Completed project · Mernda VIC
Timber fence panel replaced with a COLORBOND® gate.
This completed project added pedestrian access to a narrow side passage beside the home.
Project overview
New side access without replacing the full fence.
Updated 8 November 2026
At this Mernda property, an existing timber fence panel was replaced with a COLORBOND pedestrian gate. The finished gate provides direct access through the side passage while working within the space between the boundary fence and brick wall.
No measurements, product colour or price are stated because those details were not supplied with the project photos. Similar alterations must be measured and quoted for their own opening, posts, clearances and ground conditions.
Before and after
From closed fence section to pedestrian access.
Genuine project photos show the original timber panel and the completed COLORBOND gate.
Planning a similar side-gate project
Measure the usable opening and show what surrounds it.
The width between two fence palings is not always the finished gate opening. Posts, hinges, latch hardware, ground clearance and the existing fence all need space.
Start by measuring between the fixed points where the new gate supports could sit. If those points are uncertain, send a wider measurement and clear photos rather than assuming the gate will fill the whole gap. Show the brick wall, boundary fence, existing posts, path, garden edges and the ground immediately in front of and behind the proposed gate.
For a useful first assessment, include:
- the suburb and approximate opening width;
- preferred gate height and material;
- front-on photos from both sides of the fence section;
- close photos of the existing posts, rails and ground;
- the preferred swing direction and available clearance;
- any steps, slope, paving, concrete, drains or garden edging;
- how the passage will be used, such as regular pedestrian, bin or equipment access; and
- the preferred latch, keyed lock or other access requirement.
Gate layout and installation scope
Five checks that prevent a poor-fitting pedestrian gate.
1. Posts and supports
A gate places repeated movement and leverage on its supports. Existing fence posts and rails must be checked before they are treated as suitable gate supports. New posts, footings or other supports are included only when identified in the quotation.
2. Swing clearance
The gate needs room to open without striking a wall, fence, step, garden bed, bin or parked item. The best opening direction depends on the space and how people move through it.
3. Ground and finished levels
Show any slope, uneven paving or planned concrete. Ground clearance must work when the gate is closed and throughout its swing, while still providing the privacy and access expected.
4. Hinges, latch and lock
Confirm whether a basic latch, keyed access or another hardware arrangement is required. Hardware position, reach and operation should suit the measured opening and the intended users.
5. Existing-fence removal
State whether the timber panel, posts or other material must be removed and disposed of. Removal, concrete cutting, excavation, paving repairs and disposal should be listed rather than assumed.
Can the gate match an existing fence?
A matching or coordinated COLORBOND finish may be possible when the existing fence profile and colour can be identified. Photos taken in daylight can help, but the material, colour and hardware are only confirmed in the written quotation. This Mernda project is not being used to imply a colour, dimension or specification for another property.
What should the written quotation confirm?
The quotation should identify the gate material and height, measured opening, frame, posts or supports, hinges, latch or lock, removal of the existing section, installation and any separate concrete cutting, paving, excavation or disposal work. If adjoining fencing is also being replaced, its length, height, sleepers, removal and finish should be listed as a separate part of the scope.
Mernda fence and permit checks
The City of Whittlesea says a building permit may be required depending on the proposed fence location, type and height. Its current guidance says side and rear boundary fences can generally be up to 2 metres high, subject to property-title covenants and other requirements. Front and corner fences have different controls. Property owners should check the proposed work with council or a building surveyor when the gate forms part of a new or altered fence.
For a dividing fence, Victorian guidance recommends discussing the work with the adjoining owner and documenting the agreed proposal. A gate inside the property may be a different situation, so ownership and boundary position should be established rather than inferred from a photograph.
Read the City of Whittlesea fence guidance and the Victorian fencing checklist for current owner responsibilities.
Frequently asked questions
Can an existing fence panel be changed into a pedestrian gate?
Sometimes. The usable opening, existing fence condition, support posts, clearances, ground level and nearby structures must be checked before the alteration is confirmed.
What information is needed for a COLORBOND gate quote?
Send the suburb, opening width measured between fixed points, preferred height, clear photos from both sides, ground and access details, preferred swing direction and any lock or latch requirements.
Can a COLORBOND gate match an existing fence?
A matching or coordinated finish may be possible when the existing fence profile and colour can be identified. The final materials, frame, posts, hardware and finish are confirmed in the written quotation.
Which way should a pedestrian gate open?
The suitable swing direction depends on the available clearance, slope, steps, paths, bins, doors and everyday access. Photos from both sides help identify a practical layout before the quotation is confirmed.
What should a pedestrian-gate quotation include?
The quotation should identify the gate material and height, measured opening, posts or supports, hinges, latch or lock, removal of the existing section, installation and any separate concrete cutting, paving, excavation or disposal work.
View our fencing and gate services in Mernda and Doreen, compare our Melbourne gate options, or send photos for a quote.