Ways to mount a Gate to Columns or Walls

Please let me introduce myself. I am Darrin Jones, the RSM for the Caribbean, the Pacific and Latin America. In the past I worked as an installer and have an engineering background. Often when attaching any hinge, including the Ultra Hinge to a column or wall, there are potential problems that may arise.


you may notice on this 10 year old Ultra Hinge located on the Gulf Coast in Alabama, The attachment is to a post. Imagine attaching to a masonry substrate. You have four very specific locations for masonry screws to attach a flat plat (that must be vertical, or it throws gate alignment off) 1/16th of an inch out of plumb magnifies on a gate to be a major problem. Plus, if a fastener is ever so slightly over tightened, it loses its strength. In most installations you have little to no choice as to the specific location of these plates that are part of the "male" side of the hinge component.

Many dealers use the following approach for this reason....

Getting a full post as close to column or wall requires calculation to be deducted before ordering gates... This can be challenging since it is sometimes difficult to precisely judge how close the post will be due to wall/column irregularities, out of plumb walls or columns, or footer locations.



As shown here, the top detail of a set of columns was modified to allow posts to be set far enough apart to make the gate dimensions that were used during ordering work. This still leaves the posts to do all the "heavy lifting" and does not take advantage of the residual strength of the columns or walls for gate support.


  I prefer the following installation technique:

This allows for the Ultra Hinge Plate on the "male" side to be attached metal to metal and can even be through bolted with lock washer and nut or nylock nut on the back side of "C" post that is integrated into the wall/column and has multiple, strategically located masonry attachment creating what I refer to as the "piano hinge approach", many screw taking the place of just a few.


Notice how the top portion of this column/wall is a smooth CMU block while the lower third is a decorative CMU block with no flat surface to mount the plate to. Plus the column mounting of the plates would create attachment points on different planes. This can be adjusted with our adjustable Ultra Hinges, but will limit future adjustability and still not be as pleasing to the eye as an integrated "C" post.

 The next question I get is - "Isn't this a lot more work?"
Actually it is far quicker and less expensive than setting a post next to a column, which usually means busting through part of the footer for the column (which will weaken the column).
It is FAR, FAR easier than trying to make these plates mount precisely where they have to be. Sometimes folks that mount the plate to the wall/column get lucky and everything works out, but more often than not, it becomes an arduous task.

With a carpenters pencil and level you can mark the column where it needs to be.
Identify the best locations for masonry screws, (usually two near bottom, two near top and two every two-three feet in between). Then locate you Ultra Hinge Mounting Plate location and verify by matching with gates welded female side of hinges.

Note/Tip:  I like to use a Stainless Steel Machine Bolt and cut washer with a Nylock type nut and through bolt.


Then I use a $15 diamond imbedded blade (used by tile installers) to cut a trench 1/4-1/2" deep where I made my marks for the "C" post to column/wall interface. Try to make depth fairly uniform.




  Then I pay out/apply bituminous (roofing) caulk into the grooves I have cut (sparingly).
Note/Tip: silicone, lexel or even latex will work in a pinch.



Then, as a final step you attach masonry screws through the holes you drilled to mark your column/wall for hammer drilling, and tighten by hand with socket to prevent over-tightening.
Note/Tip: Order touch-up paint to match gate and pre-paint SS plate machine bolts and masonry fasteners so they will blend in seamlessly.

I like the Tapcon brand and always use the hex-head variety, so I can use a socket to tighten by hand and not strip-out the hole in masonry.

These would NOT be recommended for attaching the mounting plate directly to the masonry substrate. They are more than sufficient when used with "C" posts and cost a fraction of larger masonry fasteners (shown below).


I hope this is helpful. I believe it is the fastest, easiest, strongest, most durable and best looking way to hang a gate from a column or wall.

Darrin Jones
Regional Sales Manager Southwest USA
and all of Latin America and Caribbean
Ultra Aluminum Mfg., Inc. and
Ultra Access Controls, Inc.
(256) 214-0633 cell
(951) I M ULTRA or 468-5872 Google Voice

1-619-374-7064 eFax

ultraaluminum@gmail.com

www.ultraeasy.blogspot.com

www.ultrafence.com

Revolution/Hide by Ultra in the Southland

   Many times all over the USA and likely elsewhere there are homes that need gates at the end of a long driveway. As a gate and operator company, Ultra can help you provide some real benefits for those customers that may not be all too apparent to the untrained eye. Let me point out a few of what I like to call "True Buying Benefits"(TBB) for your customer.

1. That customer can save hundreds if not thousands on not having to install line voltage (120 v or 240 v) out to the end of that long, long driveway. Have you seen what copper prices have done in the last few years?
2. The customer can save hundreds more by not being required to have a licensed electrical contractor come out to do this line voltage connection to the main service panel and place it in conduit all the way out to connect with the gate operator system.
3. The customer may qualify for up to $3500 on tax credits if the solar powered gate and operator are at their primary residence and they itemize. Most folks buying estate gates do itemize and it could qualify for basically something as good as cash to them.
4. The customer can enjoy enjoy the use of their gate for years to come with only minimal maintenance required, (keeping gate aligned, changing batteries every 3-5 years, aligning solar panel for max. input charge, keeping all wire connections good and tight, etc.)
5. The customer can enjoy the convenience and security of the automated gate, especially when they need it the most, when it is storming and when power may be out in the community.
6. Even IF the driveway grade slopes upward as you enter the property, they do not have to deal with ugly linear actuator motors or articulating arms on the outside of the gate. This is a feature that only Ultra offers at an economical price point. The operator motor is built into the upright frame of the gate at the hinge posts.
7. Lastly, you and your company can make more profit because with the Ultra Revolution/Hide Model and our Estate Gates, it is set the posts, hang the gate and connect a few wires and you are done. This eliminates hours and hours of costly installation and equates to a better bottom line and a much happier customer, often ready to provide referrals right away.

  All of these True Buying Benefits equate to Better Selling Benefits for your company and your sales team. Dealing with Ultra will make you proud to provide the very best fences, gates, railing and access control devices available today. We are happy to be able to bring you these top quality products that can be sold in that sweet spot of the upper mid range, providing maximum value.

   Let others sell on price alone and deal with the headaches of selling crappy foreign products that are not build to last. Let even others go at the market with products that are several times higher in price with few benefits over our products. Meanwhile, you can dominate the portion of the market made up of consumers that can afford what they want, but they demand quality and value. This mid range to upper mid range buyer is more abundant and easier to find, close and satisfy time and time again.

  Call Dustin Chapman if you are in the Southeast or South Central USA at 706-988-9623 or call me Darrin Jones if you are in the Southwest or West Coast at 256-214-0633. Our HQ in Michigan is 800-656-4420 and we have sales people all over the country and in Canada and Mexico. Just give us a call and tell them Darrin sent you and that you are ready to make money the UltraEasy way!

Ultra Strong Handrail at the Pacific Ocean in the California Central Coast

Ultra Easy Access Control

     Now Ultra Aluminum Mfg., Inc. is going all out to provide the highest quality in service, design and integration of gates and the operators that move them. Even if you choose to use a gate from somewhere else, you will still benefit from the accessories that come from a leader in gate manufacturing (Ultra) blended with one of the World's Top 5 Gate Operator Manufacturers (BFT).  Right now we are offering special incentives to companies that focus on access control installation and service. 

 

Contact Dan Evans at UltraAccess@gmail.com and check out the new website coming soon at www.UltraAccessControls.com

 

 Is recommended for large Industrial and Municipal Installations...

And is available in a solar version called EcoSol that can save budget dollars on line voltage runs to perimeter or add profit and ultimate reliability...

Adjustable in both speed of travel and torque. It can move fast and then slow down for the last few inches of closure.

 Making each installation 
.........Ultra Easy
is our goal, while maintaining reliability
you can be proud to have your name associated with.


When a swing gate is needed, we have a value-priced
option that can keep you competitive.

  When you got Sun Power,
                 ....why Not use it?

 When there are tax credits for U.S. Homeowners....
       ...why Not take them?


 special limitations may apply...

Remember,

 you can always contact me directly

    Darrin Jones ultraaluminum@gmail.com 

or 

Contact Dan Evans at UltraAccess@gmail.com 

and check out the new website coming soon at www.UltraAccessControls.com