Wooden garden gates: Ipe or teak?
In short: our wooden garden gates have a matt black steel frame clad on both sides with vertical slats. You choose the timber (Ipe or teak), the slat width (50, 70 or 90 mm) and whether you need a single or a double gate. Use the same timber and slat width as your fence and everything lines up.
Want to see the gates straight away? Go to the Ipe garden gates or the teak garden gates.
Ipe or teak: what it means for a gate
A gate hangs on hinges and is opened and closed every day, so the weight and durability of the timber matter more than on a fence.
- Ipe is heavy and hard, around 1,050 kg/m³. It is durability class 1 and lasts 25+ years. Colour: yellowish brown to dark olive brown.
- Teak is lighter, around 670 kg/m³, which takes load off the hinges and posts. Our teak is plantation grown, durability class 1 to 3, and develops a golden sheen over time. A teak gate costs 10% less than the same gate in Ipe.
The frame, fittings and clips are the same for Ipe and teak. Only the slats differ.
Which slat width?
The slats are 21 mm thick and 50, 70 or 90 mm wide. Narrow 50 mm slats give lots of fine lines, 90 mm looks calmer. The clip doubles as a spacer, so the gap is 5 mm throughout. On a gate the slats always run vertically, even if your fence runs horizontally.
Ipe also comes with 40 x 40 mm bars instead of slats. That version is not available in teak.
Single or double gate?
A single gate is 1.00 m wide. For a driveway or a wide opening, choose a double gate in two leaves, such as the double teak garden gate. With 2 x 1.00 m leaves you need at least 2.03 m between the posts.
Standard or bespoke?
The standard gate is 1.00 m wide. You set the height yourself by cutting the 2.10 m slats to size. Need a different width? We make the gate to measure: bespoke Ipe garden gate or bespoke teak garden gate, priced on request.
What is in the kit?
- Matt black powder coated steel frame, 30 mm deep
- 2.10 m slats, enough for both sides
- Black hinges, hinge pins and a black cylinder lock
- Clips and screws for hidden fixing
Posts are not included. How to hang the gate is explained in how to hang a garden gate. For gate furniture, see gate fittings. Would you like to see and feel the timber first? Request a free sample.
Frequently asked questions
Which timber is best for a garden gate?
Ipe is the heaviest and most durable: durability class 1 and 25+ years. Teak is lighter, easier on hinges and posts, and costs 10% less. Ideally, use the same timber as your fence.
How wide is a wooden garden gate?
Our standard gate is 1.00 m wide. A double gate has two 1.00 m leaves. Other widths are made to measure.
How tall is the gate?
The slats are 2.10 m long. You cut them to the height you want, up to 2.10 m.
Do the slats run horizontally or vertically?
On a gate the slats always run vertically, even if the fence has horizontal slats.