If you’re looking to enhance both the security and style of your home, a timber side gate is an excellent investment. At Tarmec & Croft, we specialise in timber side gates supply and fitting across Essex and Suffolk, offering made-to-measure solutions that combine strength, durability, and timeless design.
Adding a timber side gate can significantly boost the security of your property.
It acts as a physical barrier, deterring unwanted access to your garden, side passages, or back entrances — areas often targeted by opportunistic thieves. A properly built and fitted timber gate makes it far more difficult for intruders to gain entry without attracting attention.
The key to true security, however, lies in how your gate is constructed and installed.
The strength of a side gate depends on two main factors:
The quality and size of the timber used
The method of construction and joinery
Many off-the-shelf side gates are simply ledged and braced, screwed together with cladding nailed on. While this is adequate for lightweight use, it doesn’t offer the long-term durability or resistance to forced entry that a professionally built gate can provide.
At Tarmec & Croft, all our gates are crafted with mortise and tenon joints, secured with hardwood dowels and waterproof glue. This traditional method is incredibly strong and highly resistant to both movement and attack.
We also recess the cladding panels into the frame itself, preventing water ingress and rot — another critical factor in ensuring your gate remains solid for many years.
Strong hinges and locks are just as important as the gate itself.
Flimsy, cheap fittings can be easily smashed open, defeating the purpose of your new gate.
We recommend using:
Heavy-duty hinges rated for outdoor use
Sliding padbolts or coded gate locks that can handle the natural expansion and contraction of timber without jamming
This way, your side gate will stay secure in all seasons.
You should also secure any gaps around your gate and fencing.
Simple anti-climb measures are easy to install and can deter anyone attempting to scale your boundaries.
Regular maintenance plays a key role in security and longevity.
We use Barrettine wood preserver on all our gates to repel water and provide UV protection. Reapplying a good wood treatment every few years keeps the timber strong and reduces the risk of warping or rotting — keeping your side gate secure for longer.
If you want to see who is at your gate without opening it, we can include a slatted top section in your design.
It allows you to check visitors safely while still maintaining privacy and security.
At Tarmec & Croft, we specialise in the supply and fitting of timber side gates across Essex and Suffolk.
Every gate is made to measure, built using premium materials and traditional techniques, and fitted with security in mind.
If you’re thinking of adding a side gate to your property:
Send us a few photos and measurements of your current gap or gate
We’ll discuss your ideas, provide expert advice, and give you a clear price indication
We can then arrange a site visit if you’re happy to proceed
For a secure, beautiful timber side gate, trust the experts at Tarmec & Croft.
Contact Tarmec & Croft Today
📞 Call us on 01787 224848
📧 Email info@tarmecandcroft.co.uk
