The challenges of architecturally specified gates

When it comes to selling off-plan houses in a brand new subdivision, there are high expectations about timing and finish quality. Not only must the inside of the house meet all expectations, but the landscaping and final touches must be impeccable before keys are handed over.

Lower North Island fencing contractor Rob Bigwood of Bigwood Fencing is in the process of constructing the gates and fences for a 42-house subdivision where house and land packages are being sold off-plan. The houses have been architecturally designed to ensure each house has its own character and avoids the “cookie-cutter” look so common in 90’s subdivisions.

Rob may have been ribbed at Conference about his small 0.8T digger, but it is the perfect tool for digging holes under the eaves of brand-new houses that are only 2.4m apart

As an integral part of the design aesthetic, each property has two road-frontage gates, making them something that must be “just right”. While the designs are very specific about where the gates should be, they don’t account for where services have been placed. “It can be a really delicate process digging the holes for the posts closest to the houses. I even sometimes scoop the dirt out one handful at a time” says Bigwood.

“Constructing fences in the virgin ground of a subdivision may sound like a dream but it has its challenges,” says Bigwood. The fences and gates are installed while work is still underway. On a build of this size, there are multiple different trades onsite at any one time, including plumbers, builders, electricians, roofers, and painters not to mention earthworks that are still underway elsewhere on the site.

“We have to coordinate with the concrete placers so that we can make sure that our posts are in the ground before they box up and pour. There’s no room for error – the consequences of the posts not being 100% right are significant.” With houses that are only 2.4m apart being even 10mm out means someone loses an unacceptable amount of their land. Meanwhile digging up a post would require relaying large areas of concrete paths and patios - at a significant cost.

Gate posts must be installed before ground levels have been finalised so that concrete can be poured “There’s no way we could put posts in the ground once that concrete has been poured. We usually have posts in the ground before the landscapers have even prepped final ground leveIs” says Bigwood.

The finished gates make for striking road frontages on these houses being built for Lupin Developments

Adding to the challenge, the approved landscape designs have specified the use of two different systems – Boundaryline panel fences around each plot and gates from Fence Direct. Each fence can only be installed once the house build reaches a certain stage meaning the work is very piecemeal. It is not uncommon for fence and gate posts to be in the ground for a few weeks before landscaping work has progressed enough to be ready for fencing to be finished - and the fence is often finished before the inside of the house is complete.

While it is technically challenging work, the results are certainly striking to look at. “We effectively have three clients that we are accountable to on this project – the developer, the house builders who have their brand on the project, and the homeowner. It’s great to be able to move on to the next house knowing they are all happy.”