Composite + Aluminum
Gate Installation

Composite Gate Installation Instructions

Horizontal Composite Gate Installation

PLEASE NOTE! The Composite gate kit is comprised of SF2-GK300 (gate kit components) and 1 complete composite panel (sold separately) in the color of your choice to match your fence.
1.

Take a measurement between your gate posts and subtract 1.5” and this is the length to cut your top and bottom gate rails.
2.

Lay the left-side channel with opening facing right onto a flat working surface.
3.

Insert the bottom left corner of the bottom rail with tongue facing up so that the left end of the rail reaches the inside back wall of the side creating an “L” shape. This will be the bottom left corner of your gate.
4.

Place a carpenter’s square on the outside of this “L” to confirm that this “L” shape is square to 90° and the bottom rail is flush with the bottom of the side channel.
5.

Once confirmed that this first “L” shape of your gate is square, proceed to screw in 2 self-drilling screws in through the pre-drilled holes in the top side of the channel and into the bottom rail to secure the left side channel to the bottom rail. Do not screw the other 2 on the opposite side yet.
6.

Once these two screws have fastened the bottom rail to the side channel, insert the opposite end of the bottom rail into the bottom of the remaining side channel until the end of the bottom rail meets the inside back wall of the inside of the bottom of the channel creating a “U” shaped frame.
7.

Again, using a carpenter’s square confirm that the right end of the bottom rail with tongue facing up, is inserted into the bottom of the right-side channel creating a perfect 90° angle and the bottom rail is flush with the bottom of the right channel, if ok, proceed to screw the bottom 2 self-drilling screws through the pre-punched holes in the side channel into the bottom rail securing the bottom rail to the right channel. This is the bottom right of your gate.
8.

Flip the “U” shaped frame over and proceed to screw in the remaining 4 screws in through the pre-punched holes in the side channels into the bottom rail confirming again that both connections are still at perfect 90° right angles.
9.

Stand the “U” shaped frame up and lean it against something that is not quite as tall as the top of the frame. A workbench for example so the top is open and not blocked for sliding boards in.
10.

Take a measurement of your top rail that was cut previously and subtract 3/8”. This is the measurement to cut your first Gate board. (NOTE: boards need to be 3/8” shorter than the top and bottom rails to allow for thermal expansion of the boards.)
11.

Once the first board is cut, slide it into the top of the “U” shaped frame with tongue facing up all the way down to the bottom of the frame.
12.

If this first board fits nicely with a bit of wiggle room from side to side, then proceed to cut the remaining 10 boards, and slide into the frame the same as the first board.
13.

Once all 11 boards have been inserted into the frame, insert the top rail (with groove facing down to catch the tongue of the top board, into both top ends of the side channels and squeeze side channels toward each other so the ends of the top rail touch the inside back wall of both channels.
14.

Once the top rail has been inserted into the side rails check for squareness and proceed to screw in the self-drilling screws through the pre-drilled holes and into the top rail, same as was done for the bottom rail.
15.

Lay the gate on a flat working surface and place one Angle Gusset onto one corner of the gate and line up the top 45° edge of the gusset with the outside edge of the top rail, and at the same time, align the bottom 45° edge of the gusset with the outside edge of the side rail.
16.

Once the Corner gusset is aligned with the corner of the gate, screw in the self-drilling screws in through the pre-drilled holes and into the rail and channel accordingly.
17.

Continue to check for squareness of the gate each time the gate is moved or flipped over.
18.

Repeat steps 15 and 16 for the remaining 3 corners of the same side of the gate and then flip the gate over and install 4 gussets on the opposite side of the gate as well.
19.

Once all 8 gussets have been installed on the gate, place one self-closing hinge between the bottom inside corner of your gate and the Gusset.
20.

Fasten this bottom hinge to the Gate frame using self-drilling screws included, into the four holes that meet the aluminum frame and one Wood screw that drills into the board.
21.

Repeat previous step to install the top hinge onto the gate.
22.

Once the hinges have been installed, stand the gate up and place it next to the gate-post it will be hung on and shim up the bottom of the gate with some of the remaining boards or off-cuts until the gate height is aligned with the fence height.
23.

Once aligned, level and plumb confirm there is approximately 5/8” between the latch side of the gate and the gate post.
24.

Then proceed to fasten the gate hinges to the gate post with the self-drilling screws provided in the hinge bag.
25.

Follow Gate Latch instructions to install the Gate Latch.