Double-Width Aluminium Garden Gates – Made to Measure Pair Sets

What every homeowner needs to know before buying, from someone who’s installed hundreds of them

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably got a wide entrance that needs something more substantial than a single gate. Maybe it’s a driveway, a big garden opening, or a side access that needs to accommodate something wider than a wheelbarrow.

Whatever the reason, you’re looking at double-width aluminium garden gates – and you want them made to measure. Good call.

I’ve spent over fifteen years fitting gates of all shapes and sizes, and I’m going to tell you exactly what works, what doesn’t, and what nobody tells you until you’re halfway through the installation. Let’s cut through the sales talk and get to the practical stuff.

Why Aluminium Is the Smart Choice for Double Gates

I’m going to be honest with you – I’ve installed gates in pretty much every material you can think of. Wood, steel, wrought iron, even composite. And for 90% of homeowners, aluminium is the sweet spot.

Here’s why.

Aluminium doesn’t rust. This isn’t marketing fluff – it’s chemistry. Aluminium reacts with oxygen to form a protective oxide layer that stops corrosion in its tracks. I’ve seen aluminium gates on the south coast, literally metres from the sea, still looking spotless after a decade. Try that with steel and you’d be looking at orange streaks within a couple of years.

It’s surprisingly strong for its weight. Aluminium weighs about 35% of what steel weighs for the same structural strength. This matters for double gates because you’ve got two large panels swinging on hinges. Less weight means less stress on your posts, less wear on your hinges, and – if you’re installing them yourself – a much more manageable job.

You can forget about maintenance. I tell all my customers the same thing: if you’re replacing a wooden gate, you’re about to save yourself about two weekends of sanding and painting every single year. A properly powder-coated aluminium gate needs nothing more than a wipe with soapy water a couple of times a year. That’s it.

Why Made-to-Measure Matters for Double Gates

Here’s where I get a bit passionate, because I see the consequences of getting this wrong all the time.

Off-the-shelf double gates come in standard widths – typically 2.4m, 2.7m, or 3m. But your opening isn’t standard, is it? Maybe it’s 2.85m. Maybe it’s 3.2m. Maybe your walls aren’t perfectly straight (they rarely are).

With made-to-measure gates, you get gates that actually fit your opening. No bodging. No packing pieces. No gaps that let next door’s cat wander in whenever it feels like it.

The critical measurement rule: Measure your opening at the top, the middle, and the bottom. Use the smallest of those three measurements. Why? Because brick pillars aren’t always plumb. If you order based on the widest measurement, your gates won’t close at the narrowest point.

For double gates, you also need to allow for clearance. Each gate leaf needs about 15-20mm of gap at the hinge side, and the two leaves need about 10-15mm between them when closed. Total clearance allowance should be around 40-50mm across the whole opening.

What You Absolutely Need to Get Right

Your Posts

I can’t emphasise this enough: your gates are only as good as your posts. With double-width gates, you’re mounting two substantial panels, and those posts take all the load.

For new installations:

• Dig your post holes at least 600mm deep for standard garden gates, and deeper for larger openings or softer ground. I go for 750mm in clay soil and nearly a metre in sandy ground.
• Set your posts in concrete. Postcrete is quick, but traditional mix works fine too.
• Use a spirit level and check both posts in two directions. If a post is even slightly off vertical, your gates will look wrong and swing incorrectly.

For existing posts:
If you’re replacing gates on existing posts, first check the posts are still solid. Give them a good shove – if they move, you need new posts. No gate will work properly on wobbly posts.

Post Size Matters

Double gates need substantial posts. For most residential double gates up to 3 metres wide, I recommend:

• 100mm x 100mm posts for gates up to about 1.8m height and 3m width
• 150mm x 150mm posts for taller gates (over 2m) or wider openings

The post section size is the cross-section measurement – the thickness and width of the post, not the height. Get the section size right and your gates will look proportionate and stay solid for decades.

Hinges – Don’t Skimp

This is where some manufacturers cut corners, and it drives me mad.

For double aluminium gates, you should be using stainless steel hinges – grade 304 at a minimum, and 316 if you’re near the coast. Never accept mild steel hinges, even if they’re painted. The paint will chip, moisture will get in, and you’ll have rust staining on your lovely powder-coated gates.

Standard setup: Each leaf typically needs two or three hinges, depending on the weight and height of the gate. The hinges attach to the posts (post-mounted) – this is the standard for residential aluminium gates. Floor-mounted hinges are an option but they’re usually unnecessary for domestic installations and can be a trip hazard.

Installation – What Nobody Tells You

Ground clearance is non-negotiable. You need at least 50mm between the bottom of each gate and the ground. If your garden isn’t perfectly level (whose is?), work from the highest point of the ground along the gate line. Use that as your clearance reference.

Plan your locking before you start drilling. With double gates, you’ve got options:

1. Drop bolts on both leaves plus a lock on one leaf – the most secure setup. You drop both bolts into ground sockets, lock one leaf with a padlock or mortice lock, and the other leaf is held by the drop bolt.
2. Fixed leaf with sliding bolt – one leaf stays permanently closed (bolted top and bottom), the other opens and closes with a lock.
3. Centre locking – some gates have a locking mechanism in the centre where the leaves meet.

I recommend option 1 for most homeowners. It gives you the best security and the most flexibility.

Watch out for the latch alignment. When you install the latch plate on the post or wall, mark its position with the gate held closed and perfectly aligned. Then drill. If you drill first and adjust second, you’ll end up with a messy installation.

The Specs You Need to Provide When Ordering

When you’re ready to order your made-to-measure double aluminium gates, have this information ready:

One more thing: If you’re planning to automate your gates later, tell your supplier upfront. They can build in the necessary reinforcement for motorised operators at the manufacturing stage.

How to Keep Your Double Gates Looking Great

Here’s my simple maintenance routine – it takes about twenty minutes twice a year and your gates will look new for decades.

Spring and autumn clean:

• Hose down with plain water to remove dust and debris
• Wash with warm water and a mild detergent (washing-up liquid is fine)
• Rinse thoroughly
• Dry with a soft cloth to prevent water spots

Lubrication:

• Apply a silicone spray or light oil to all moving parts – hinges, locks, drop bolts
• Work the gates back and forth to distribute the lubricant

Annual check:

• Tighten any fixings that have worked loose
• Check for any chips in the powder coating – touch them up with matching paint immediately to prevent any moisture ingress
• Check ground sockets for debris and clear them out

What NOT to do:

• Don’t use a pressure washer – it can damage the powder coating
• Don’t use abrasive cleaners or wire brushes
• Don’t use acid-based cleaners – they’ll strip the coating