How to build a wooden gate?

Answer 1

Most gates are custom designed & fabricated to match the fence.

Nowadays, there are some great things at the hardware store / lumber yard for gate builder's including plans, special gate hinges, steel frames and diagonal braces and, sometimes, even advice or the phone number of a good carpenter.

I suggest you start there.

To say any more, I'd have to know how big the gate is, what you want to build the gate out of, what facing material you intend to use, the weight of everything (so I could figure out the posts at hinge side and strike side), what latch and opening hardware you want to use, and the skill level of the builder.
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Answer 2

48" is a pretty wide gate for fencing that heavy -- 36 is plenty to get lawn mower, wheelbarrow, etc. through. Wider gate has more engineering problems than narrower. I'd respectfully suggest steel posts if you insist on 48. The posts should be set so that the hinge pins are centered on one post, and the latch side of the gate is centered on the other. So if the actual gate is 48 wide, the gate posts should be 48 on center. Be sure to add a diagonal brace between top and bottom gate stringers, and I'd use screws rather than nails for gate assembly. Set posts in cooncrete, at least gate posts, for longer service life.

Answer 3

If you are inexperienced at this sort of thing, there are gate kits at home depot that you can purchase to take some of the guess work out of it.

Answer 4

All you want to know is here
http://www.buildeazy.com/gate.html
or here
http://www.buildeazy.com/newplans/gate_double_1.html