Our metal (12mm square section, painted I presume) gates have rust and some of the joints have come apart. The (two) gates cover a 3m opening and are about 1m hight. Probably put in when the property was built in 1968.
The wooden post holding one gate up (about 11cm square) is set in concrete and has rotted so that gate has dropped. The other gate is fixed to a couple of small blocks of wood fixed to the house.
I should be able to do the job myself but:
1) How best to get the wooden post out
2) Should I get another wooden post, and special considerations/treatment or concrete
3) Any number of places seem to do metal gates including ebay. Don't want to go fancy with wrought iron. However powder coated or not?
4) Why do so many gates not have a simple smooth rail across the top? So many of the budget ones have hoops or spears. Is this fashion, or is a smooth rail more difficult?
As you may gather not done this before so may as well add it to my first attempts at a job as I near my 80th year, so guidance very welcome.