What to Send When Requesting a Custom Timber Gate Quote
A useful timber gate quote starts with a description of the opening, not just a preferred gate name. Dimensions, photographs and a clear explanation of how the entrance will be used give the workshop a much better starting point. You do not need a polished drawing; a labelled sketch and a set of organised photos are often easier to follow.
Keep opening measurements separate from gate sizes
Label your figures as measurements of the existing opening. Do not silently deduct a hinge gap or divide a driveway opening into two equal leaves. The finished gate dimensions depend on the hardware, framing and layout agreed for the job.
Measure the clear width between the intended fixing faces at the top, middle and bottom. Record all three readings, especially where the posts or walls appear uneven. Add the desired finished height as a separate figure, and explain whether that height refers to the top of a straight frame or the highest point of a curved design.
Photograph the places where the gate will be fixed
Include the whole entrance from both sides, then take close-ups of the posts or walls. Show existing hinges and latches if you are replacing a gate. If new posts are planned, mark their proposed positions rather than presenting an unfinished opening as final.
A photo is useful context, but it does not confirm the structural suitability of a post. Ask the installer to assess the fixing arrangement where needed.
Show the ground and the full swing area
Take a low photograph across the threshold and wider views in the intended opening direction. Describe any slope, steps, garden edging, downpipes or parked-vehicle positions. Say whether the finished paving or driveway surface is already in place.
For a pair of driveway gates, identify the complete opening and the intended meeting position. If automation is being considered, raise it at the enquiry stage so the gate maker and automation installer can coordinate their requirements.
Give the workshop a design brief
Choose examples from our gate designs, or supply a photograph of the style you want to discuss. Explain which parts matter most: a particular top curve, open pickets, a solid panel, lattice or decorative bracing. A reference photo becomes more useful when the important features are identified.
If a gate must relate to existing heritage timber, include close-ups of the surviving details. Heritage & Decorative Timber’s gate-opening measuring guide provides additional site-recording guidance.
Your enquiry checklist
Opening widths at top, middle and bottom, with units.
Desired height and preferred gate design.
Single pedestrian gate or paired driveway arrangement.
Fixing-face photographs and proposed swing direction.
Ground slope, surface and nearby obstructions.
Any automation plans or installer requirements.
Delivery suburb and postcode.
Keep the wider project in the same conversation
Tell the workshop if matching fence panels or other entrance timber are also being considered. Karem Woodcraft supplies custom timber gate designs, and its project guides are useful when planning related timber work.
Ready to put the information together? Send Timber Gates Online your gate enquiry, including your measurements and photographs. Confirm the final dimensions, material, hardware responsibilities and delivery arrangements with the workshop before ordering.