Automatic garden gate closer - spring?

Numb_fingers

My son is staying with me, he has a dog. People leave the metal garden gate open so the dog can get out. Which is the best way to have the gate close automatically (spring mechanism?) when opened?

grumpy_codger

Yes, possibly, e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/gate-spring-black-200mm/17251

But this depends on the design and layout. And without DIY skills you'll have problems with fixind the above spring to a steel gate.

Post a photo?

Numb_fingers

This is a clear photo

Emmia

Who are the people who leave the gate open? Also, the gate looks more decorative than one suited to securing a dog.

Numb_fingers

Bin men, delivery people. The gate was there before I bought the house. The dog can't fit between the gaps in the gate

Albermarle

Numb_fingers said:

Bin men, delivery people. The gate was there before I bought the house. The dog can't fit between the gaps in the gate

You must have cooperative bin men. Normally you would need to leave the bins outside on the driveway, or they would not get collected.
Same with delivery drivers. Usually they just leave parcels on the doorstep, or next door if they are good ones.

Emmia

Albermarle said:

Numb_fingers said:

Bin men, delivery people. The gate was there before I bought the house. The dog can't fit between the gaps in the gate

You must have cooperative bin men. Normally you would need to leave the bins outside on the driveway, or they would not get collected.
Same with delivery drivers. Usually they just leave parcels on the doorstep, or next door if they are good ones.

The obvious solution would be to remove the need /ability for those people to open the gate, by locking it - but this means they wouldn't move your bins / deliver your parcels in the way you have now. 

Alternatively don't let the dog outside unless it is fully supervised.

Even if you put a spring on, the dog could escape anytime the gate is opened, even if only briefly.

grumpy_codger

Numb_fingers said:

This is a clear photo

IMO the above-mentioned spring can be used with very basic DIY skills.

However, as a temporary measure you can use a longish bungee strap fixed (reliably) to the left house and to the top part of the gate. Which house is yours?

Numb_fingers

Albermarle said:

Numb_fingers said:it

Bin men, delivery people. The gate was there before I bought the house. The dog can't fit between the gaps in the gate

You must have cooperative bin men. Normally you would need to leave the bins outside on the driveway, or they would not get collected.
Same with delivery drivers. Usually they just leave parcels on the doorstep, or next door if they are good ones.

It's called assisted bin collection as I'm disabled. I don't use my front door as I have a porch, it has a step down to it and a tight right turn to open the front door, not possible using a wheelchair.

I have delivery notes on websites, and also my front door, to deliver/leave packages to my kitchen door step. Parcels don't get delivered to neighbours as I would find it very difficult to collect, plus I don't know them. 

Numb_fingers

grumpy_codger said:

Numb_fingers said:

This is a clear photo

IMO the above-mentioned spring can be used with very basic DIY skills.

However, as a temporary measure you can use a longish bungee strap fixed (reliably) to the left house and to the top part of the gate. Which house is yours?

Left hand side is the extension right side is the garage 

ThisIsWeird

Any type of closer on that gate will most likely have significant drawbacks, from the sheer awkwardness of use for someone in a wheelchair, to the deeply unpleasant clang of the gate being allowed to swing shut - add a lump of rubber to the latch at least
Any mileage in adding a secondary fence further in, this side of the bins? How high would it need to be to contain the dog?
Could be a nice, decorative picket fence, with a suitable gate. Then an obvious "Don't let t'dawg out" sign on that.