Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jan 12, 2009 7:47 pm We built this gate some months back and are very proud of our efforts. It's not quite finished yet (still needs to be stained and the pink posts definitely aren't staying pink) but before we can proceed to the finishing stages we need to do a bit of back tracking and fix the thing first.
I know, it doesn't look very broken but it sort of is. The post that is attached to the brick wall is attached via three dynabolts spaced evenly. We had trouble putting in the first dynabolt at the top so ended up going in with some sort of drillbit (sorry, don't know the name) to widen the hole in both the brick and the post. And now, because of this decision the post is starting to come away from the wall. (I guess the hole is too big and so the bolt isn't able to grip enough?!) It's not coming off to the point that the whole gate is about to come down (by the way the gate hinge is hanging on that post on the brick side) but it's come off the wall enough that it's making the gate stick to the middle post. It scrapes the post enough that after a few months of living with it like that it's starting to take the pink primer off slowly. My solution to fix it is just leave the top bolt in (the other two bolts are fine and snug) and buy another longer drill bit and drill through both the post and brick and put in another dynabolt. The Bf and my dad both want to remove the bolt in question, fill the gap with a bit of gap filler, wait for that to dry and then put the bolt back in. And hey presto. For me this idea doesn't click but then again I wouldn't know really. By the way we have previously tried to tighten the bolt which worked for a few days. So, we're now after a more long term solution. What do people think? Oh, and sorry for the long post. [sneakersss] Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 2Jan 12, 2009 8:05 pm Your idea seems best as any fix may not work anyway. I would take off the post completely and add another dynabolt at the top. It's a big gate, probably should have had two at the top anyway. That's what we do with heavy doors, two hinges at the top - that's where the weight is...
Ed Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 3Jan 12, 2009 8:23 pm we had exactly the same issue with our wooden gates at our last house. Within a few years years we had problems with one coming lose. In the end we paid a carpenter to come in and fasten them better when he was doing some other work at our house. He ended up added extra dynabolts and it was happily fastened when we left.( 10+ years afterwards) Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 4Jan 12, 2009 8:29 pm EcoClassic Your idea seems best as any fix may not work anyway. I would take off the post completely and add another dynabolt at the top. It's a big gate, probably should have had two at the top anyway. That's what we do with heavy doors, two hinges at the top - that's where the weight is... Ed kexkez we had exactly the same issue with our wooden gates at our last house. Within a few years years we had problems with one coming lose. In the end we paid a carpenter to come in and fasten them better when he was doing some other work at our house. He ended up added extra dynabolts and it was happily fastened when we left.( 10+ years afterwards) Good point, guys. And advice very much appreciated. It is a pretty massive and heavy gate. Will add two at the top - but would taking the bottom two bolts out be a good idea? I always thought it was hard to pull dynabolts out once they're in? [sneakersss] Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 5Jan 13, 2009 3:12 pm make sure dyna bolts are staggered not in a straight line, this helps to prevent the post from twisting etc Da Vinci Outdoor Living Architectural landscaping http://www.davincioutdoor.com Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 6Jan 13, 2009 4:03 pm I would be going with an chemically anchored bolt.
Get an adequate bolt the size of the hole you have now, squirt in the chemical anchor resin then shove in the bolt, Leave it set. It will never move again. Ive used this to repair my 3m wide steel gate which dropped and wouldnt close. Its fixed to a limestone wall, this gate weighs a tonne (literally), it has never sagged or dropped since. Pat. Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 7Jan 13, 2009 4:13 pm What Pat said....
This stuff is available at Bunnies....but it's a waste as you don't need that much goop... http://www.ramset.com.au/public/Article ... 6&menuNo=5 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ These ones they can order in and are far more convenient and are sized specifically for the anchor...albeit more expensive.... http://www.ramset.com.au/public/article ... 6&menuNo=5 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ http://www.ramset.com.au/public/article ... 6&menuNo=0 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Buy the right one for the right hole and it'll never move...but you need to take the weight off the anchor until it cures. Cheers, Mike Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 8Jan 13, 2009 4:54 pm Pat the draftie I would be going with an chemically anchored bolt. Get an adequate bolt the size of the hole you have now, squirt in the chemical anchor resin then shove in the bolt, Leave it set. It will never move again. Ive used this to repair my 3m wide steel gate which dropped and wouldnt close. Its fixed to a limestone wall, this gate weighs a tonne (literally), it has never sagged or dropped since. Pat. Chemically. Anchored. Bolt. Wow. You really do learn something new everyday. This is the first I've ever heard of such a thing. Thanks! [sneakersss] Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 9Jan 13, 2009 4:59 pm to_do_list These ones they can order in and are far more convenient and are sized specifically for the anchor...albeit more expensive.... http://www.ramset.com.au/public/article ... 6&menuNo=5 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ http://www.ramset.com.au/public/article ... 6&menuNo=0 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Buy the right one for the right hole and it'll never move...but you need to take the weight off the anchor until it cures. Cheers, Mike I stared at the above photos for ages and ages. I read the stuff on the link you posted. I tried my hardest to make sense of what both the photo is and what the site was talking about. In hopes of posting a smart reply to make it sound like I understood what I read and was looking at. No such luck. Time to pass on this thread to the Bf. But I think I get it. So, thanks ever so much to all the replies! I'm so happy that there are solutions to fix the gate. I was almost ready to give up and tear it down myself and pay a professional to make me another. Hehe [sneakersss] Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 10Jan 13, 2009 5:15 pm I agree with previous posters that chemset is the best solution for a retrofit fix. For future reference (and readers) I'd suggest that Loxins are used instead of dynabolts :
http://www.ramset.com.au/public/article ... 3&menuNo=0 I've found dynabolts tend to slip in applications where the weight pulls on the fastener, particularly if a lot of the dynabolt is buried in the post rather than the masonry where it should be. Also, with loxins you don't have the threaded bolt emerging further the more you tighten it, so you can use a socket wrench to tighten them. Cheers, Justin. Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 11Jan 13, 2009 5:15 pm YSSIM I stared at the above photos for ages and ages. I read the stuff on the link you posted. I tried my hardest to make sense of what both the photo is and what the site was talking about. In hopes of posting a smart reply to make it sound like I understood what I read and was looking at. The capsule/ampule type is better for solid walls or where there is no cavity. For brick or hollow concrete your better to use the cartridge type...the first one. The cartridge one's go into a standard caulking gun (like they use for selastic), fill the hole with goop, and you stick a piece of thread rod in (again available from Bunnies) and wait for it to go off. Unfortunately, you end up paying for a whole cartridge and a length of threaded rod (1 m lengths) of which you only use a bit. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 12Jan 14, 2009 11:05 am Just to add a bit more:
1) Make sure the existing hole is thouroughly cleaned out, you need this chemical resin to grip the brickwork itself, not the dust and debris in the hole, or else your wasting your time. 2)This stuff dries pretty quick, make sure your bolt is lined up properly, youll have one go it this, once it dries, its harder than concrete, and a major pain it rectify. 3)Wear gloves if your using the gun applied stuff, it goes all over the place, and is major skin irritant. And it welds itself to your fingernails..I spent hours scraping it off mine. From memory a tube of chemical anchor was about $30 from bunnings. Good luck. Pat. Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 13Jan 14, 2009 11:09 am Pat the draftie Just to add a bit more: 1) Make sure the existing hole is thouroughly cleaned out, you need this chemical resin to grip the brickwork itself, not the dust and debris in the hole, or else your wasting your time. Good point Pat... Grab a straw or the like and stick it in and blow the cr*p out...please wear goggles when you do this....!!!!! mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Advice on how to fix this gate. 14Jan 21, 2009 11:33 pm I disagree with all that has been written so far except that from the start the bolts should have been staggered and you have a fairly large gate anyway. Suggest you attach L brackets from the post attached to the wall ideally on both sides this will both stop the post from twisting or pulling off the wall.
Experience tells me to use ramplugs on brickwork not dynabolts as they do not pull back and split the brick. Harrisadale Fencing and Retaining Tony 0413858844 Hi everyone! This is my first time posting here, and I'm looking for some advice regarding my house construction project in North Kellyville. I… 0 4697 I should have followed up on this thread. So, the pier foundation wasn't large enough on the side it was leaning towards, and the NBN cable went through the pier, just… 8 10742 Get some long brass machine screws and bolt right through the gate and put brass acorn nuts and washers on the other side. It will never come off 1 6013 |