Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often — from sizing and ordering through to delivery, installation, warranty, and aftercare. If your question isn't here, get in touch and we'll come back to you within a working day or two.

Ordering

1. How do I place an order?

Three steps before checkout: choose a gate, enter your size, pick any customisations.

1. Browse our pedestrian gates or driveway gates and select a style you like.
2. Enter your make width and make height. If your opening isn't a standard size, choose Custom Size — Made to order.
3. Pick any customisations: thickness upgrade, gate horns, rail shaping, double-sided boards.

Add to cart and check out. We'll confirm your final gate spec, price and lead time by email before production begins.

If you're unsure about size or style, send us your measurements and we'll come back with guidance before you order.

2. How long does it take to make and deliver my gate?

Allow 4 weeks from order to delivery as a guide.

All our gates are custom made in our Hornsby workshop, so each order goes into production after your order is confirmed.

If you need the gate by a specific date — for a fence install, a builder's deadline, a settlement — tell us at the time of order and we'll work to it where we can.

3. Can I order a custom-size gate?

Yes — most of our gates can be built to non-standard sizes.

Select Custom Size — Made to order on the product page and enter your dimensions. We build to your make width and make height.

See our How to Measure guide for the right way to measure your opening — it's not the same as the opening width. You need to allow for:

• Hinges and the gap on the hinge side.
• The latch and the gap on the latch side.
• Ground clearance under the gate.

Send us your numbers when you order. We'll confirm the final gate size, the price and the lead time before we start production.

4. Do you hold stock or are gates always made to order?

All our gates are made to order. We don't hold finished stock.

Made-to-order means you get a gate built to your exact size, with the joinery, rails, and customisations you've chosen — rather than picking from a few off-the-shelf sizes that won't quite fit.

The trade-off is the 4-week lead time. Plan ahead and we'll have it ready when you need it.

5. How much do timber gates cost?

Pedestrian gates start from the price shown on each product page; driveway gates from a higher base.

The fastest way to get an accurate price is to browse the gate styles you like on our pedestrian gates or driveway gates pages. Each product page shows the standard-size price and the upgrade prices.

If you need a custom size or aren't sure which gate suits your home, send us your details and we'll come back with a written quote within a working day or two.

What changes the price:

• Gate width and height.
• Timber thickness — 42mm standard, or 66mm upgrade.
• Customisations: gate horns, rail shaping, decorative valances.
• Double-sided boards (lining board on both faces instead of one).

6. Can I change or cancel my order after placing it?

Yes, if production hasn't started. Once the timber is cut, cancellation isn't possible — the gate is custom made.

If you need to change or cancel, contact us as soon as possible:

• Small changes (a different gate horn, an extra coat option) are usually fine.
• Size or style changes depend on where the order is in production.
• Refund policy detail is in our refund policy.

7. What payment methods do you accept?

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay through our website checkout.

Payment is taken at checkout, before we start production. This is standard for made-to-order goods — it commits both sides to the order.

For trade accounts or larger commercial orders, get in touch and we can discuss payment terms.

Delivery and area

8. Do you deliver Australia-wide, or is it Sydney only?

We deliver across mainland Australia. Sydney metro is the most economical; freight to other states is quoted on request.

• Sydney metro and surrounding NSW: delivered by our own truck or local courier, fast turnaround.
• Interstate (Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, regional NSW/VIC/QLD): freight via partner carriers. Gates are crated for protection. Lead time adds 1–2 weeks on top of production. Cost depends on size, weight and destination — we'll quote it before you order.
• Tasmania, NT, WA: not by default. Ask if you're in one of those areas and we'll see if we can arrange something.

9. Can I collect my gate from your workshop?

Yes — workshop pickup from Hornsby NSW saves the delivery cost and is welcome.

Address: 30/12 Cecil Road, Hornsby NSW 2077. We'll let you know when your gate is ready and you can come pick it up at a time that suits.

Bring a vehicle large enough for the gate:

• Pedestrian gate — fits in most utes or vans.
• Driveway gate — needs a trailer or a long ute tray.

Phone ahead if you're not sure: (02) 7257 8684.

Made in Sydney

10. Where are Mortice and Tenon gates made?

Every gate is hand made in our Hornsby workshop in Sydney's North Shore.

We don't outsource manufacturing. The skilled joiners and timber machinists who build your gate work in our workshop, using traditional mortice and tenon joinery on every gate.

This is why we can build to custom sizes, customise details, and stand behind the work with a 12-month warranty.

11. What timber do you use, and is it sustainable?

Sustainably sourced plantation-grown pine, machined to a high standard for outdoor durability.

Plantation pine is renewable and well-suited to gates:

• Stable across seasonal humidity changes.
• Takes paint beautifully.
• Works easily with traditional joinery.

When painted and maintained as outlined in our Care Guide, a plantation-pine gate lasts decades outdoors. We source from Australian timber suppliers wherever practical.

12. Can you make gates from a timber other than your standard?

Yes — we can quote on cedar, blackbutt, or spotted gum if you have a specific requirement.

Most customers stick with our standard plantation pine because it paints well, holds joinery beautifully, and is cost-effective. But if you want a hardwood gate for natural finish, or you're matching an existing timber feature, get in touch.

Other timbers usually mean a longer lead time and a higher price — send us your requirements for a quote.

Finishing and care

13. Will my gate arrive painted, or do I paint it?

Delivered primed only — you apply at least two coats of a quality exterior top coat within four weeks of delivery.

The primer is a temporary protection for transport and short storage. It is not a weatherproof finish. The gate must be top-coated before it's exposed to the weather, or moisture will start to move the timber.

14. Can you paint the gates for me before delivery?

No — gates are supplied primed only. Painting is the customer's responsibility, on site.

There are good reasons for this:

• You can choose the colour to match your house and trim.
• Painting on site lets you touch up any handling marks from transport.
• Most gates need painting after fitting hinges and final trimming anyway.

The Care Guide walks through the right paint, the right order, and the warranty rules.

15. How do I look after my gate after installation?

Light, regular care. Inspect twice a year, clean with mild soapy water, repaint every 4–6 years inland or 2–4 years coastal.

The full care routine is in our Timber Gate Care Guide, which covers:

• Cleaning and the repainting schedule.
• Coastal care and salt-air maintenance.
• Hinge maintenance.
• Troubleshooting common problems.

The three most important rules:

1. Keep the bottom of the gate dry and off the ground.
2. Repaint at the first sign of dulling or cracking.
3. Rinse hardware with fresh water if you're near the coast.

Installation and hardware

16. Do you install the gate for me, or just supply it?

Mortice & Tenon is supply only. We recommend a builder, carpenter, or fencing contractor for installation.

Hanging a timber gate is similar to hanging a heavy door: square posts, solid fixings, correct hinges, room for seasonal movement. A handy DIYer can do it; a builder or carpenter will do it faster and with better long-term results.

If you'd like a recommendation for an installer in your area, get in touch and we can usually point you in the right direction.

17. What hinges do I need for my gate?

Strap or butt hinges for driveway gates; strap or T-hinges for pedestrian gates. All weight-rated to the gate.

Rough guide by gate size:

• Pedestrian gates up to 1000 mm wide: two heavy-duty hinges rated to at least 25 kg each.
• Pedestrian gates 1000–1200 mm or 1800 mm tall: three hinges rated to 30 kg each.
• Driveway gates (single leaf): three to four hinges per leaf, 40–50 kg rating each.

Within 5 km of the coast, use grade 316 stainless steel. Inland, galvanised steel is fine. More detail in our Care Guide.

If you'd like us to supply hinges with your gate, add a note to your order and we'll quote them.

18. Do you supply the hinges, latch and gate posts?

Hinges and latches: we can quote on request. Gate posts: not supplied — you or your installer source them.

Most customers buy hinges and latches locally:

• Bunnings or a fencing supplier for standard sizes.
• A hardware specialist for heavier-duty or stainless options.
• Your installer may have preferred brands and stock them.

If you'd rather we sort the hardware for you, add a note to your order and we'll work out what's needed and quote it.

Posts are best sourced and installed at the same time as your fence — usually by the fencing contractor.

19. Can I fit an automatic opener to a timber driveway gate?

Yes, but the motor must be rated for the gate's weight and wind loading. Timber gates act like sails in strong wind.

We don't supply or fit automation. Most customers use a local automation specialist who matches the motor to the gate.

Tell your installer:

• The gate's width, height and weight.
• Whether the panel is solid or open picket. Solid gates need more motor capacity.
• Your driveway slope.

Underground rams handle wind loading better than above-ground articulated arms on heavier timber gates.

Pool gates and compliance

20. Can your gates be used as a pool gate?

Yes, when specified and installed to AS 1926.1: self-closing, self-latching at 1500 mm, outward-opening, no gap over 100 mm.

Our gates can be fitted with self-closing hinges and a magnetic self-latching latch suitable for pool fence compliance. We don't supply pool hardware as standard — you or your fencing contractor specify and install it.

Warranty and support

21. What warranty do you offer?

12-month warranty against manufacturing faults from the date of delivery.

The warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship — for example, a joint failing under normal use, or a structural defect from manufacture.

The warranty does not cover damage from how the gate is finished, installed, or maintained. See the Care Guide warranty section for the full list of what is and isn't covered.

22. My gate has a problem after install — what do I do?

Visit our Contact page with photos and your order number. We'll respond within a few working days.

Most issues fall into one of three categories:

• A finishing problem — paint failure, moisture damage.
• An installation problem — sagging gate, post movement, undersized hinges.
• A genuine manufacturing fault.

Photos help us diagnose quickly. Send:

• A clear front view of the gate.
• A clear rear view showing the brace and hinges.
• A close-up of the specific issue.
• For bottom-rail issues: a photo of the surrounding ground and garden.

Get in touch via our Contact page.

Trade and volume orders

23. Do you sell to trade — builders, landscapers, fencing contractors?

Yes. Trade pricing and account options are available for regular contractor orders.

If you're a builder, landscaper, fencing contractor or carpenter ordering multiple gates a year, get in touch about trade arrangements: (02) 7257 8684 or via our Contact page.

We also handle one-off larger orders:

• Developers building heritage-style estates.
• Body corporates fitting matching gates across multiple units.
• Restoration projects requiring matched gate styles.

Happy to talk through bulk pricing.

Other questions

24. What's the difference between a pedestrian gate and a driveway gate?

Pedestrian gates are single-leaf gates for paths (900–1200 mm wide). Driveway gates are wider (2400–4200 mm) and usually two leaves.

• Pedestrian gates are designed for foot traffic — front paths, side access, garden entries. One swinging leaf, hinged on one side, latched on the other.
• Driveway gates span a vehicle entrance. Most are a two-leaf set that meets in the middle — two narrower gates each swinging from their own post.

Many of our gate styles are available in both sizes so you can match the look across the front of your home.

25. Can I get a gate to match my existing fence?

Yes — we build matching gates, and supply replacement pickets in 66 mm and 90 mm widths with several top profiles.

Send us photos of your fence and the gate opening. We'll work out which of our standard styles is the closest match, or build a custom gate to your specs.

If you just need to replace damaged pickets in your existing fence, we sell individual pickets in standard profiles: bullnose, round, pointed, chamfer, bevel, and flat tops.

26. I have a question that's not covered here.

Visit our Contact page, send an email, or call (02) 7257 8684 — we're happy to help.

We'd rather you ask before you order than discover an issue later. Send us:

• Photos of your fence, opening, or existing gate.
• Measurements of your opening.
• Or just a description of what you're trying to achieve.

We'll come back to you within a working day or two. For care and maintenance questions, the Care Guide covers the most common ones.

Still have a question?

Email or call us through the Contact page, or phone (02) 7257 8684. We're here Monday to Friday.

For care and maintenance specifically, see our Timber Gate Care Guide — it covers painting, installation, troubleshooting and warranty in detail.

Written by the Mortice & Tenon workshop — Sydney timber gate makers, building hand-crafted gates with traditional mortice and tenon joinery. Last updated: May 2026.