Things You'll Need
Instructions
1Sketch your gate plans, including dimensions. Measure and note the distance between the gate posts on the deck. Subtract 1 inch from the distance between the posts to calculate the width of your finished gate. Decide the height of the gate and note its dimension on the sketch. The ends of the rails and stiles will be cut at 45-degree angles to construct a frame with mitered corners.
2
Rotate the miter saw to make 45-degree cuts. Place the first framing plank on the cutting surface of the saw with the 2-inch wide faces of the plank on the top and bottom. The completed frame will be almost 4 inches thick.
3
Make the first 45-degree cut. Refer to your sketch to measure and mark the other end of the framing member. Remember to cut the ends of the plank so the angles are divergent. Continue measuring, marking and cutting to create two stiles and two rails.
4
Assemble the gate frame on a flat surface, like a picture frame. Toenail the corners of the frame with a hammer and 2 1/2-inch long nails. The nails should be perpendicular to the joints and their tips should extend almost an inch past the joints. Toenailing the joints temporarily holds the joints in place until they are secured by adding infill pickets or planks.
5
Refer to your sketch to cut the infill planks to the desired length. Align your first, or edge infill plank, to the edges of the frame. Attach the plank in one position on the top and bottom of the frame using a drill, driving bit and two screws.Use a carpenter's square to square one corner of the frame, under the first infill plank.
6
Drive a screw through the approximated center of the edge of the infill plank, into the stile, securely holding the frame square. Finish attaching the infill plank to the stile with evenly-spaced screws, 5 to 6 inches apart. Attach each infill plank to the rails with at least two screws in each rail.
7
Repeat to attach the first infill plank on the opposite side of the frame. Arrange the remaining infill planks between those attached to the stiles. The planks should be evenly spaced and aligned to the outer edges of the rails.
8
Attach each infill plank to the rails with two evenly-spaced screws on each end. Once the gate is assembled, reinforce the corners by installing a screw in each corner, perpendicular to the mitered joint. The completed gate is ready for attachment to the gate post, using appropriate hardware.