What is a garden gate latch?

A garden gate latch is the hardware that keeps a garden gate closed and, where required, locked. It usually consists of a part on the gate, such as a latch bar, lock bolt or sliding bolt, and a keep on the post or wall that this part engages with. There are simple manual latches and self-latching versions that engage automatically as soon as the gate swings shut.

Types

• Ring or thumb latch: a pivoting bar that drops over or into a catch. Simple and cheap, but it cannot be locked.
• Gate bolt: a sliding bolt, often as extra security, for example a drop bolt at the bottom of a double gate.
• Surface-mounted lock: a lock case fixed to the face of the gate, optionally with a cylinder.
• Mortice lock: a lock fitted inside the profile of a (metal) gate or gate stile. Neater, but the profile must be suitable.
• Self-latching latch: a gravity or spring latch that locks the gate as it closes, often combined with a gate closer or self-closing hinges.

Application

• Garden gates in a fence or wall at the back of a house.
• Gates in a boundary fence or front garden.
• Gates that must close by themselves, for example to keep children or pets in, or around a swimming pool.

Practical tips

• Choose weatherproof materials: stainless steel, hot-dip galvanised or powder-coated steel rust far more slowly than untreated steel.
• A solid post: a latch only works if the post does not move. Fix the latch post firmly in the ground, or the gate will start to bind.
• Timber moves: wooden gates swell and shrink. Choose a latch with some play and adjust it after the first seasons.
• Operation: fit the handle at a practical height and, where needed, operable from both sides.
• Security: a back gate is often a weak spot. A cylinder lock with a solid bolt and strong keep is harder to defeat than a simple latch.

Related terms

• Gate bolt
• Lock bolt
• Mortice latch
• Boundary fence
• Fence post
• Galvanizing

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