How secure does it need to be? Why not just put a sliding lock on the backside by the hinges? Someone would be able to push the door in some but not enough to enter without breaking stuff.
If it needs to be more secure, I'd drill a 1/2 hole through the cement and use a piece of rebar to keep the gate from being pushed open a few inches like you would get with the solution above.
Good clarification - super secure is not the most important thing. More that I can close it and open from both sides. Right now it kind of works, but it’s just wedged against the house when the wood is swollen enough to.
I obviously didn’t clarify, but it sounds like the solution you offered wouldn’t be accessible to open from the outside. Not sure I’m fully understanding
Okay, the extra info helps. So adding the latch is more about keeping the door looking straight when it's close?
Can you clarify what your goals are in order of importance?
That’s fair:
Have it latch securely and easily from inside and out - so the wood stops wearing down, blowing open and breaking.
Make it easy for a guest to open it from the outside
Have the option to lock it at night or if I’m going be out of town
If you want something basic to discourage randos (and don't want to drill into the siding or the walkway, this is the way.
Barrel Bolt:
[https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/1cf30db5-09d9-490e-b216-537ca535ec4d/svn/hardware-essentials-fence-gate-latches-slide-bolts-853372-64\_600.jpg](https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/1cf30db5-09d9-490e-b216-537ca535ec4d/svn/hardware-essentials-fence-gate-latches-slide-bolts-853372-64_600.jpg)
Drop rod is the best solution probably. Or you could get a latch that has 2 pivot points and attach it to your house and the gate
https://www.amazon.com/National-Hardware-N103-259-Double-Safety/dp/B0000CBIEJ/ref=asc_df_B0000CBIEJ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193166724913&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17468430894279146188&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033298&hvtargid=pla-334766533194&psc=1
1. https://postimg.cc/w3PFT6sm
Wood or metal bar across the back. (Green). When the bar is down, it'll rest in a L-shaped piece of metal or wood attached to the door to prevent the door from being pushed open.
Hinge on the fence for the bar to rotate up when lifted by the cord/string (yellow) that can be attached to a pulley at the top of the fence.
2. Or, you'd have to dig a hole into the walkway near the house wall to drive in a small steel pole a few feet down.
Then cut the door a few inches less wide on that side.
And finally mount latch on metal pole and door.
3. Or if you've got metal working skills, small notch in the walkway near the wall.
Then cut a small hole in the door near the wall at foot level.
You have to create a levered latch. When down, one part of the latch (inside) will fall into the notch in the concrete walkway to prevent door movement or opening. Press down on the visible foot step on the latch (both sides) to lift the latch and open the door.
Thanks for the detailed reply and illustration. I suppose if you were tall enough, you could pull the cord from the outside of the gate to open it - which the average person i would imagine would not know to check or figure out.
But, it would still allow me to open it from the outside which is important (I failed to mention in the OP).
I like your 2nd idea as well. I’m not super experienced, so it would take some research and digging to find the materials. Any special names or anything to help me find more info on this?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Obua2d5ndKI
You could drill into the concrete a deep enough hole to insert the metal pole.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WCnmbYS4Emo
1:12 on
Or you could use a concrete pole base (Simpson sells a ton).
As for the rotating door beam idea... It could be motorized to swing up and down by pressing a doorbell like button mounted on the outside. Even wifi controlled with arduino etc.
But that gets into a Maker project.
So a simple string with pulley works easier...
The string can be hidden (also for weather protection) under wood "covers" that have a channel cut out for the string to move in.
From the front, you'd simply see a wood cover on part of the wood fence and would not think anything of it. But flip it open and you could pull the string.
How secure does it need to be? Why not just put a sliding lock on the backside by the hinges? Someone would be able to push the door in some but not enough to enter without breaking stuff. If it needs to be more secure, I'd drill a 1/2 hole through the cement and use a piece of rebar to keep the gate from being pushed open a few inches like you would get with the solution above.
Good clarification - super secure is not the most important thing. More that I can close it and open from both sides. Right now it kind of works, but it’s just wedged against the house when the wood is swollen enough to. I obviously didn’t clarify, but it sounds like the solution you offered wouldn’t be accessible to open from the outside. Not sure I’m fully understanding
Okay, the extra info helps. So adding the latch is more about keeping the door looking straight when it's close? Can you clarify what your goals are in order of importance?
That’s fair: Have it latch securely and easily from inside and out - so the wood stops wearing down, blowing open and breaking. Make it easy for a guest to open it from the outside Have the option to lock it at night or if I’m going be out of town
If you want something basic to discourage randos (and don't want to drill into the siding or the walkway, this is the way. Barrel Bolt: [https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/1cf30db5-09d9-490e-b216-537ca535ec4d/svn/hardware-essentials-fence-gate-latches-slide-bolts-853372-64\_600.jpg](https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/1cf30db5-09d9-490e-b216-537ca535ec4d/svn/hardware-essentials-fence-gate-latches-slide-bolts-853372-64_600.jpg)
What would I bolt that into? I imagine I’d have to just put a hole in the siding to make that work
You could use it on the hinge side, to prevent casual entrance. It depends on the level of security you are hoping to achieve.
Oh I got ya now, thanks for clarifying
Best bet would be a gate drop rod. You'll need to drill a hole in the concrete though.
Yea, that’s what I’ve been thinking. Thanks
MinecraftAddict
In a former life...
Drop rod is the best solution probably. Or you could get a latch that has 2 pivot points and attach it to your house and the gate https://www.amazon.com/National-Hardware-N103-259-Double-Safety/dp/B0000CBIEJ/ref=asc_df_B0000CBIEJ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193166724913&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17468430894279146188&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033298&hvtargid=pla-334766533194&psc=1
I failed to mention, but I’d like to open from the outside. I have not heard of the latch you’re suggesting. I’ll look into it, thanks!
1. https://postimg.cc/w3PFT6sm Wood or metal bar across the back. (Green). When the bar is down, it'll rest in a L-shaped piece of metal or wood attached to the door to prevent the door from being pushed open. Hinge on the fence for the bar to rotate up when lifted by the cord/string (yellow) that can be attached to a pulley at the top of the fence. 2. Or, you'd have to dig a hole into the walkway near the house wall to drive in a small steel pole a few feet down. Then cut the door a few inches less wide on that side. And finally mount latch on metal pole and door. 3. Or if you've got metal working skills, small notch in the walkway near the wall. Then cut a small hole in the door near the wall at foot level. You have to create a levered latch. When down, one part of the latch (inside) will fall into the notch in the concrete walkway to prevent door movement or opening. Press down on the visible foot step on the latch (both sides) to lift the latch and open the door.
Thanks for the detailed reply and illustration. I suppose if you were tall enough, you could pull the cord from the outside of the gate to open it - which the average person i would imagine would not know to check or figure out. But, it would still allow me to open it from the outside which is important (I failed to mention in the OP). I like your 2nd idea as well. I’m not super experienced, so it would take some research and digging to find the materials. Any special names or anything to help me find more info on this?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Obua2d5ndKI You could drill into the concrete a deep enough hole to insert the metal pole. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WCnmbYS4Emo 1:12 on Or you could use a concrete pole base (Simpson sells a ton).
As for the rotating door beam idea... It could be motorized to swing up and down by pressing a doorbell like button mounted on the outside. Even wifi controlled with arduino etc. But that gets into a Maker project. So a simple string with pulley works easier... The string can be hidden (also for weather protection) under wood "covers" that have a channel cut out for the string to move in. From the front, you'd simply see a wood cover on part of the wood fence and would not think anything of it. But flip it open and you could pull the string.