Guest Blog: Gatemaster How do I measure a gate box section?
Just like everything else, it is crucial to order the right sized gate lock for your gates. A question we get asked often here at Rolling Center is how do I measure the box section?
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To help you get it right, we’ve invited gate lock experts, Gatemaster, to share their knowledge on the subject and guide you through measuring your gate frame.
How to find the right lock size
How you should measure your gate frame, depends on which type of gate lock you get. As some locks are installed within the gate frame and other locks go through it, the sizing and measurements will depend on the lock type. In this article, we will cover how to measure the gate frame for weld-in locks, bolt-on locks, mortice locks, and surface-fixed locks.
Weld-in locks
Weld-in locks famously sit flush within your gate frame and the size of the lock case is therefore very important. It needs to match the gate frame width to achieve this.
In order to accurately measure the gate frame size for a weld-in lock, you have to measure the width as shown in the picture below.
For example, if you gate frame is 30mm wide, you need a 30mm weld-in lock like this SWLD1630.
Some standard sizes for weld-in locks are 25mm, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm and 60mm.
Bolt-on locks
Bolt-on locks, like our popular Superlock range, is installed on the back of the box section and the latch or dead bolt therefore has to go through the gate frame. To get the right size for your gate, you have to measure the thickness of your gate.
The actual size of the lock doesn’t change from one size to another, but a thicker gate frame means you have to have longer fixing bolts and latch/dead bolt to ensure it clears through the gate frame.
Mortice locks
Mortice locks, or insert locks, are installed and sits within the gate frame. Similar to a weld-in lock, the width of the gate frame is important. Most insert locks are designed for a certain gate width but can be used in gate frames that are wider without modifications.
Another term to know when it comes to insert locks is backset. This is the distance from the front of the lock to the centre of the spindle/cylinder hole. You have to drill holes for both the spindle and the cylinder, so it is good to double-check this before you order your lock. This is especially important if you are replacing an existing lock as these holes have to line up.
Surface-fixed locks
The last lock we are going to cover is the surface-fixed lock. These locks are fixed to the surface of the gate with screws going through a solid gate or gate frame. Because of this we often recommend this type of lock for wooden gates as they are easy to install.
Wooden gates come is a variety of sizes though, so you have to make sure the width of the gate is suitable for your gate lock. Some locks like our Superlatch digital lock, comes with an option of an extension pack to extend the screws for wider gates.
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