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Paled Arched Top Gate: A Timeless Choice for Your Garden

Paled arched top gates are a classic addition to any garden, combining elegant design with sturdy construction. These gates are perfect garden gates and come in a variety of styles and timbers to suit different aesthetics and functional needs. If you’re exploring gate options in the UK, Empress Fencing Clitheroe offers a range of choices that can be tailored to your space. In this post, we’ll dive into the features, timber options, treatment choices, sizing, and pricing considerations for Paled Arched Top Gates.

Why choose a Paled Arched Top Gate

Paled arched top gates strike a balance between decorative charm and practical security. The arched top softens the gate’s silhouette, creating a welcoming entrance while still providing robust performance. Whether you’re aiming for a traditional English garden look or a more contemporary landscape, these gates can integrate seamlessly with existing fencing styles.

Key benefits:

• Aesthetic appeal: The arched top adds a graceful line that complements hedges, brick walls, and timber fencing.
• Versatility: Works well with different timber types and finishes.
• Durability: Built to withstand weather conditions with proper treatment and maintenance.
• Customisation: Available in various sizes and styles, including both softened and more pronounced arch designs.

Timber options: softwood vs hardwood

Choosing the right timber affects both appearance and longevity. Paled arched top gates are available in a range of timber options, allowing you to tailor the gate to your budget and climate.

• Softwood timbers: Softwoods such as larch or redwood offer cost-effective options with natural resistance to decay when properly treated. These timbers often take stain or paint well, allowing you to customize colour and finish.
• Hardwood timbers: Sudden preference for a denser, more durable option can lead you to hardwoods like sapele, iroko, or oak. Hardwood gates tend to have excellent stability, richer grain patterns, and longer lifespans, albeit at a higher price point.

Considerations:

• Local climate and exposure: In wetter climates, hardwoods may outperform softwoods in the long term, though high-quality treatment can extend the life of any timber.
• Maintenance: All timber gates benefit from regular maintenance, including cleaning, checking for loose joints, and reapplying protective finishes as needed.

Treatment options

How a gate is treated significantly influences its lifespan and appearance.

• Pressure-treated: Pressure-treated timber has been infused with preservatives to resist rot and insect damage. This option is popular for garden gates due to its durability and lower maintenance requirements. It’s an excellent choice if you want a “fit-and-forget” solution with long-term performance.
• Not pressure-treated: Gates not pressure-treated can still be durable if they’re made from naturally rot-resistant timber (like certain hardwoods) or are properly sealed and maintained. If you choose this route, be prepared for more regular maintenance and protective coatings to extend life.

Tip: If you’re shopping through Empress Fencing Clitheroe, ask about the specific treatment level of each timber option and the recommended maintenance plan for your chosen gate.

Size and customization: made to order

One of the advantages of Paled Arched Top Gates is their flexibility in sizing. Timber gates can be made to order in various widths and heights to fit your boundary precisely. This is especially useful if you have uneven ground, unique fencing dimensions, or a desire for a particular visual proportion.

• Standard sizes: Many suppliers offer a range of standard sizes as a starting point, which can then be customised.
• Made to order: For a gate that perfectly fits your entrance, you can specify width, height, arch curvature, and hinge placement. A made-to-order approach ensures the gate harmonises with your garden’s layout and fencing style.

Guide price: example and what affects pricing

Pricing for Paled Arched Top Gates varies according to timber type, size, treatment, and finish. As a reference, a sapele gate sized at 3 feet wide by 4 feet high is listed at £194 plus VAT. This price provides a useful baseline but be mindful of the following factors that can influence final cost:

• Timber choice: Hardwood options like sapele typically cost more upfront than softwoods such as larch or redwood.
• Treatment: Pressure-treated timber may add a marginal cost but reduces future maintenance expenses.
• Size and design: Larger gates, more complex arch shapes, or additional detailing (like decorative bridle joints or reinforced panels) can raise the price.
• Finish and accessories: Finishes (stain, paint, or varnish), fitting hardware (heavy-duty hinges, latch mechanisms), and installation services can add to the total.

When evaluating price, consider long-term value, including lifespan, maintenance needs, and aesthetic compatibility with your fencing and garden features.

Empress Fencing Clitheroe: a local option

If you’re sourcing a Paled Arched Top Gate in the UK, Empress Fencing Clitheroe is a familiar name for many homeowners. They offer a range of gates and fencing solutions, with attention to timber quality, build standards, and customer service. When discussing your project, ask about:

• Available timber options (softwood vs hardwood) and their respective maintenance requirements.
• Treatment choices (pressure-treated vs not) and recommended protective coatings.
• Custom sizing, arch styles, and hardware options.
• Lead times, delivery, and installation services.

Having a clear conversation with a local supplier can help you align design preferences with practical realities such as weather exposure, soil conditions, and gate operation.

Installation and maintenance tips

• Proper fitting: Ensure the gate is installed with appropriate clearance for expansion and contraction with seasonal weather changes. A gate that binds or drags can cause unnecessary wear on hinges and latches.
• Regular inspection: Check joints, posts, and hinges periodically. Tighten loose fittings and replace worn hardware promptly.
• Protective finishing: For untreated or lightly treated gates, apply a protective sealant or stain suited to your timber to extend life and preserve colour.
• Cleaning: Gently wash with mild soap and water to remove dirt and debris that can degrade finishes over time.

Paled Arched Top Gates offer a timeless elegance combined with practical performance for garden entrances. With a variety of timber options, from softwoods like larch and redwood to hardwoods such as sapele, iroko, and oak, alongside treatment choices and made-to-order sizing, you can achieve a look that complements your garden while meeting your durability needs. Whether you opt for pressure-treated protection or choose a non-treated route with careful maintenance, these gates can elevate your boundary aesthetics and security.

If you’re in the market for a Paled Arched Top Gate, consider reaching out to Empress Fencing Clitheroe to explore your options and to get a precise quote based on your size, timber preference, and treatment plan. With thoughtful selection and proper care, a Paled Arched Top Gate can be a stunning and enduring feature of your garden.

If you’re considering enhancing your garden or property with sturdy and elegant 6ft fence panels or decorative fence panels, look no further than Empress Fencing, your local one-stop shop for fence posts, decking, timber, fence panels and fencing fixings. Experience the impact they can have on your outdoor space today!