Fit a gate bolt or padlock hasp

Fit a bolt or padlock hasp to a garden gate, working out whether the post is timber or masonry first.

GB-01Check the gate and gather your toolsOpen and close the gate a few times and check it hangs square, without dragging on the ground or binding on the post. If the gate itself is loose or sagging, fix that first — a bolt fitted to a badly hung gate will never line up properly. You'll need a screwdriver or drill/driver, a pencil, a tape measure, and a spirit level for marking the hasp straight.

GB-02Choose the right bolt or hasp for the jobA barrel bolt is fine for keeping a gate shut from one side. If you want to padlock the gate, fit a hasp and staple instead — the hasp goes on the gate, the staple on the post, so the padlock sits over both when closed. Buy galvanised or stainless fittings for outdoor use; plain steel will rust within a season.

1 each · Galvanised barrel bolt, 150mm

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1 each · Galvanised hasp and staple set

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GB-03Mark the fixing positionHold the bolt or hasp against the closed gate at a comfortable height, usually around 900-1000mm up. Check with a spirit level that it sits horizontal, then mark the screw holes on the gate through the fitting's own holes with a pencil. Close the gate and mark where the matching keep, staple or catch plate needs to go on the post — this must line up exactly or the bolt won't slide home.

GB-04Work out what the post is made ofMost garden gates hang between a timber post or a brick or block pillar. Timber sounds dull and slightly hollow when you tap it and you can press a fingernail into it. Brick or block sounds solid and hard, and a test poke with a bradawl won't mark it. This decides which fixings you need, so check before you drill.

GB-05Drill and fix into a timber post or timber gateDrill a pilot hole through each marked point, about 2mm smaller than the screw shank, so the screw grips without splitting the wood. Screw the bolt, hasp or staple on firmly using zinc-plated or stainless outdoor screws — don't overtighten, or you'll strip the pilot hole in soft timber. If the post is very old or soft, glue a hardwood dowel into the hole first and re-drill, giving the screw fresh timber to bite into.

8 each · Zinc-plated outdoor wood screws, 40mm

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GB-06Drill and fix into a brick or block pillarBefore drilling into a masonry pillar, check there are no cables or pipes running through it — this matters if the gate has electric lighting, an intercom, or an electric gate motor fitted. If there's any doubt, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before you drill. Drill with a masonry bit sized to your wall plug, usually 6mm or 7mm, to a depth of at least 40mm, then push in a wall plug and drive in a matching masonry screw.

8 each · Wall plugs (Rawlplug or similar)

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8 each · Masonry screws, 50mm

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GB-07Fit the padlock if using a haspClose the hasp over the staple and check the padlock shackle passes through both cleanly with the gate shut. If it's tight or won't quite reach, loosen the screws slightly and shift the fitting a few mm before retightening. Add a smear of petroleum jelly or light grease to the padlock shackle to stop it seizing outdoors.

1 each · Weatherproof padlock

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GB-08Test and tidy upOpen and close the gate several times, sliding the bolt or locking the hasp each time, to check nothing binds or rubs. Tighten any screws that worked loose during testing. Sweep up any wood shavings or brick dust and put your tools away.

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