Before You Buy
Not all custom gates are created equal. At Williams Gateworks, we believe in transparency about our superior construction methods. Understanding these key differences will help you make an informed decision and ensure your investment lasts a lifetime.
What type of adhesive do you use to build your gates?
At Williams Gate Works we only use marine grade epoxy.
Marine Grade Epoxy
Superior strength, highly waterproof, temperature resistant. Makes joints stronger than the wood itself. Ideal for stress joints and designed to last a lifetime.
Carpenter's Glue
Becomes brittle quickly, not waterproof, fails under stress. Gates look good for a year but will soon sag and fall apart.
Epoxy is superior to glue in every aspect. Besides the fact that epoxy is many times stronger than glue, it is also highly waterproof and resistant to changes in temperature. The mortise and tenon joint coupled with marine grade epoxy actually makes the joint become stronger than the actual wood itself.
Marine grade epoxy is suitable for below waterline applications - the same material used in boat construction.
Do you use bolts, screws or any other structural metal fasteners?
At Williams Gate Works we never use metal bolts, screws, or fasteners.
With the constant expansion and contraction of the wood due to moisture and temperature changes, the wood around the fastener becomes misshapen and enlarged and will no longer hold the joint properly causing sagging and failure.
At Williams Gate Works, we combine the time proven strength of mortise and tenon joinery with marine grade epoxy. Mortise and tenon joints have been used in woodworking for thousands of years. As stated earlier the mortise and tenon joint and marine grade epoxy together make a joint that is actually stronger than the wood itself.
Traditional Old World joinery techniques proven over thousands of years - no metal fasteners that will fail over time.
What thickness wood do you use to build your gates?
Williams Gate Works uses 2¼" thick solid wood material.
The most common thickness used by production gate makers is 1½" thick material. They do this for several reasons - mostly because it is quite a bit cheaper than 2¼" material, and because you can get it at most any lumber yard without needing to mill it any further.
At Williams Gate Works, I hand select large beams and mill them to our specifications. 2¼" material is more stable for an outside gate that may face ever-changing weather. It will have far less chance of warping, cupping or splitting. It also has a much more solid feel to it.
Like the difference between a 1⅜" hollow core door vs. a 1¾" solid core door in your home. There really is no comparison.
Do you seal the end grain on all your material?
At Williams Gate Works, we do.
End grain in wood is the exposed portion of the wood that the tree uses to get water and nutrients from the root system to the leaves at the top of the tree. It is because of this that the end grain is very porous. Moisture is absorbed and released through the end grain very rapidly.
If the end grain is not sealed the wood has a much greater chance to warp and split starting in the end grain. It is vital that all end grain is sealed.
Notice when at a lumber supplier that all the pieces of hardwood and all the larger beams are sealed at the ends. The need to seal end grain is a known fact throughout the lumber industry. Most gate makers ignore this fact to get the product out to you quickly.
We seal ALL the end grain on every piece of wood. We even seal the end grains on the internal panels before the gate is assembled.
Ready for Superior Quality?
Now that you understand what sets Williams Gateworks apart, let's discuss your custom gate project. Experience the difference that true craftsmanship and superior materials make.
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