Is it normal for a neighbor to pay for almost the entire new fence and gate?

You definatly need to speak up before those posts are set in concrete next week. Even though your neighbors are footing the bulk of the bill, a gate swinging into a garden bed is a functional flaw that the contractor whould probly rather avoid anyway. Most pros default to swinging the gate inward toward the property, but wich side the **heavy-duty hinges** land on is ussually flexible. If you wait untill the hardware is allready screwed into the cedar, you’re looking at unsightly holes if you ever try to flip it later. When the crew shows up, just walk out and ask where the latch is going. For a six-foot cedar gate, they’ll likely use a gravity latch or a thumb latch system. If you want it to swing away from your plants, suggest mounting the hinges on the opposite side of the opening. Cedar is surprisingly heavy, so once that gate is hung, **gate sag** becomes a major headache if the post isn't braced for that specific swing direction. Getting it right on day one is way easier for the contractor than coming back for a service call becuase a gate is hitting a rose bush.

Since you’re getting such a massive discount on the project, you might offer to handle the **preservative stain** for both sides once the wood has seasoned for a few weeks. Cedar is great for rot resistance, but it’ll turn gray and potentially warp if it isn't sealed. Grabbing a pump sprayer and a few gallons of oil-based stain is a low-cost way to show your neighbors you appreciate the upgrade while ensuring the fence lasts twenty years instead of ten.

Don’t overthink the gift aspect of this. In the fencing world, the person paying usually gets the final word, but they still want the project to make sense. A gate that hits an obstruction is just bad design. Just be polite, point out the flower beds, and the contractor will likely appreciate the heads-up before they start digging the holes.

Spot on about catching them before the concrete sets. One tiny thing to watch for is the diagonal cross-brace on the gate frame itself. If you convince them to flip the hinge side to protect your flower beds, make sure the contractor orients that brace to run from the bottom hinge up to the top latch side. I've seen pros get lazy when they have to flip a design on the fly, and if that brace is backwards, all that heavy cedar will pull the gate out of square in no time. It's a quick check that saves you from a dragging gate later.

I had this exact setup last summer. To avoid the garden bed issue without being "that guy," I just caught the lead installer and showed him where the dirt mounded up. If that heavy cedar gate swings in and hits your mulch, it'll drag and warp the frame within a month. I asked them to set the gate about two inches higher than standard for extra clearance. It saved my hostas and kept the wood from sitting in wet mud. Also, make sure they use a post cap on the latch side. It keeps the rain from rotting the post-top where the hardware puts the most stress.

Don’t forget to check if they’re installing a double-sided latch. Nothin' sucks more than havin’ to reach over a six-foot fence like a thief every time you wanna get into your own yard. If they’re already spendin' eight grand, another twenty bucks for a latch that works from both sides ain't gonna kill the budget.

Also, make sure they're usin' three hinges instead of two. Cedar's way heavier than people think, and those big six-footers love to sag if they don't have that middle support. Better to mention it now than deal with a draggin' gate in six months.

Oh man, a brand new cedar fence sounds so incredible! I'm just starting out with my own yard projects and I'm super hyped for you. That wood is going to look and smell fantastic once it's up. Since it's such a beefy gate, have you thougt about adding any cool hardware? I’ve been obsessed with those vintage-looking heavy iron knockers lately. Do people acutally put knockers on garden gates, or is that strictly a front door thing? I feel like it woud add so much character to a big cedar entrance!

Quick update—I talked to the installer about the garden beds and he’s flipping the hinge side, so thanks for that! However, looking at the hardware like someone suggested, I noticed the latch is just a basic gravity flip. Since it’s a heavy six-foot gate, woud it be overstepping to ask for a lockable handle if I offer to cover the extra cost?