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Custom Wood Gates

Driveway gates, garden gates, side yard gates, and privacy gates — designed for your property, built from quality lumber, and engineered to handle daily use for decades.

Gate Construction

Custom Gates in Riverside, CA

A gate is the first thing people see when they approach your property. It sets the tone for everything behind it — the house, the yard, the level of care the homeowner puts into their home. BPP Construction builds custom wood gates that are structurally sound, visually striking, and engineered to operate smoothly through years of daily use in Southern California’s demanding climate.

With 35 years of wood construction experience across the Inland Empire, Ben understands the specific challenges gate construction presents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Extreme summer heat warps poorly framed gates. Ground movement from expansive clay soils shifts posts out of alignment. UV exposure degrades unprotected finishes within a single season. Every gate we build accounts for these conditions from the design phase — selecting the right lumber species, engineering the frame geometry to resist racking, setting posts deep enough for long-term stability, and applying finishes that withstand the Inland Empire’s harsh sun.

Every custom gate project is built to your exact specifications. We measure the opening, evaluate the terrain and soil conditions, discuss your aesthetic preferences and security requirements, and design a gate that fits your property precisely. No prefabricated panels, no off-the-shelf hardware forced into a custom application. Every component is selected, cut, and assembled specifically for your installation.

Custom-built red wooden gate with an arched top, partially open, installed beside a residential property, showcasing craftsmanship and tailored design for Riverside, CA conditions.
Built to Last

Gate Construction You Can Count On

35
Years of Wood
Construction Experience
100%
Custom Built
to Your Property
25+
Cities Served
Two Counties
1990
Founded in
Riverside, CA
What We Build

Gate Types for Every Application

Driveway Gates

Single-swing, double-swing, and sliding driveway gates built for wide openings and heavy daily use. Engineered frames resist sagging and racking. Heavy-duty hinges and latches rated for the gate weight and cycle count. Steel-reinforced posts set in concrete for permanent stability.

Garden & Yard Gates

Pedestrian gates for garden entries, side yards, and backyard access. Sized for comfortable walk-through clearance with self-closing hinges where desired. Design options from open picket styles to solid tongue-and-groove privacy panels that match your fence line.

Privacy & Security Gates

Solid-panel gates that block sightlines and deter entry. Full-height construction with no gaps, reinforced frames, and secure locking hardware. Ideal for side-yard access points, pool enclosures requiring code-compliant latching, and property perimeters where visibility control matters.

Materials & Construction Methods

Wood selection directly determines how long a gate lasts and how it performs over time. We use redwood and Western red cedar for their natural resistance to rot, insects, and moisture — critical properties for an exterior structure that faces constant weather exposure. For structural frames, we use pressure-treated Douglas fir where maximum strength and dimensional stability are required, particularly on large driveway gates where the frame bears significant weight and stress with every swing cycle.

Every gate frame is constructed with mortise-and-tenon or half-lap joinery reinforced with structural screws and exterior-rated adhesive. We install steel diagonal bracing or turnbuckle-and-cable anti-sag systems on gates over four feet wide to prevent the inevitable racking that destroys lesser-built gates within a few years. Post-to-gate connections use heavy-duty strap hinges or ball-bearing hinges rated for the gate’s weight, mounted with through-bolts — not lag screws into end grain, which is the most common point of failure on improperly built gates.

Custom wood gate with diagonal bracing, showcasing sturdy construction and quality materials, installed between two structures in a residential setting.
Our Process

How We Build Your Gate

01

Measure & Design

We measure your opening, evaluate soil conditions and terrain, assess existing fencing and structures, and discuss your goals — security, privacy, curb appeal, or all three. You receive a detailed design with dimensions, lumber species, hardware specifications, and finish options before any work begins.

02

Post Setting & Prep

Gate posts are the foundation of the entire installation. We set 6×6 or steel-reinforced posts in concrete footings excavated below the frost line and into stable soil. Posts are plumbed, braced, and allowed to cure before any gate is hung — rushing this step is the number one reason gates fail prematurely.

03

Build, Hang & Finish

We fabricate the gate frame in our shop or on site, assemble the panel, install anti-sag bracing, hang the gate on properly rated hinges, install latching hardware, and apply a UV-resistant exterior finish. The final walkthrough confirms smooth operation, proper latching, and consistent reveal gaps around the entire perimeter.

Ready for a Custom Gate?

(909) 227-4193

Call Ben for a free on-site measurement and estimate. We will assess your property, discuss your design preferences, and provide an honest quote — no pressure, no obligation.

Request a Free Estimate
Why BPP for Gates

The Difference 35 Years Makes

Most gates you see in the Inland Empire were built by fence companies that treat gates as an afterthought — a panel hung between two posts with basic hinges and a thumb latch. Those gates sag within a year, drag on the ground within two, and get replaced within five. The homeowner blames the wood. The real problem is the engineering.

BPP Construction approaches every gate as a precision-built wood structure. We calculate the weight of the finished gate and select hinges rated for that load. We engineer the frame geometry to resist racking forces that accumulate with every open-close cycle. We set posts deep enough and in enough concrete to handle the lateral stress a swinging gate transmits to its supports. We select lumber species and grades matched to the exposure conditions and finish requirements of the specific installation.

The result is a gate that swings true on the first day and still swings true years later. That is the difference between a gate that was built and a gate that was engineered. Ben has been building wood structures across Riverside and San Bernardino counties since 1990. He knows how wood behaves in this climate, how soil conditions affect post stability in different neighborhoods, and how to build a gate that performs as well on year ten as it does on day one.

  • Driveway gates — single-swing, double-swing, and sliding configurations
  • Garden gates and pedestrian entry gates
  • Side yard gates for utility and security access
  • Privacy gates with solid tongue-and-groove panels
  • Pool enclosure gates with code-compliant self-closing latches
  • Arched-top and decorative custom designs
  • Matching fence-to-gate transitions for seamless property lines
  • Gate repair, rehang, and hardware replacement on existing installations
  • Anti-sag cable and turnbuckle systems for wide-span gates
  • Post replacement and resetting for failed gate supports
Related Services

Explore More from BPP

Wood Exterior Repair

If your existing fence or gate posts are deteriorated, we can repair or replace the damaged wood before building your new gate — ensuring the entire perimeter is structurally sound.

View Exterior Repair →

Wood Replacement

Rotted posts, damaged fence sections, and failing gate frames can all be replaced with new structural-grade lumber. We match existing materials and finishes for a seamless result.

View Wood Replacement →

See completed gate projects and other wood construction work across the Inland Empire in our project gallery.

Common Questions

Custom Gate FAQs

What type of wood is best for gates in Riverside’s climate?
For the Inland Empire’s hot, dry summers and occasional wet winters, redwood and Western red cedar are the top choices for gate construction. Both species contain natural oils that resist rot, decay, and insect damage without chemical treatment. Redwood offers exceptional dimensional stability, meaning it resists warping and twisting better than most softwoods — a critical property for a gate that needs to swing true in a frame. Cedar is lighter weight and naturally aromatic, making it a good choice for garden gates and pedestrian entries where a lighter swing is preferred. For structural frames on heavy driveway gates, we use pressure-treated Douglas fir for maximum strength and load-bearing capacity. Ben can recommend the best species for your specific application during the on-site consultation.
How deep should gate posts be set in the Riverside area?
Gate posts in the Riverside and San Bernardino county area should be set a minimum of 24 to 36 inches deep, depending on the gate size, soil conditions, and local building requirements. Much of the Inland Empire sits on expansive clay soils that swell when wet and shrink when dry, creating cyclical ground movement that can shift insufficiently deep posts out of plumb. For standard pedestrian gates, we typically set posts 24 inches deep in a concrete footing that extends 10 to 12 inches in diameter. For driveway gates and large privacy gates, posts are set 30 to 36 inches deep in footings 12 to 16 inches in diameter. The concrete footing must extend below the active zone where soil volume changes with moisture content. We evaluate your specific soil conditions during the site assessment and adjust footing depth accordingly.
How do you prevent a wood gate from sagging over time?
Gate sag is caused by gravity pulling the unsupported end of the gate downward over time, and it is the most common failure mode in wood gates. We prevent sag through three integrated approaches. First, the frame is constructed with proper joinery — mortise-and-tenon or half-lap joints reinforced with structural screws and exterior-rated adhesive — rather than simple butt joints that loosen under cyclical stress. Second, every gate over four feet wide receives a diagonal steel cable and turnbuckle system or a solid wood diagonal brace running from the bottom of the hinge side to the top of the latch side, creating a triangulated frame that resists racking forces. Third, we use hinges rated for the actual weight of the finished gate — not the lightest hardware available at the supply house — and mount them with through-bolts into the post rather than lag screws into end grain. This three-part approach ensures the gate maintains its geometry for years of daily use.
Do I need a permit for a gate in Riverside, California?
In most cases, standalone residential gates and fences under six feet tall in Riverside do not require a building permit under the California Building Code. However, there are important exceptions. Gates taller than six feet typically require a permit. Driveway gates with automated openers may require both a building permit and an electrical permit. Gates adjacent to public sidewalks or rights-of-way may be subject to setback requirements and sight-line regulations enforced by the city planning department. Pool enclosure gates must comply with California Building Code Section 3109, which requires self-closing and self-latching mechanisms with the latch at least 54 inches above grade. HOA communities may have additional restrictions on gate height, style, and materials. BPP Construction evaluates the permit requirements for your specific project during the initial consultation and handles any required permits or inspections.
Can you build a gate to match my existing fence?
Absolutely. Matching an existing fence line is one of the most common requests we handle. We evaluate your current fence construction — board style, spacing, height, cap treatment, and finish — and replicate those details in the gate design. If your fence uses dog-ear pickets at a specific spacing, the gate will use the same boards at the same spacing. If your fence has a horizontal rail cap, the gate will carry that line through. The transition from fence to gate should be virtually invisible when the gate is closed. If your existing fence has deteriorated and does not provide a clean match point, we can also replace the adjacent fence sections to create a seamless connection. Call (909) 227-4193 to schedule an on-site assessment.
How much does a custom wood gate cost in Riverside?
Custom gate pricing varies based on size, wood species, design complexity, and hardware selection. A standard single-swing pedestrian gate in cedar or redwood typically starts in the mid-hundreds. Larger driveway gates, double-swing configurations, and gates with decorative details or premium hardware range higher depending on the scope. The post installation — excavation, concrete footings, and post setting — is a separate component that depends on soil conditions and required footing depth. We provide detailed, itemized written estimates after an on-site measurement so you know exactly what your gate will cost before any work begins. No hidden fees and no surprise charges. Call (909) 227-4193 for a free estimate.
Get Started

Your Custom Gate Starts Here

From driveway gates to garden entries, BPP Construction builds custom wood gates engineered for your property and designed to last. 35 years of wood construction expertise in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Call Ben today.

Request a Free Estimate Call (909) 227-4193

Benefits Process Materials Compliance Areas FAQs

Based in Riverside, CA, serving homeowners across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.