and hardware, and we confirm whether the gate needs a steel frame.
- 3
Set the posts
Hinge and latch posts go into concrete footings sized for the gate's weight. We let the concrete cure before hanging any heavy gate.
- 4
Build the frame
The gate frame is built square, braced and, where needed, welded in steel in our shop.
- 5
Hang and adjust
We mount the hinges, hang the gate, and adjust it so it swings freely, clears the ground and closes evenly.
- 6
Fit the latch and stops
We install the latch, gate stop and privacy strip, so the gate closes against something solid and leaves no visible gap.
- 7
Finish and walk-through
We apply the stain or sealant you chose and show you how to adjust the hinges if the gate ever needs it.
A typical walk gate is built and hung in a single day. Larger gates and driveway gates take 1 to 3 days on site, after any shop fabrication.
Which Way Should the Gate Swing?
Most yard gates swing into the property. Gates leading into a pool area are different. California requires pool access gates to open away from the pool and to be self-closing and self-latching, with the latch at least 60 inches above the ground. If the release is lower, it must sit on the pool side, at least 3 inches below the top of the gate, with no opening wider than ½ inch within 18 inches of it. We build side gates to these rules whenever they lead to a pool, so each one works as part of a complete pool barrier that meets code.
Custom Wood Driveway Gates in San Diego
A wood driveway gate gives a home a warm, architectural entry that metal cannot match. It also carries far more weight and wind load than a walk gate, so it has to be engineered rather than just built.
How We Build Wood Driveway Gates
- Steel core: Every custom wood driveway gate we build in San Diego is framed in welded, powder-coated steel, with the wood fastened over it.
- Wood choice: Redwood and Western red cedar are our standard driveway gate woods. Both resist decay and insects, and both hold stain well.
- Swing or slide: Flat driveways with room to open suit driveway swing gates, while sloped driveways and short setbacks work better with sliding driveway gates.
- Single or double: Single leaves suit openings up to about 14 feet; wider openings get a double gate.
Wooden Driveway Gate Installation
Wooden driveway gate installation starts with the posts. A wood-clad driveway leaf can weigh several hundred pounds, so we set steel hinge posts or masonry anchors in deep concrete footings sized for it. We then hang the gate, set the stops and center drop rod, and check that it clears the driveway through its full swing or slide.
Automated Wood Driveway Gates
Any wood driveway gate we build can be automated with a swing or slide operator, a keypad, remote or phone access, and safety sensors. Automated gates must meet UL 325 for the operator and ASTM F2200 for the gate itself, and San Diego County requires an emergency key switch on automatic gates across a fire access road or driveway. We handle all of it, from wiring the operator to programming remotes, using the same automated driveway gate systems we install on steel and iron entries. A steel-framed wood gate is also one of the warmest-looking options among all the driveway gates we build, which is why many homeowners pair it with automation.
Best Wood for Gates in San Diego
Redwood and cedar are the best choices for most gates. They are lighter than treated pine, so there is less weight pulling on the hinges, and they move less with the weather.
| Wood | Decay Resistance | Stability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood (heartwood) | Excellent | Excellent, resists warping and shrinking | Driveway gates, premium walk gates |
| Western red cedar | Excellent | Very good, lightweight | Walk gates, arched and decorative gates |
| Pressure-treated pine | Very good (treated) | Fair, can twist as it dries | Budget side gates, utility gates |
| Douglas fir | Good | Strong and straight-grained | Gate frames, painted gates |
For any gate we build, we recommend kiln-dried lumber for the frame, which is less likely to twist after it is hung.
Gate Hardware We Install
Good hardware is what makes a gate easy to use every day. We match it to the gate's weight, width and purpose:
Hinges
Heavy-duty strap and T-hinges: the classic look for wood gates, in black or galvanized finishes, available in lengths up to 48 inches for wide gates
Adjustable hinges: let you lift or realign the gate later without removing it
Self-closing hinges: spring or hydraulic hinges that pull the gate shut, required on pool gates
Ball-bearing and heavy-duty barrel hinges: for heavy steel-framed and driveway gates
Latches and Locks
Gravity and thumb latches: simple, reliable latches for side gates
Lockable and keyed latches: for security and for gates that must open from both sides
Magnetic latches: quiet, self-latching, and a good choice for double gates and pool gates
Drop rods and cane bolts: hold one leaf of a double gate firmly in place
Gate stops and privacy strips: stop the gate from over-swinging and close the visible gap on the latch side
Decorative Hardware
Ring pulls, clavos, speakeasy grilles and hand-forged strap hinges. We can also fabricate custom iron accents in our shop.
How Much Do Wood Gates Cost?
| Gate Type | Typical Installed Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard wood walk gate | $245 to $568, about $399 on average |
| Basic manual double driveway gate | $483 to $1,007, about $735 on average |
| Custom wood gate (premium wood, larger size, complex install) | $400 to $4,500+, over $6,000 for premium builds |
| Automatic wood driveway gate (16 feet, sensor and keypad) | About $3,140 on average, $1,525 to $5,135 |
| Automatic driveway gate, all materials | $2,380 to $8,000, about $4,000 on average |
| Wood gate repair | $100 to $400 per gate |
Wood gate prices can vary by roughly 15% to 25% between markets, and coastal Southern California sits at the higher end. These factors move the price most:
- width and number of leaves
- wood species and grade
- steel frame versus all-wood
- arched or decorative work
- hardware quality
- post type and footing work
- automation and access controls
You get an itemized, written quote after a free site visit.
Get a Free Gate EstimateWood Gate Repair: San Diego's Go-To for Sagging and Sticking Gates
If you are searching for wooden gate repair companies, the problem is usually one of these:
Sagging gate: the free end has dropped, so the gate drags on the ground or will not latch
Leaning hinge post: the post has rotted at the ground line or the footing has shifted
Loose or broken hinges: screws have pulled out of soft or rotted wood
Misaligned latch: the gate has moved, so the latch no longer catches
Rotted boards or rails: usually at the bottom, where sprinklers and soil keep the wood wet
Warped gate: the frame has twisted out of square
How We Fix Them
We rehang sagging gates, add steel frames or anti-sag kits, replace rotted hinge posts with steel posts, swap worn hinges and latches, and rebuild damaged sections in matching wood. Wood gate repairs typically run $100 to $400 per gate, and hardware replacement runs $30 to $120 per set.
When a gate has sagged more than once or the frame is rotted, a new steel-framed wood gate usually costs less over time than repeated repairs. We tell you honestly which makes sense.
Adding a New Wood Gate Opening
Need a gate where there isn't one today? We cut in a new opening, set new gate posts in concrete, frame the sides and build a gate sized exactly for the space. Every new gate is built in the wood, style and stain you choose, with hardware matched to its width and weight.
Wood Gates and San Diego Fire Rules
Side gates often attach directly to the house, which puts them inside the 5-foot zone closest to the structure. San Diego County's building guidance requires materials within 5 feet of a building, including side gates, to be non-combustible or approved fire-retardant wood. California's Zone 0 rules for high fire hazard areas also target this first 5 feet. For homes in those areas, we build metal gates or wood-look gates in non-combustible materials for the gate that meets the house, including lower-cost Zone Zero gates that keep a warm, wood-style look while meeting the rules.
Wood Gate Maintenance
A wood gate opens and closes every day, so it wears faster than anything else in your yard. A little upkeep keeps it working:
Every few months: Lubricate the hinges and latch, and tighten any loose screws.
Every year: Check that the gate still clears the ground and latches cleanly, and adjust the hinges or anti-sag cable if it has dropped.
Every 2 to 3 years: Clean and reseal or restain the wood to protect it from UV, moisture and fading.
Ongoing: Keep sprinklers and soil away from the bottom rail, the most common place for rot to start.
Why Choose Fred's Fencing for Your Wood Gate
Since 1984: more than 40 years building gates across San Diego County
Wood and steel under one roof: we weld steel frames, posts and hardware in our own Santee shop
Built not to sag: steel frames, correct bracing and oversized hinge posts on every gate
One crew, start to finish: we measure, build, hang and adjust every gate ourselves
Code-ready: pool gate, automation and fire-zone requirements handled
Licensed, bonded and insured: CSLB License #529726
01How much does a custom wood gate cost in San Diego?
A standard wood walk gate typically costs $245 to $568 installed nationally, averaging about $399. Custom gates in premium wood, larger sizes or decorative designs range from about $400 to over $4,500. Automated wood driveway gates average about $3,140. We give a fixed, itemized quote after a free site visit.
02How do you stop a wood gate from sagging?
The most reliable fix is a steel frame inside the wood, which we weld and powder coat in our Santee shop. On all-wood gates, the diagonal brace must run from the bottom hinge corner to the top latch corner. Heavy hinge posts set in deep concrete also keep the gate square.
03What is the best wood for a gate?
Redwood and Western red cedar are the best choices for most San Diego gates. Both resist decay and insects naturally, are lighter than treated pine, and move less with the weather. Pressure-treated pine works for budget side gates, but it is heavier and more likely to twist as it dries.
04Can a wood gate be automated?
Yes. Any wood driveway gate we build can be automated with a swing or slide operator, a keypad, remote or phone access, and safety sensors. We frame automated wood gates in steel so they stay rigid under the motor, and we build them to UL 325 and ASTM F2200 safety standards.
05Can you repair my sagging wood gate instead of replacing it?
Often, yes. We can rehang the gate, add an anti-sag kit or steel frame, replace worn hinges and latches, or swap a rotted hinge post for steel. Most wood gate repairs cost $100 to $400. If the frame is rotted or the gate has sagged repeatedly, a new steel-framed gate is usually the better value.
06How wide can a single wood gate be?
Walk gates are usually 3 to 4 feet wide. An all-wood single leaf should generally stay under about 5 feet before sag becomes a problem. With a welded steel frame, single wood-clad gates can be built much wider, and driveway openings up to about 14 feet can use a single leaf.
07How long does wooden gate installation take?
A standard walk gate is usually built and hung in a single day. Larger gates, steel-framed gates and driveway gates take 1 to 3 days on site, after any shop fabrication. If the gate is automated, wiring, sensors and programming are included in that time.
08Do wood gates need special rules near a pool?
Yes. In California, gates leading into a pool area must open away from the pool and be self-closing and self-latching, with the latch at least 60 inches above the ground. We build wood side gates with self-closing hinges and pool-rated latches whenever they open into a pool area.
Get a Free Estimate on Your Wood Gate
Tell us about your gate: a new side gate, a driveway entry or a repair. We will come out, measure it and give you a clear recommendation plus a written, itemized quote.
Call 619-562-5331 or request a free on-site estimate. Visit our shop at 10560 Kenney St, Santee, CA 92071 to see wood, finishes and hardware in person.